Advent
December 5, 2015

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, –Luke 3:1-3

Luke apparently felt it was important to establish the exact timing of John’s entrance onto the stage of the coming of Jesus based on Luke’s assessment of those who were thought to hold power at the time. A Roman Emperor, a territorial Roman governor, a Jewish ruler, and influential religious leaders all made the list. John, the Baptist, apparently did not put much stock in such leaders. His call was for the people to repent to turn around, to receive forgiveness for the world was about to change before their very eyes.

I cannot remember a time in my life when it has been more important for common people to take up the message of turning around, receiving forgiveness, and taking up the task of changing the world through the power of love not war or any violence or power or wealth. Those of us who live in the USA actually already have the avenues in place to make such a move. The real question may be whether we truly believe love is stronger than fear and more powerful than violence. I would challenge us today to wonder if we truly want the very best for everyone in the world or if we want to reserve just a little more for ourselves than some others. This challenge comes because the answer to the first question about love is answered in our response to the challenge.

The sad truth is that as long as any of us wants to be better than others of us, all of us will be worth-less.

Prayer: God whose image is imprinted in every heart of every person on this earth, teach us to love each other. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.