We've seen the cartoon: an wild-eyed man, bedraggled, carrying a sign that says, "Repent! The end is near!" He probably looks like John the Baptist did to those around him!
This 3rd Sunday
of Advent finds John the Baptist still preparing the
way. From his preaching and baptizing many thought he might be the Messiah. But
to every question they ask him about his identity, he answers “I am not.” He
tells the Pharisees, who demand an answer to give to those who sent then, “I am
a voice of one crying out in the desert…but there is someone coming after me.” Often
we lack the humility to answer “I am not, but Jesus is.”
But how would the Messiah
answer the question of his identity? “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…”
His answer would be his actions. When we are asked about who we think we are as
Christians, we should be able to point to the things we have done after
listening to the Holy Spirit. And we should rejoice in the Lord that he has
done these things in us and for our salvation.
It has been said that the New
Testament is hidden in the Old and that the Old Testament is revealed in the
New. Isaiah speaks of a voice crying out in the wilderness. Creation will be
transformed in preparation for the coming of Lord. Valleys shall be filled in,
perhaps with the rocks and earth from the mountains and hills being made low!
St. Mark tells us that
John the Baptist is that voice. John tells the people coming out to him in the
desert to be baptized that he is the beginning of the transformation. His voice
tells them that another is coming that will baptize not with water, but with the
Holy Spirit!
The Lord, the God of the covenant,
is coming in transforming power. Peter proclaims that the heavens will pass away
with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, but there will
be a new heavens and a new earth. The image I see is that of the Genesis device
in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. In a presentation, we see the device impact
a lifeless moon. The energy released encircles the planetoid. Ahead of the wave
is barren rock; behind is water and plant life—the transforming power of the
Genesis wave.
God is his own Genesis! Christ
comes to lead us to transforming life. But even in his power, he will be as
firm and gentle as a shepherd, gathering, leading, and carrying us next to his
heart.
If you have ever had to
wait for someone at the airport when weather has caused numerous delays and
gate changes, then you know that you have keep an eye on the arrival board and
listen to the announcements. If you don’t you won’t know when or where to meet
the person you are waiting for.
Advent is a time to watch
and wait. Just as we didn’t know when Jesus would come that first Christmas,
even though there were signs and prophecies, we don’t know when he will return.
In the verses before today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives his disciples some
signs of what will happen before his second coming. He has given us work to do
in the meantime, but He sums up his dire warnings with the reminder to “Be
watchful! Be alert!”
The people of Isaiah’s
time were also waiting. But instead of being watchful, they were wandering.
Instead of taking heed of what God was doing, they became hard-hearted. This is
what happens when we lose focus, we fall into sin. Isaiah says that our good deeds have
become like dirty rags. But they didn’t start that way; they were clean and
whole. But a spot here, a smudge there and they become filthy. We launder them,
and they fade and become threadbare. How do we become clean and whole again?
Grace restores us. By
returning to God our Father we can receive the grace we need to be made whole
again. Isaiah likens us to being clay that the Lord can reshape with his hands.
He forms and reforms us into the image of Jesus. St. Paul says that in Christ
we are enriched in every way. We will not lack any spiritual gift we need as we
wait for Christ’s return. It is though our Father’s loving care that we can be
ready.
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