Advent 2015 (3rd Sunday)

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been reminded of just what an important period Advent is for us.  It could simply be treated as a period of four weeks of rushing around, making things ready for the festive season, meeting up with family, friends and colleagues, buying all those last-minute gifts and supplies. There is nothing wrong with all of this, and it is indeed important for us to ensure that we have everything in place for our seasonal celebrations. For us though, it is also about far more than that.

Those of you who joined me at St Paul’s, Old Ford on Sunday evening will remember that Fr. James spoke about Advent being a time of anticipation, a time to prepare, to reflect and to pray.

Over the weeks of Advent, the church gives us various themes to reflect upon. They are the Patriarchs, the Prophets, John the Baptist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This week, we take time to reflect on John the Baptist, the forerunner, the messenger.

In our Gospel reading this morning, John speaks of the importance of repentance, the need to prepare and to be ready. We hear it too in the words of our Gospel Acclamation:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight.”

In the reading, there is an anticipation, almost an excitement and an eagerness in the crowd. Various groups of people from all different backgrounds ask John the same question: “What do we need to do to prepare?”

For each of the different groups, John has a different answer.  He challenges each of the groups, and it is a tough challenge. But why is this? It’s because the challenge which John issues calls upon the members of each of group to look at their lives and to change their very way of life.  Here are some very quick examples of his challenges.

Firstly, John’s challenge to them is to think not only of themselves, but also of others:

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none.” 

He uses the same example with those who have enough food to share with others.

The next group to ask what they should do in order to prepare themselves is, on the face of it, an unlikely bunch – none other than a group of tax collectors. John’s challenge to them would be one that might prove particularly difficult. Tax collectors were in the habit of charging more than was actually due.  Understandably, this did not make them the most popular group among the people.  The more they charged, the more they were disliked, and, so it seemed, the more they were disliked, the more they overtaxed. John’s challenge to them is:

“Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”

The final group we hear about is a group of soldiers, who, when they ask John what they should do to prepare themselves, are told:

“Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

On hearing these things, people begin to question John as to whether he is the Messiah.  He is most insistent that he is not. The explanation he gives is:

“I baptise you with water, but one who is coming is more powerful than I […] He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

Some of you may have recently seen Pope Francis pushing wide the holy doors of St Peter’s Basilica at the start of what he called a “year of mercy.” It is a jubilee, and the first time the doors had been opened since the year 2000.  The door had in fact been bricked up since then, and work had to be carried out to reveal it again in all its splendour. His hope is that all the faithful who pass through those doors will experience the love of God, who consoles, pardons and instils hope.

In some ways, the challenges which John the Baptist issues to the people are all about showing the love of God. Sharing with others, showing mercy to others. These are fundamental values which form part of what it is to live as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, perhaps above all, John instils hope with his assertion that someone is coming who is greater than he, who will baptise with none other than the Holy Spirit. So much for the people of his time. John’s call to the people to prepare and be ready are also meant for us in our generation.  Here then is our challenge: how will we prepare? How will we respond? How will we ensure that we are ready to meet our Lord in the celebration of His birth?

How each of us prepares will be different of course, but maybe the things we have to do will not be easy for us, just as they were not easy for the different groups of people in John’s time.

In all the busyness of our preparations, let us make space for the Lord. Let us be ready to meet Him when He comes among us as we recall his birth, not anywhere grand, but in a lowly stable.

Let us make space for ourselves to reflect during the remaining time of this most holy Advent season. Reflecting on exactly what recalling the birth of our Lord means to us, and what effect it will have upon the way we live our lives.

In our words and actions, will we show the love of God to others? Will we show mercy to others, in whatever way that may be?  All of us are able to do it. We may even do it without realising what a difference we have made to another person.

By investing the time and energy to prepare and reflect properly on the coming season, may our prayer be that it helps us to experience to an even greater extent the true meaning and significance of our Lord’s birth for us, for our community and for the world.

Through meaningful prayer, preparation and reflection, we can say and sing the words of one of our best-known hymns with even greater conviction: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” 

Let us not forget exactly who “Emmanuel” is. None other than “God with us.”

AMEN