Readings
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Canticle 15 (The Magnificat)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8,19-28
Today we hear a very different version of the story about John the Baptist. In fact, he is not even referred to as such. At first he is simply introduced as John. We are told he came to bear witness to the light. And what/who is the light? Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is unequivocally stated to be the incarnation of God and is the light of the world, a light which the darkness cannot overcome.
John is very clear about his role. Even when the religious authorities send representatives to question him he makes clear that he is neither Elijah nor the prophet. Quoting Isaiah, he tells them that he is “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’”
In other words, John is making clear that he is not the one that they wait for. He is not the messiah. He is not the incarnate one. He is simply the witness. He is the one who points to the one who is to come.
But let us be clear, despite the language of our tradition, John is far more than simply a forerunner of Jesus. John is the witness. He testifies to the truth of who Jesus is and proclaims his coming. He invites others to be available to the experience that will come with Jesus.
And what is that experience? Well, we need look no further than the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures to have a sense of what is to come. It is a world in which good news comes to the oppressed, where the brokenhearted are bound up, where the captives are set free, and the prisoners released; where those who mourn are comforted, and celebration, gladness, and praise are hallmarks of the age.
Jesus is ushering in a new reality for those who will accept him and the message he proclaims. He is offering a new and different way of living and a new and different promise, an alternative to the promises of the present age in his time. His is a vision of the reign of God, where life is more than our material existence, more than the pursuit of power or wealth. He offers us nothing less than salvation, which in Hebrew means healing and victory.
Living in an age of warfare, oppression, terror, and economic injustice, the person to which John points is a welcome respite from the woes that those around him faced. John is clear that his job is not to be the Christ, but to proclaim him; to witness to his presence and power; to invite others to embrace him when he comes.
This is an important point since we too are called to be Christ’s witnesses in our present age. While as a community we represent the Body of Christ in the world, each of us is not a mini-Christ. No, we need to be clear, just as John was clear, about who we are and about who we are not.
We too live in a time of warfare, terror, and economic exploitation. We are constantly being told, both in direct and indirect ways, that we are nothing more than the matter of our bodies and that the purpose of life is the accumulation of wealth and power. That comfort reigns above all else and that those less successful than us in our capitalist society are deserving of the suffering they may or may not receive.
As followers in the way of Jesus we, like John, are called to be Christ’s witnesses. We are called to proclaim the alternative reality Christ offers if we are but willing to claim him as our Lord.
And how appropriate for us to do so in the secular season of unbridled consumption. Many if not most of us are unable to keep up with the expectations of our culture. The picture-perfect vision of Christmas replete with a happy family, a perfect feast, and a festooned tree with copious gifts is impossible for most and even when the facsimile is achieved leaves most of us wanting.
Why? Because it buys into the false narrative of our culture. It leaves us believing that lasting joy comes from the things we have rather than from the ground of our being.
No friends, if we are to be followers of Christ and participants in his kingdom then we too must be as John and be witnesses to an alternative. We must, like Dr. Seuss’ the Grinch, be the ones who proclaim that Christmas is not about “packages, boxes, or bags.” We must remind those around us that Christmas means a whole lot more.
Yes, we are called to be partners with Christ in the ushering in of his kingdom. We are called to be his hands and heart in this world. But we need to be clear about who we are as well. In the end we are not the Christ. But we are his witnesses. We are called to proclaim his coming and the promise and vision that comes with him.
We must be bold, just as John was bold. We must be brave, just as John was brave. And we must be willing to risk embarrassment, confusion, and a lack of eloquence in order to proclaim him to the people around us.
I know for us as Episcopalians we get very squirmy, very uncomfortable, when thinking about such things. We are keen to respect the lives and the beliefs of others. But I am challenging you to think of ways in which to proclaim Christ that do respect others. And I am also challenging you to be willing to offer an alternative to the broken choices of our age and to be a voice for the good news of the one who has come and is coming into our lives.
How might each of us reach out to someone we know who is struggling or bereft? How might we build affinity and solidarity with someone who is stressed out by trying to meet the expectations of this holiday season? How might we be a gentle friend that offers support to someone who may be having difficulty with Christmas or the holidays in general?
Well, I would love to be able to give you a magic bullet, a one size fits all answer. But it just doesn’t exist. Each of us will need to find the answer to these questions based on the particulars of who we are engaging and the context in which we do so. Each of us must do the hard work of being a caring and compassionate person of faith. But regardless, none of us (myself included) are off the hook. To do these things is not optional, but integral if we are to follow in the way of Jesus and be his witnesses.
Like John, let us hold fast to the vision of a Christ who is always breaking in, into our lives and into this world. Let us be voices that point to the Christ who touches us deeply and transforms our lives. Let us offer those around us encouragement and strength, not by our own merit but by the grace of the one whom we proclaim. Let us be an Advent people awaiting with joy not simply the celebration of Christ’s birth but the salvation that comes every day of the year. And let our joy be a vehicle for Christ to transform both us and those around us now and always.