Thoughts for the Day

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”’

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.....

‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In the parish church in Manorbier, in Wales, there is a huge ancient board, showing the royal arms of King William III when the Act of Settlement was proclaimed in 1701. This Act settled the succession to the English and Irish crowns to Protestants, limiting it to Anne, and then the heirs of Charles I who were Protestants. We saw recently with the death of Queen Elizabeth II notice of the accession of the new King, Charles III, was publicly announced by heralds throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. In the days before phones and computers, important information was announced every Sunday in the parish church sometimes for weeks, and a record of it made in a visible way, for it was important that everyone knew who was the monarch.

John the Baptist effectively acts in such a way, he announces that the Kingdom of Heaven is close by and the new King - the Messiah - is coming. The people need to be prepared for what is to happen. He makes the unusual demand that they should confess their sin and be baptised (normally gentiles converting to Judaism), and his fiery preaching and bizarre appearance as well as his arrival from the desert drew thousands to him.

We have no John the Baptist to stir us up, but we too have grown complacent about the future. Can we wake up spiritually this Advent, ready to welcome the anniversary of the Messiah's arrival as a baby in a manger?

Heavenly Father,
draw us to Yourself this Advent,
that we may find time for You
among all the plans for Christmas.
Help us to look honestly at our life
and to make changes
that will outlast the New Year.
Call us to wake up and hear the Good News.
Amen.