Just as the prophet Isaiah foretold, John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord. And, although we hear this reminder during the Advent season, John's actual proclamation came as Jesus' ministry was about to begin. John wanted to be sure that people were ready to
see
the Messiah and to
pay attention
to Jesus.
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" was shouted again on Palm Sunday, as the people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus into their midst. They, too, wanted people to
see
the Messiah. And they couldn't help but
pay attention
to the events of Holy Week that led to the cross - and ultimately our salvation through Jesus' resurrection!
As we celebrate Advent once again, we are called to
pay attention
to the coming of Jesus. Yet, how difficult this can be in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season:
It's halfway through Advent, and what do I see?
I see shiny bright Christmas lights winking at me.
I see hurried shoppers on a gift-buying spree.
I see jolly old Santa with kids on his knee.
I see starry-eyed children who are smiling with glee.
I see cookies and snowmen and tinsel-wrapped trees.
I see sleighs with their sleigh bells that ring merrily.
I might see an angel or a bright star, but gee...
Where is the Christ-child, come to set us all free?
Often, we are so overwhelmed with preparations that we fail to
see
what we are preparing for - the miracle of Christ's birth. Do we take time to
pay attention
to those "God moments" that surprise us during this holy season? Thinking back, I've been struck with wonder by the words and music of an Advent anthem, by the happiness of neighbors receiving an anonymously-delivered Christmas care basket (but who figured it out anyway), and the Christmas Eve Communion delivered to the hospital by a pastor friend, his wife, and John after Ian's birth on December 22. I'm pretty sure it was a big "God moment" that I didn't go into labor in the choir loft on Christmas Eve. Can you think of times you've been surprised by God when you weren't
paying attention
?
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, if we truly
pay attention
, is that God loved us so much that Jesus came as a human to live among us and to redeem us from our sins through grace, so all will
see
the salvation of our Lord!
