This is a great text. The majesty of the writing -- what would Christmas be without the Christmas text from Luke? "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus . . . ." All the names and dates. Historical details that make the story come alive. The event, marked in time and place -- in the midst of the world order of the day. "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius. . ."
In the first year of the third mandate of Prime Minister Jean Chretien, when Adrienne Clarkson was Governor General of Canada, Roy Romanow was premier of Saskatchewan, Gerry Ritrz was the member of parliament for North Battleford - Lloydminster, Jack Hillson was the member of the legislature from North Battleford, Wayne Ray was the mayor of North Battleford, Gail Sack was the mayor of Battleford, Allan Grundahl was the Bishop of Saskatchewan, the word of God came to . . . you!
Makes you want to sit up and take notice. Maybe a little uncomfortable, certainly immediate. This is the time! This is the time between the old order and the new -- what was and what is to be. And we are right in the middle of it. WOW!!
But maybe it makes us uncomfortable. How audacious it was for John the Baptist, a recluse from the hills to stand before the world powers, as they were so neatly outlined, and dare to declare that a new world order is about to crash in upon them. All the emperors, the church authorities and any other self-important people are about to see something they could not have even imagined.
One who is coming, one for whom they have been, looking for centuries, yet one who would catch them unawares and flat footed. This was the Lord, the Messiah. You and I are the one’s standing in John’s place with the unlikely and amazing opportunity to declare to the Old Order "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."
You might want to protest, "But that was the First Century this is the 21st Century". I would suggest we live in times similar to those days when few had heard of Jesus, many had hunger for a God who would care for them, and a time when people had little concern for the needs of others. A time when wealth meant power, and position meant privilege.
It is to us that the "word of God" comes -- to proclaim a baptism of repentance. To say to the powers that be, that the emperor has no clothes. To assert in the face of the assumption that the way power and influence is determined in this age is not how God wants it. "Prepare for the one who comes to make all things new. The one who comes to set things right."
We are called to be a voice crying out in the wilderness. Call people to turn from the assumptions of power and influence and see life for what it is -- a gift from God, to be used in the service of others and God.
We are called to poke holes in the myths of society that says that the heroes are those with money, the ones people see making millions. The myth that says you worth is determined by your bank account or the people you control.
We live "in between" times. Between the old order and the new order, just like John the Baptist. We are to call people "to turn away from their sin", to turn from that which denies life and turn toward that which gives life, even if society shouts even louder. To turn away from violent and abusive television and video games, to turn away from the many destructive media that bombard us day to day. To turn away from political structures that destroy some people and make others rich.
To help those lost in the shuffle and confusion to see the one who gives life. Who give life a purpose and meaning.
We are called to "make his path straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;" Why? So that "all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
Prepare the way so that there is nothing that will confuse or ambush those looking to see Jesus. To remove anything in our lives as individuals or as a congregation that might confuse those who come among us looking for the one who gives life and release from the prison of the old order.
We are given the words of life, not just for ourselves but to share. Our task is stated so clearly in a poem written by a young person looking to the Christian community for companionship along the journey.
Do you know, do you understand
that you represent Jesus to me?
Do you know, do you understand
that when you treat me with gentleness,
it raises the question in my mind
that maybe he is gentle, too?
Maybe he isn’t someone
who laughs when I am hurt.
Do you know,
do you understand
that when you listen to my questions
and you don’t laugh,
I think, "What if Jesus is interested in me, too?"
Do you know,
do you understand
that when I hear you talk about arguments
and conflict and scars from your past
that I think,
"Maybe I am just a regular person
instead of a bad, no-good, little girl who deserves abuse?"
If you care,
I think maybe he cares --
and then there’s this flame of hope
that burns inside of me,
and for a while,
I am afraid to breathe
because it might go out.
Do you know,
do you understand
that your words are his words?
Your face, his face to someone like me?
Please be who you say you are.
Please, God, don’t let this be another trick.
Please let this be real.
Please. Do you know,
do you understand
that you represent Jesus to me?
Tim Celek and Dieter Zander, Inside the Soul of a New Generation [Grand Rapids,: Zondervan, 1996], 106-107).
Make his paths straight. There is no other way for people to see Jesus except through those of us who wait for the Messiah, who know that it is Jesus who gives life in all its fullness, exactly what our world so desperately seeks.
We have confidence that the one who looks at the powers that be and declares them the "Old order", is the one who animates our lives. This is the one who invites us to prepare his way.
Just maybe we can take courage to be a bit of John the Baptist, the eccentric prophet who dares to go against what is and declare what will be.
There is a well known poem called, "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple." It is about the willingness to go against the norms and do what she wants and needs to do. Another person has taken that attitude and has adapted the poem.
When the church is waiting faithfully, we shall wear purple
With a mixture of ages and races that doesn’t suit society.
And we shall spend our offerings on bread and sweet wine
and banquet for rich and poor and say we have no money for witch hunts.
We shall sit down on the pavement with the weary
And shall share the fruits of God’s creation with the stranger
And run with the most visionary among us
And make up for the Pharisaism of our youth.
We shall go into the most desperate of neighbourhood sin the dark
And plant flowers in other peoples’ gardens
And learn to laugh.
We can wear skins of many colors and grow thin or thick
And worship with smells and bells
Or only with the simplicity of the psalms
And save souls and lives and nations for the reset of our days.
But now we think we have to set an example
of separating sheep from the goats
and set a good example for those inside.
We must distrust one another’s faith and sap one another’s witness.
But maybe we ought to practice a little now?
So the angels and saints who knew the babe who died and was raised
are not too
shocked and surprised
When suddenly the Church waits faithfully and starts to wear purple.
Allison Seed, Trinity Presbyterian
Independence, Missouri
"Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. . . And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
