Today would have been our mother’s 98th birthday. Thinking of her birthday reminded me of some of our childhood Christmas traditions. We may have put up a few decorations in early December, but the Christmas tree would not go up until after her birthday. In those days, we had real Christmas trees (my Boy Scout Troop sold them). We thought mother wanted to “protect” her birthday celebration, but it really was for safety. Trees with older style hot lights bulbs and tinsel (individual strands placed, not clumped together) dried out, and we wanted the tree to last until after New Year’s Day.
Through the years, those traditions have changed. Decorating for Christmas has come earlier (and earlier!) and become much more elaborate. Even the church’s preparation has changed. During childhood days there was no Chrismon Tree, no Advent Wreath, and not really much talk about a season of Advent. In the early 1970’s there was a time of liturgical renewal in the newly formed United Methodist Church. Advent Wreaths, greenery, and Chrismon Trees were added to sanctuaries. Some thought the church was following the secular world, but the worship leaders were trying to help us understand that we, the followers of Christ, needed some time to prepare for the celebration of the coming of Christ into our world. Our liturgies, our trees, our candles all help us remember that we are preparing for Christ’s coming.
As we prepare for the Third Sunday of Advent, we hear from John’s Gospel. We expect to hear about a young family on their holy journey to Bethlehem or maybe shepherds in the fields listening to the cantata of the angels. But John doesn’t offer any of the things that give us the warm feelings of Christmas. Instead, he points us toward the one who “leaped in his mother’s womb” when Elizabeth heard Mary’s story. Jesus’ cousin John comes to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isa. 40:3) He comes to bear witness to the coming Light of God, reminding all who would listen that the world’s darkness cannot overpower the Light that comes to us in Christ.
John speaks, and I am challenged to remember that our task, like his, is to bear witness to the light of Christ as a voice calling out in the wilderness of our disorganized, fractured, and selfish world. John’s task was to point the people of his day and time to the Christ whose love will transform the world. That is our task today.
In the wilderness in which we live, Christ’s love challenges us to continue to share in the work John began. In this season when we are surrounded by so many lights, we are called to boldly let the Light of Christ shine through us, allowing the world to see the way of Christ’s love, hope, forgiveness, and grace. There is a lot of darkness in our world these days. With John, we are challenged to live lives that point to the true Light, Jesus our Christ. Prepare the way of the Lord!
Prayer: Amazing God, giver of Christ to our world, help me to not trivialize the good news of your birth into the world. May your Light, O Christ, shine through me. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Mark Conner
As we prepare for the Third Sunday of Advent, we hear from John’s Gospel. We expect to hear about a young family on their holy journey to Bethlehem or maybe shepherds in the fields listening to the cantata of the angels. But John doesn’t offer any of the things that give us the warm feelings of Christmas. Instead, he points us toward the one who “leaped in his mother’s womb” when Elizabeth heard Mary’s story. Jesus’ cousin John comes to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isa. 40:3) He comes to bear witness to the coming Light of God, reminding all who would listen that the world’s darkness cannot overpower the Light that comes to us in Christ.
John speaks, and I am challenged to remember that our task, like his, is to bear witness to the light of Christ as a voice calling out in the wilderness of our disorganized, fractured, and selfish world. John’s task was to point the people of his day and time to the Christ whose love will transform the world. That is our task today.
In the wilderness in which we live, Christ’s love challenges us to continue to share in the work John began. In this season when we are surrounded by so many lights, we are called to boldly let the Light of Christ shine through us, allowing the world to see the way of Christ’s love, hope, forgiveness, and grace. There is a lot of darkness in our world these days. With John, we are challenged to live lives that point to the true Light, Jesus our Christ. Prepare the way of the Lord!
Prayer: Amazing God, giver of Christ to our world, help me to not trivialize the good news of your birth into the world. May your Light, O Christ, shine through me. Amen.
Rev. Dr. Mark Conner
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