As
for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you
do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything
and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. 1 John 2:27
So
they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What
do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of
the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” John
1:22-23
Piety
The LORD is my shepherd; there is
nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down; to
still waters he leads me; he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths for the sake
of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your
staff comfort me. (Psalm 23)
Study
During Advent, we had several readings about John,
his voice and the voice or lack of voice that his father Zechariah suffered. With that basis, I really thought I would
reflect today about John getting his “voice.”
However, in going back to the Hebrew Bible to re-read the passage in
Isaiah that formed the basis for today’s Gospel, something did not fit
together. When I read it, and then checked
with the way it was passed on in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it did
not seem accurate.
Here is what is written in Isaiah: “A voice
proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the
wasteland a highway for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3)
Isaiah does not say where the voice is
located. Isiah explains that our way to
the Lord begins in the wilderness. From
that wasteland, we can be led back along the highway to God.
What we read today and elsewhere in the Synoptic
Gospels is at a minimum a re-punctuation and reinterpretation of the Hebrew
text of Isiah 40:3. The prophet does not require John to go to the desert. The prophet requires us to go to the desert. It is only “in the wilderness” that we can
prepare the way of the Lord. John goes
there to lead us there so that Jesus can lead us back to the restful waters and
the cool streams of the well-travelled road.
Action
Our preparation for the Messiah must start in
the wilderness. After baptism, then
Jesus will lead our New Exodus back.
Moses led the Israelites back to the Promised Land through the
desert. Joseph led the Holy Family back
to Nazareth through the desert.
Our journey back does not start at the Sandals
all-inclusive resort. It does not start
on the Norwegian cruise line. It does
not start at the IMAX 3-D screening of Star Wars: A Force Awakens or on the
Main Street in Disney World. Our
preparation does not begin on Hollywood and Vine, Madison Avenue or either end
of Pennsylvania Avenue. It also does not
start in Iowa or New Hampshire.
We may not be called to or through the actual
or physical desert. Some may be but not
all. However, in our life, we may be
called to or through a psychological, emotional, social or spiritual desert
when we think we are alone. Allow Jesus
to lead you to still waters and restore your soul this year.
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