It can be jarring to have this John appear in the midst of our holiday preparations. But that's just the point! He is a messenger whose word is needed still - a cry in the wilderness of our tendency toward overindulgence and misguided values. A call to us to repent, simplify, remember the tried and true reason for the season - to prepare in our hearts and work with our hands for the building of God's true vision of Shalom for all people. That's what the Holy day is all about!

Matthew 3: 1-2

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

John appears in the doorway of the covenant community roaring: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near!" The Lord is breaking into human history to reconcile God's rebellious people to God.  Anyone who is receptive to God must renounce the self-centered ways of the past and begin to live a life that is in line with God's ways and will. 

What does John mean by the word "repent"?  Our English word comes from the French, "repense", "think again".  In order to repent we must first stop to look at the way we have been thinking - assumptions about priorities, about what is important in life.  We must then look closely at our lives:  How have we been living them?  Where are we headed?  What gives our lives focus?  Are our lives directed by God or by our own self-serving ends?  What do our lives have to offer to God?  These questions form the true mood of Advent.  It is God who is coming to us, but we must also turn toward God. 

An Unusual Sign to Say the Least

Luke 2:10-12  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

The sign of "Christ the Lord's" coming is unusual to say the least: a newborn in a feed trough!  The audience to whom this message is addressed is equally odd:  shepherds; people of no standing in the community.  They are the no-accounts.  It is to the nobodies that the angels bring greetings of good news.  The heavenly host, the army of God, appears to praise God as well.  This history-shattering event that brings glory to heaven brings peace to earth.  Heaven and earth share in the joy of this birth.

The Light Will Shine

John 1:1-4   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

The motif of light and darkness is prevalent throughout John's Gospel  In verse 9 John refers to the logos as the "true light".  Jesus' presence in the world lights up reality.  It lights our path.  It lights up the dark corners of our minds.  Anyone who has stumbled around in a dark room, banging shins on furniture, knows the relief of having someone turn on the light.  Then everything is clear; the right path is easy to discern.  Jesus is light for this dark world. 

Shine, People, Shine!

Isaiah 60:1-3   Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you.  Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The "you" in this passage is Jerusalem which is representative of God's people, Israel.  It will be through God's people that the world will see God's radiance.  The Church sees in this text a call for the people of God to reach out with God's love to people all over the world; not to call them to any one nation, but to call them to become part of the world-wide body of Christ.

This text is set in the days when Judah had returned from Exile in Babylon to find its land and Temple destroyed.  But there is good news: God's tender love and glory will shine on this broken people so strongly that the whole world will stand in awe of God, be drawn to God. 

During the Church's season of Epiphany we celebrate God's gift of light that shows us who God really is.  We celebrate the wonderful relief of finally being able to see clearly.  We rejoice because the light makes it possible for us to act in this darkened world, to do the works of God.