John the Baptist shouted, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of the Lord.” This is Advent, and we should be preparing for the coming of the Christ Child. However, when we think of the man shouting, most of us would be a bit afraid of what he looked like. After all, we live in a society where looks matter, bodily odors matter, food that is strange or disgusting to us matters…right?
John wore clothing of camel’s hair, and he ate locusts with wild honey. If the people of Jerusalem and Judea willingly confessed their sins, he would baptize them. When the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to him, wanting the same thing, he called them “a brood of vipers.” He said that God would cut down any tree that did not bear fruit and would throw the tree into the fire.
He baptized with water for repentance; he knew that he was not fit to wear Christ’s sandals. Baptism involved both the Holy Spirit and the fire. God would clear His threshing floor and would gather the wheat into the granary with a fork in His hand. The chaff would be burned by the fire.
Just as the people of our world continue to sin, so God will follow through with His promises. We must repent of our sins, because heaven is near. We are not worthy to wear Christ’s sandals, and we are not worthy to have our sins forgiven. Believing that His Children are worthy of forgiveness, God gave us the gift of life with the death of His Son. We must be willing to sacrifice for Him, and do everything possible to keep Satan from destroying what God has made.
That is what we must do because heaven is at hand, God is with us, and the fate of the world depends on our willingness to do the right things for all. Are you ready for the birth of Christ and for what His light will bring to the world? Charles Dickens wrote in The Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” This philosophy illustrates the complexity of the French Revolution; it contrasts wisdom with foolishness, belief with disbelief, and light with dark. In our modern, complex times, prepare for the coming of the Christ Child; prepare for His light. What we do now will be the best of times or the worst of times. What do you want? Do you want the Christ Child?
(Paraphrase of Matthew 3: 1-12)
Anna Hartt
