The prophets remind us that God is always making a way toward us; making a way forward from out of the trouble we find ourselves in towards a time and society of justice and mercy; and of calling us to find a way in our own inner world that helps us discern what is important and makes for life. (Advent Two. Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:1-11; and Luke 3:1-6.)
You may like to read what I wrote three years ago on these readings
Or you may like to read the reflection in the Advent study pages 14-16.
The second week of Advent always focuses on the prophets. This year we hear from Isaiah, Malachi, and John the Baptiser. As we listen to the prophets, we are reminded that God has always and is still making a way toward us through whatever obstacles we have individually and collectively built. Injustice, feint heartedness, forgetfulness does not thwart the love of God. God ‘s love seeks us out.
For the individual nothing less than metanoia – the changing of one’s mind and life – is called for. Metanoia, or repentance, is much more than just personal regret and sorrow and shame, it is a whole of mind change. There is both the sense that we choose to change our mind and that entering into relationship with the divine changes our minds, makes us new and renewed. Communal metanoia or repentance requires a complete change in how we are society and how we treat one another and all of creation.
Indeed, in the worst of times God sends the prophets to announce liberation and hope. It is when the world is in darkness that the light will break in and visit us. And it is in the hard times that the flattening of hills and raising up of valleys is the only true hope! When life is hard then it is necessary and loving to make the path straight and one which all can walk if they choose, where those with feeble knees and carrying young can walk. And the worse the situation the greater the upheaval must be to bring true comfort and hope. For society nothing less than the lifting up of the lowly and the sending the rich away empty will make enough change for true liberation or salvation to be experienced. In Advent we get in touch with our desire for radical change that will proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour for the poor and the forgotten, the broken and the left behind, the little ones of God including us and those we love and care for.
Which means that in Advent we are to find our calling to herald the arrival of God’s way on earth, to be emissary’s who shout in whatever wilderness we find ourselves in “Prepare the way of the Lord”. Many of us feel as though we are yet again in for a time of wilderness, and it may be so. This is not the end. Rather it is the challenge to step up and forward to be become proclaimers, welcomers, enthusiastic supports of those who come bearing the standard of God. For some of us we are being called upon to prophetically describe what is happening and what God requires of us. Others of us are to be applauders on the sidelines of every good and just and merciful act. Others may be called upon to support, to hide, to protect, the prophets of this time. And all of us are reminded of the need to act justly and as generously as we are able.
And Paul describes how the internal process by which we might grow in loving action in the world works: “And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” The call to justice and mercy is to come from a heart and mind that overflows with love and from the insight to know what is best.
Advent reminds us that God is always making a way toward us through the words of the prophets, the beauty and the cries of creation, the gifts and needs of our neighbours, and the spirit of love that overflows our hearts and convicts us of just and righteous action. It is not one thing or the other but God working in and through all things that work toward the liberation of the whole of creation, the salvation of all. Nothing less. So much more than just a sentimental visitation as a baby.
Even so, come Lord Jesus the Christ, come change our hearts and minds.
This is my work informed by all I have heard, read and experienced. I am indebted to the wisdom of others. This week I am especially grateful to Dorothy Lee and Robyn Whitaker of Pilgrim Theological college. https://bythewell.com.au/episodes/c202-advent-2
John T. Squires has also written a series of very comprehensive blogs on this week's readings which can be found at https://johntsquires.com
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