the word of God in the desert

"...the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism for the forgivenss of sins."
Luke 3:2-3
Lectionary reading, second Sunday of Advent

"John the Baptist never shows up in any of the traditional Christmas pageants and plays presented during Advent by churches and schools around the world...Why? Is it because Advent is a peaceful, contemplative time of year and John the Baptist has a way of causing trouble--a way of disturbing the peace? John comes on the scene demanding repentance, warning us to turn our lives around, to turn our lives upside down!

I think one reason we like Advent is because, along with a sanitized view of the coming of the Christ child, it makes us quick to believe the lyrics of the beloved Christmas carol, 'All is calm, all is bright.' But we must be challenged to see that John the Baptist also plays a role in the Messiah story.

We say that we love peace. We especially like peace and quiet, it makes us comfortable. but a prophetic view of the Messiah's work requires us to ask difficult questions, such as: Is our comfort really just complacency?"--Jim Melchiorre from Reflections of Messiah (adapted)

"The times and places that open us to hearing the word of God are not always comfortable or comforting. 'The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert'....That desert was a hot, dry, harsh place which tested body and spirit. Our own deserts hold new possibilities for hearing the word of God at ever deepening levels. When the environment around us shifts and becomes unfamiliar, even harsh, we have the opportunity to let our spiritual ears perk up in order to tune into God's voice on wavelengths that previously escaped our awareness."
--Katherine L. Howard, O.S.B. from Waiting in Joyful Hope

Prayer of Confession
"God, our judge and our Guide,
you sent your messenger John
to cry out to those who fail to heed your word.
Give us hearts tuned to your voice and songs to sing your praise.
Forgive us for following crooked paths,
and put us on your straight highways.
Be our companion through the valleys
and keep us from stumbling in rough places.
Make a way for us in the wilderness of our distress...
That at Christ's coming we may be pure and blameless,
for the glory and praise of God. Amen."

Words of Assurance
"The Lord speaks tenderly to us,
for Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for our sins.
'The glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all the people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.' (Is 40:5)
Thanks be to God!"

--Blair Gilmer Meeks from Season of Light and Hope