Our readings in Advent take on a distinctively apocalyptic tone of something new being revealed for which we must prepare. We hear the words of the Hebrew prophets echoing through the ages, speaking to the people of their time and speaking to us today. In our three-year lectionary cycle, we hear most frequently from the prophet Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Immanuel and who is therefore most closely associated with the coming of Christ. This year, we hear from the prophets Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Micah, who bring us similar words of hope and promise. On Sunday, we will hear how John the Baptist received the word of God in the wilderness before proclaiming a baptism of repentance. Two weeks later, we will hear how Mary, after pondering God’s word in her heart, sang out her song of hope and joy.
Scripture tells us that the word of the Lord came to these people. They were not necessarily seeking it out. In fact, some were very reluctant to receive it, as if they felt they were not up to the task. But God’s word came to them nonetheless, calling them to proclaim the Good News. Somehow, they were able to hear it. Somehow, they were able to see it. Somehow, they were able to wait with open hearts and open minds and receive it. It sounds a little like prayer – a kind of Advent prayer we may say as we watch and wait ourselves. The message seems to be that in order to honestly and truthfully proclaim God’s word, prayer has to happen first. Listening has to happen first. Connecting with God has to happen first.
We will have a chance to spend some time with patriarchs and prophets, John the Baptist, and Mary on Saturday, December 14, when the Reverend Dr. Ayla Lepine from St. James’s Piccadilly will join me on Zoom in a conversation on Advent themes using four objects from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. We’ll also be posting short videos about each object that you’ll be able to view any time.
Prayer can take many different forms. It can happen with words or images, with sound or silence, in activity or stillness. In this season of Advent, I hope you will experiment with different ways of praying, as we prepare for the coming of God among us. Like our prophetic forebears, we may at first feel some reluctance to receive God’s word, as if we’re not up to the task. But God is calling us just the same, equipping us with everything we need to go out and proclaim the Good News that is and was and is to come.
