Letting God lead the dance
Second Sunday of Advent, 2021
“Stay awake! Christ is coming!”
What exactly is it we should be doing while we wait to celebrate the incarnation – the moment when the Living Light – the Christ Light – enters this world again?
In these weeks readings listed below, we hear that John the Baptist is proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin, son to Elizabeth and Zechariah. According to Jesus, John the Baptist is Elijah reincarnated [Matthew 11]; Jesus proclaims that he is the Elijah who was to come to herald the coming of the Messiah by telling us to “Stay awake! Christ is coming!”
John is baptizing people in the Jordan River. He is a prophet in the wilderness calling us to repentance. The Gospel passage tells us that John is doing his work “as it is written in the words of Isaiah” [or in order to fulfill Isaiah’s words]
A herald’s voice in the desert, crying,
Make ready the way of Our God; clear
a straight path. Every valley will be
filled and every mountain and hill will
be leveled. The twisted paths will be
made straight and the rough road
smooth….
What do these words mean?
Those words are from Isaiah 40 which begins with words offered as a comfort to God’s people. The chapter starts like this:
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed.”
Who is being called to make the paths straight? The words say “make ready the way of our God but we usually interpret that as “make ready the way for our God.
God is the one who made the hills and valleys. Does God need us to make the paths straight?
Why this call to transform the landscape? And whose job is it? Is it God who transforms the mountains and valleys? Or is that our job?
This idea of transformation or upheaval can also be found in the Magnificat from two chapters earlier in Luke. Here, Mary proclaims that it is God who does the work of transformation:
God has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
God has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
God has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
God has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
Why does God want this transformation? We find a clue in our first reading from Baruch:
“For God has commanded that every lofty mountain be made low, and that the age-old depths and gorges be filled to level ground,
[but why?]
that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God….For God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and justice for company.”
God commands it so that Israel may advance secure in God’s glory. God is leading Israel in joy! God wants us to walk in glory.
God wants to make this easy for us. We are the ones who make it a struggle.
This image of transforming the hills and valleys could be a metaphor for transforming our hearts and minds. That brings us to John proclaiming a baptism of repentance.
We are all familiar with baptism. Jewish people had many rituals of purification that were water-based washings. These rituals are an outward sign that symbolizes an inward transformation. The rituals acknowledge that it is God who has the power to cleanse our hearts and lives.
What about “repentance?” What is your reaction to the word Repentance? Does your mind come up with an image of a threatening guy wearing a sandwich board standing on a street corner yelling, “Repent! The end is near?” Does repentance mean beat yourself up or roll around in shame and self pity?
The word “repentance” in Greek is “metanoia” meaning to have a change of mind, or better said, “to think differently afterwards” or “changing your mind after being with,” as in being with Jesus in prayer? In the words of Maya Angelou: when you know better, you do better. Repentance means to be convinced of another way, to change your mind or convictions. To respond to an interaction with God by changing your actions. It means to turn from going your own way to going God’s way. To allow God to lead the dance.
All of the readings this week paint a picture of the work of repentance this way: God invites us to transform or change our hearts. To refocus on God! To collaborate with God! And to celebrate!
Our first reading from Baruch: take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever
Our Responsorial Psalm: God has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. On repeat!
Our Second Reading: the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. There is already good work happening!
We are invited to be co-creators with God. Let’s work WITH God to make the paths clear: Get ready for Christ’s birth by identifying and cleaning out your clutter, get rid of whatever is distracting you, remove the rocks in your own path and climb out of those valleys that are keeping you stuck. Work together WITH God. Pay attention and see if and when we put rocks in the paths of others. And clear out that clutter, too.
This weeks’ readings tell us to get ready! Get dressed in your robes of righteousness! Hang up the Christmas lights! Deck the halls! We are about to have a fabulous party with a very special guest!
May this period of preparation be filled with excitement and joy!
Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, 2021
Baruch 5:1-9