“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: Rejoice!” How true these words are, especially as we ponder them during this season of Advent. We have every reason to rejoice in the Lord, as we ponder His birth as a man who would live among us and show us a whole new way of living. One that was true to the original commandments, and that did away with the burdens imposed on many by men. A way of truth, love, and justice that provided dignity and security for all.
When Jesus gave us His teaching and showed us how the commandments were to be interpreted and lived, He brought clarity to the original intent, and took to task those who had corrupted it’s meaning for their own ends. Many of those in positions of authority received a sharp rebuke from our Lord for their actions that showed them to be more concerned with worldliness and wealth than with the good of the people whom God had intended for them to guide toward Him.
In our Gospel today, we hear of the instructions that the people received from John the Baptist, to address their own failings and to behave justly toward one another so that they would not be found wanting when Jesus came to them. He instructed them in how to look at their own situations and make the changes needed. He also told them of the one who was to come, when they began to think that perhaps he was the one chosen by God. He not only told them that this was not so, but completely humbled himself in illustrating his own insignificance compared to that of the one who was coming – Jesus. Yet the people still also heard from him the good news about Jesus coming, and how he would bring light and hope to the people who had waited in darkness for so long.
Our own anticipation each year at this time reflects much of these same feelings. We look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth, and to acknowledge His status as our Lord and King who saved us by His own death and resurrection. We too are consoled by hearing of this in our readings and then contemplating what is to come when next Jesus comes to us. If we take the time to really think of these things as we meditate on God’s word during this Advent season as part of our preparation, then we too should have cause to rejoice at the mighty savior who we will celebrate coming into our midst the first time in our humble form, and who we wait for expectantly to return to us in His glory.
The Deacons Bench 