Preparations. Each evening, more homes on our street show outside lights on bushes and wreaths on the doors. My own house now has a festive runner on the dining room table — which Lucy the Cat thinks is just for her. The radiator-shelf in the front window has a nice tapestry of red ‘n’ green; and pictures of the chancels of churches we have served, laden with poinsettias and greenery. A newly-cleared mantle awaits my creativity in building our miniature village. When younger, Steve & Jon would observe their mom cleaning, and ask, “Is someone coming?” Must be.
Scriptures for Sunday announce this Advent: the prophet Malachi writes (3:1-4), “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me….indeed he is coming.” And then the Messiah is likened to the metal refiner, who turns up the heat to separate the silver from the slag. Sometimes we’ve gotten so used to the everyday stuff that it’s too hard to give it up, even for the Holy. How pure must we get?
If I were creating a sermon for this week, I’d probably let the Philippians passage choose me: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” (1:6) Advent is looking ahead to “the day of Jesus Christ” AND observing that God has already begun a perfect work in us! Although we’re works in progress, there’s that understanding that we are indeed “going on to perfection”, as John Wesley would remind us!
Luke’s Gospel remembers John the Baptizer (3:1-6). His ministry was to prepare the way for the immanent coming of the Messiah: the valleys shall be filled, the mountains leveled, the crooked straightened, the rough road made smooth. In Binghamton, major highways come near and through the city. We grumble about construction delays. But in some nations, only stony tracks lead through jungles and over marshlands. How to help? Or, what roads have YOU paved lately??
My dad always had a reluctance about housework, but when company was coming, he spent much time straightening every picture-frame in the place! This was his contribution to the preparations; and one not to be taken lightly. The weekend’s readings challenge the faithful ones to do what needs to be done to welcome the One Who Brings the Kingdom of God.
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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