December Holy Hour Reflection

Lk 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region
of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Lineage, more specifically paternal lineage, was so important in Jesus’ time and is still so important in the Middle East. We now think of John as Jesus’ cousin, but here he is identified as “John, son of Zechariah”. This description tells that John was just an average man. If he were someone “special” by secular standards, someone famous, his name would have stood alone. There would have been no need to identify him by his paternal lineage – just look at some of the others named in this reading – Herod, Philip, Lysanias, and Caiaphus. By all accounts, they were the important people. Yet, with the advantage of hindsight and faith, we know the truth… John, son of Zechariah, cousin of Jesus, a virtual unknown and a nobody, an average man was the most important person in this story – he is the one who was called to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah: “A voice crying out in the wilderness.”

Luke tells us, though, that John didn’t just go to the desert to preach, rather the “word of God came to [him] in the desert”. What was it that first caused John to go out into the desert? I certainly don’t know… Most of you have probably never been to Palestine, but I can assure you that desert there is not a fun place. It is HOT, dry, dusty and sandy and brown, disgustingly brown. We complain here in Seattle about gray skies. There, you can go for miles and miles and see nothing but various shades of brown – brown sand, brown rock, brown “mountains” that are way too short to be snow-capped, and yes even brown shrubs. It is a harsh and unforgiving environment. And yet, John willfully chose to go out into the desert wilderness. Was he crazy as some thought? Or, could it be he felt a tugging in his heart? Could it be that God spoke to him? Certainly, something miraculous must have happened for him to go out into the wilderness.

In fact, something miraculous did happen – John heard God’s call and answered it. And the miracle didn’t just stop there… once John answered the call, he heard the word of God and began “to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” to all the people he encountered. This baptism that John speaks of is a prelude and an epilogue to our own baptism through Christ. John baptized with water, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. - Just a couple of weeks ago, I had the honour of holding my Godson while he was baptized. Here was this tiny baby who in an instant became a member of the Body of Christ. As I watched the priest pour a bit of Holy Water on his head, I couldn’t help but think of the amazing gift that I was holding in my arms, the miracle of the gift that this little baby was receiving, and the awesome responsibility that had just been handed to him at 8 weeks old. – We, too, have this same responsibility inherent in our own baptism, the responsibility that calls us to the repentance about which John preached. As members of the Body of Christ, Jesus has washed away all of our sins with His Blood, but we are not blameless. We cannot run free, caving in to secular pressures and crazy whims. Rather, we must strive to live our lives for Christ, yearning for Him, seeking Him, despite our imperfections. And yes, we must repent – the responsibility of our baptism calls us to examine our lives, to repent, and to turn away from that which separates us from our Lord and Saviour.

This evening, we’re coming to the end of the first week of Advent. For the next three weeks, we, like John, are called to live in the wilderness, in the desert of introspection and repentance, as we prepare for the coming of our Lord. This is no easy task. It’s Advent and yet everywhere we look we see Christmas lights and decorations. Christmas music is on the radio and in the stores. We’ve already had Black Friday and Cyber Monday – the message that we’re surrounded by is one of consumerism and tangible gifts. But let us not fooled, the real gift at Christmas the one about whom John preached: the tiny babe swaddled and lying in a manger. So, let us all move away from distraction and enter into the desert of repentance as we pray:

Living God,

Help us as we remember Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection,to be ready to receive Him not just when He comes again but each and every day of our lives.

Help us to confess our mistakes. Forgive us for all the wrongs we have done; may we read your Word with new insight as we offer you our living worship, and turn from all that is wrong and faithless in our lives.

Help us to focus on what is central to this season and not just on the trappings with which we surround it.

Help us to open our hearts and minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and respond to His prompting.

Help us to follow in the way of Christ, loving Him as he has loved us.

You have promised that Christ will come again: so prepare our hearts for His coming.

In His name we pray, Amen.