We've got some really fun readings happening this week. Strong messages, very empowering and encouraging. All of them reminding us that there are great things about to happen - all of them reminding us that part of our ministry is to get ready for these things. And all of them coming from - let's be honest - really unexpected sources.
Starting with the message from Baruch ben Neriah. This Jewish aristocrat is a minor prophet from the 6th century BC, best known for being the secretary, friend, and scribe for the prophet Jeremiah. Because his ministry was one of following around a prophet and recording someone else's words, some people suggest that his works should not be included in the scriptures.
And yet, we have them, and thank goodness for that, because the message from Baruch is a beautiful one. He’s writing to those who are in captivity: “God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.” These powerful words are empowering for all people who wait for any form of release.
Then our canticle, the Song of Zechariah, speaks literally to captive audience. is not a source we would expect - a devout but older priest. He’s visited by the angel Gabriel and told he’ll have a son who will announce the coming of the Lord. Not quite believing this, Zechariah tells his wife Elisabeth, also a woman of mature years, and then - shocking everyone - she conceives. Punished for doubting the angel, Zechariah is made mute until the child is named: thus Zechariah becomes the father of John, who will become John the Baptiser.
Recalling that Elisabeth is Mary’s cousin, this means that Zechariah is Jesus’ uncle. Admittedly, he's not a wholly unbiased source, but his timeless message is strong and comforting: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Then we have Paul and Timothy, writing to the church at Philippi, in Greece, one of the main Christian centres of the time where Paul had visited on his second missionary trip. As he writes this letter, however, he is imprisoned in Rome, facing execution. Despite this, Paul greets his brothers and sisters in Christ in a way that serves to bolster their faith, thanking these folks for their participation in the Gospel, in their commitment to spread the good news.
He is praying that their love will continue to increase until the second coming of Christ. His thoughts are not asking for help for himself, but rather promising that the day of Christ Jesus will be soon, and until such time Paul prays for all of them. What comfort they must feel as they hear his words read aloud: “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
And then another unlikely source of Good News comes in Luke’s Gospel. We’re reminded that this is an unlikely source, because even in those days, folks were only expected to follow the credible, approved, expected sources. This expectation is so profound we even have it spelled out for us who the (culturally) significant people are, the folks with power and authority and control:
Tiberius is the Emperor Tiberius,
Pontius Pilate is governor of Judea,
Herod is ruler of Galilee,
Herod’s brother Philip is the ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
Lysanias is the ruler of Abilene,
and both Annas and Caiaphas are high priests.
These are no slouches; they’re the folks to be listened to, and we're given these names in direct contrast to the message that Luke wants us to hear.
Basically, Luke invites us to ignore these fancy schmancy people, and listen to Zechariah’s boy John. It's important to note that in Luke's account, we don't know much about John. In fact, all we know from this Gospel is that the man can quote from Isaiah.
He’s not educated, he doesn’t hold a position of power, he’s just some guy preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Other accounts of John tell us a grittier story – he’s dressed in camel hair, eating locusts and wild honey; he’s the original bushman.
A highly unlikely source, yet John becomes one who shares comforting words with those people around the Jordan who are desperate to hear it. "Prepare the way of the Lord," John says, and “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
The way of the Lord - not that of the governor or the ruler or the high priest, not the easy road.
The salvation of God - not the promises of the elite or the limited time deals of the world.
These readings remind us that there is Good News to be found - in abundance! But, we're also reminded that it doesn't always come from where we might expect.
So extrapolating that just a bit, let's consider our own lives.
To whom do WE listen today?
Where do we hear the Good News being shared?
How do we decide who to give attention and credibility to?
We're challenged to find the messages of God's salvation and comfort in our lives, just as much as the people throughout our spiritual history had to. We need to see how we can become trapped ourselves - captives, if you will - by other messages.
There are messages of political insult and mud-slinging. There are messages of xenophobia and misogyny.
There are messages of fear-mongering and cultural divide.
There are messages of rampant consumerism and - well, you get the idea. You've seen the adverts, heard the commentaries, read the news.
They're overwhelming, and they trap us. They make us captive to the agendas and pains of this life. They try to block out for us the messages of peace and love and comfort, because those messages don't sell product, nor garner support, nor meet advertising standards.
So we're reminded today that the message we want - need - to be hearing is most likely coming from an unlikely messenger. It won't have a billboard, it won't have celebrity endorsement, it won't have a prime-time advertising budget.
What it will have is an authenticity that could only come from God.
A message without a price tag,
a message of inclusion,
a message that focuses more on the kingdom of God than the
kingdoms of the earth.
It's a message of comfort, of true spiritual freedom, of a love so astonishing that we can barely begin to describe it.
It's the message we all want to hear; it's the message God's people have wanted to hear throughout all of our history.
The message invites us to turn away from whatever is trapping us here on earth, even if it doesn't feel like a trap;
the message that challenges us to commit to preparing our selves for the coming of the Christ.
It's the message of truth that is culturally shocking, and wonderful, and unexpected.
It's the message that we will only hear when we can listen to messengers who are equally shocking and wonderful and unlikely.
It's a message waiting to be heard, waiting to be shared, waiting to be lived.
It's a message of Good News – THE Good News of God in. Christ.
I pray our Advent journey is one that prepares us to hear this most amazing message.
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