Your Voice in the Wilderness!

Sometimes I think I’m speaking Martian. If the conversation turns to ethics or moral behavior, I’m met with blank stares. Saying things about Advent in the midst of nostalgic sparkle and commercial glitz draws the same stares. There was a bell-ringer at the exit of Walmart, this afternoon, and I wished him a hearty “Merry Christmas!”–to which he replied, “Yeah. Right.”

It’s the Second Week of Advent, and we yearn for a Voice of Reason (?) to cry out Peace and Love in the Wilderness. Over-saturated already with images of greed provided merrily by some imposter of an ancient saint known for his generosity, we compensate by imitating Ol’ Ebenezer Scrooge. Isaiah of Babylon begins his message of release to the despairing captives, “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'” (40:3)

When St. Peter mentioned Black Friday, he was thinking about the Crucifixion and Redemption; how would he have dealt with Cyber Monday? To him, Advent was this time between the Old Order and the New, an acknowledgement of the Daily Crunch AND a hopeful affirmation that God was On the Way. “In accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish…” (II Peter 3:13-14) Will this Voice be heard in the Wilderness?

The Gospel Reading comes from Mark’s concise account of Jesus’ ministry, centering upon John the Baptizer. Mark affirms that the Voice of Alternate Values is that of John: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” The Straight Path here proclaimed is one of Truth & Justice, of Love and Respect: it’s our Advent vision-statement, and the rest of the world seems to expect us to unpack it every year and decorate it. Your voice in the wilderness?

One of the ladies at last week’s book-study talked about the Voices of straight living (conscience?) which often filled her head. In an amazing flash of insight, I replied that my challenge was to separate the Voices from the Vices! (How clever!) So my personal Advent discipline is one of discernment, to listen for the authentic Voice within the vale of guilt and greed which often has highjacked Christmas…

God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King