The Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: Year C
Luke 3: 1 to 6
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias rulerof Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (Luke 3:1and 2)
Luke shares with us that God is not impressed with human titles. We have the emperor, a regional governor, a puppet king and his brother and another ruler from the political side in charge of places hard for the English tongue to even begin to pronounce. And then we have the clergy; two high priests for that year. But get this; the word of God Almighty, goes to a man living in the wilderness!
There is no room left for God if we are already full of ourselves. A cup or chalice is only useful for us if it is empty in order that we might fill it with what we desire. The same is true for God as we are made the clay cup of the Potter.
John spent his days on a low comfort budget while baptizing people for the forgiveness of their sins. He was not in it for John. He was in it for the Salvation of God coming into the world. He was all about the sweat equity of reconciliation, of making straight paths for God as proclaimed by his father Zechariah in our Canticle 16 Reading for today. He was not on any kind of EGO trip. A friend of mine told me once that EGO stood for “Edging God Out.” Like those men in high “man-made” places of human authority. They had no, or too little, room for the Presence of God.
Let’s you and I not fall into the “ego” category. You know, just a little time each day being quiet to let God in, is all it takes. Like John the Baptist, invite God into yourself for the benefit of us all. All of us need reconciliation with one another. This reconciliation begins with you.
Please continue to keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 