And brother, do we need it! W. C. Turner, writing in FEASTING on the WORD, say that “Advent is a time for the tongue to be loosed and the mercies of God proclaimed”. (B 1:67) We feel more ‘n’ more like the Voice in the Wilderness speaking Truth to Power and pointing out a need to turn it around amid the commercial and bluster of “the Season”. Scripture passages this Third Sunday of New Beginning remind the pew-sitters and the COVID-struck that God is acting to renew Creation despite the craziness. “Joy is based in God–not in what’s happening around you.” (Valerie Bridgeman’s mother, page 49 of December’s SOJOURNERS)
Isaiah has written wonderful words of comfort to the Faith-Community (61:1-4,8-11). But more than comfort for the afflicted, they proclaim mercy for all and serve as reminders that God has not forgotten them. They fell on ears which were used to the power of money and the shiftiness of Those In Charge. “Along the backdrop off war, injustice, poverty and greed, the word of the prophet taunts a nation that has grown rich in things but poor in soul.” (Cynthia A. Jarvis, FEASTING…op.cit. 52) “The Year of the Lord’s Favor” hearkens back to the supposed Jubilee year when the slaves are freed, and each part of the economy returns to base-line. God is One who can build up ancient ruins–even your life–and repair the thoroughly devastated cities. “So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”
Even though the Epistle reading is brief–I Thessalonians 5:16-24–don’t overlook it. This benediction sums up the Christian stance in and against the prevailing ethic: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…” Paul attributes being made holy to the workings of God: “the one who calls you is faithful, and [God] will do this.” Advent challenges us to recognize the Spirit as it moves through the surrounding culture.
The Gospel, John 1:6-8, 19-28, is the account of one John who was called to prepare the way of the Lord: not the Messiah, not Elijah, not a prophet, his only stated credentials are as the Voice shouting out in the wilderness. Is this not the role of the Church in Advent? To shout out that the Lord is at hand even in the bright lights of rockin’ Christmas trees, even above the ching-ching of registers at Walmart? The question of the year, each year, is how much we can demonstrate a radical trust that God IS at hand despite our quest to do it ourselves…
Tired of COVID masks, tired of quarantine, I admit to a great deal of personal revelry in the brightness of the hoped-for Christmas, this year. So I’m glad for these words which call me beyond the glitter to again pick up the Voice of justice and holy living! I pray that each of us might tell the Stranger, the Homeless and the Hungry that God continues to love them…and back up our message by prayerfully welcoming and feeding those who’ve fallen through the cracks. AND I pray for courage to confront The System with a reminder that God needs its affluence to pave the wilderness road.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My acknowledgement of the power of Scripture readings assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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