Advent

December 4, 2021

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, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
   and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
   and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

As an advocate activist, I am very aware of who the rulers are of my nation, state, county, city, and even the school board, although I have no children in school. I also can identify the leaders of my faith and church. In naming these leaders, Luke describes the part of the world into which Jesus was coming. What comes to your mind when you remember Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, or Hitler? By simply naming names, Luke paints a historic picture upon which he will sketch the life of Jesus.

As an advocate activist, John the Baptist called all who heard his voice to do justice and show mercy. He warned the people and the leaders to repent, change their ways from doing that which was neither righteous nor kind. He further alerted them that the One, Isaiah described, was coming soon to fulfill the prophet’s vision. John was very aware of how those leaders failed to respond to the call for justice and mercy. Instead, most were dedicated to maintaining their power and wealth. Thus, he provided a wake-up call while laying the groundwork for Jesus’s ministry.

We, too, must be aware of the world’s impact on all God’s people, and all people are God’s. We, too, must seek to do God’s justice and share God’s love as demonstrated in the life of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, during this Advent season, help us examine ourselves and repent of anything separating us from you. 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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.