Students coming to campus, many of whom are on their own and leaving home for the first time, quickly learn that their choices have real world consequences. If I don't study for that test I will not get a good grade. If I skip class too many times, I will fail the class. If Netflix becomes my god and I binge-watch too many shows, I will get overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to do. If I stay in my dorm all the time, I will not make friends. Students are uprooted from home and quickly re-rooted in a new place with a new set of expectations, responsibilities and people who are part of their lives. This can be disorienting, exciting, mystifying and stressful all at the same time. Under those circumstances any of us would be tempted to seek comfort and numb ourselves to that change through TV, Social Media or worse. It can be lonely.
The people of Israel were in a similar position. They had been through a transition of their King and many reforms were taking place. The prophet, Zephaniah offers a stern warning to the people not to stray from what matters most. He calls them to repentance which is a turning back to God. A re-centering of their lives on what matters most. To turn away from their idol of choice. He warns them not to get too distracted and chase after things that do not bring true peace, harmony and fulfillment in their lives. He wants them to turn back to God and God's ways.
Advent is perhaps the most distracting time of the year. The holidays are rarely a time for re-centering, reflection, returning to what matters most. It's often more about the guilt for not getting our Christmas cards, running errands, stressful travel and the list goes on and on. The good news is that Jesus knows that it is our tendency to get distracted and to make choices that draw us further away from God and into a place of being overwhelmed. Jesus is God with us. The one who comes to us in the messiness. When we are uprooted, Jesus roots himself next to us. When we are running away from God, Jesus is running toward us. When we are miles away from having the rhythm of life or the kind of relationship with God we desire, the words of the Prophet come to us showing God's faithfulness and desire to be near and cheer us on. May you hear God singing over the noise in your life with songs of peace, love and joy.
