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Advent People are busy scurrying hither and thither in that frantic dance that precedes Christmas.We can’t use the Bible to slow people down. The Old and New Testament readings for this season are filled with equal busyness -- Jeremiah announced judgement on a treacherous Israel. Micah announced restoration ... John the Baptist called for repentance , yelling out the message of Isaiah: "make straight the roads in the dessert ... all flesh will see the coming of the Lord!" -- The evil forces are rallying too: John is arrested. People get their backs up because Israel is supposed to be spared messages of destruction and judgement -- after all, they are God’s own special people! ... And yet -- we must change our pace, our thinking, our direction, our actions -- says John, so that it can be seen that we are remorseful of our past ways -- and to be found worthy of our Lord when he comes ... Sometimes, some people can’t slow down. The single mom can’t. The street person can’t. The son or daughter caring for a sick family member can’t. But, maybe, we can -- ? John’s advice to the rich and to the tax-collectors and to the soldiers can be found in Luke’s Gospel, the third chapter. Isn’t his advice good advice for us too? Wm. Barclay, I believe, said that John was telling those people to do their best at whatever they did: share if you can, don’t cheat people at taxes, don’t extort money from people by force or by any means! Why? -- probably because God loves those other people too -- and God doesn’t want to see them suffer! Help them instead! And -- God loves you too -- and doesn’t want to see you suffer -- nor to be damned to an eternity without him! Advent. Our redeemer is coming. God’s Word gives us some sound, concrete advice on how to ‘strive for heavenly things’ while we’re still on this earth! They’re so basic -- and yet so challenging. However, and God be praised, the Lord of the Dance himself is always willing to teach us how -- Amen
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