Rejoice! The End is Near!

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 3^rd 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.

Rejoice! and sing along: