Action News: Mark 1:1-8 - Second Sunday of Advent

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (NRSV)

Baptisms in the Jordan River by Robbie Hott on Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Think of Mark as the Readers’ Digest Gospel—because it is the most concise of the four. Don’t go looking for the Nativity Story here, because you won’t find it. This Gospel begins not in the manger, but in the Judean wilderness, where John the Baptizer is proclaiming “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

 

And people from Jerusalem and the whole Judean countryside are coming out to be baptized. This they do in expectation of the one who is coming, who is greater than John, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

 

Even though Mark doesn’t tell us explicitly, it’s safe to assume these are people like you and me. They had duties and responsibilities like we do.  Many were undoubtedly experiencing pains and anxieties that tested their faith.  Some may have enjoyed great prosperity—but still, they lacked something critical that their money or social status couldn’t buy them. Nevertheless, when the Gospel was proclaimed, they couldn’t turn away. God was leading them in a new direction—and they had to follow.

 

Every year at Advent, we hear these same passages about preparing the way of the Lord. But life goes on pretty much the same. You’re either caught up in the hoopla of materialism and sentimentality; or, you’re hurting. I always say that if you hurt, you hurt worse at Christmas. You’re missing someone you love; you can’t afford to buy presents for your children; you’re captive to a chronic illness or abusive relationship.

 

This year, the whole world has been turned upside-down. The Coronavirus has driven us apart from each other to the point that children can’t go to school; families can’t celebrate holidays, and we can’t come to church. Parents are separated from children and children from their parents—in hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and migrant detention centers. With much of the activity that usually occurs this time of year being canceled, it’s not so easy to ignore the harsh realities of life. People are dying. People are hungry. People are losing hope.

 

Suddenly, you hear the voice crying out in the wilderness, “Comfort, O comfort my people.” “Here is your God!” “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!” You’ve heard these words before—but this year, they take on a new and powerful urgency. 

 

The coming of Jesus into the world—and that this good news has been declared to you—puts you in a moment of decision. Do you put your trust in God’s promises? Or do you keep going your own way? Do you keep indulging anger and bitterness over the way things are?

 

I will never say that the pandemic is a good thing, because it’s not. But if it has taught us anything, it has been to expose to us the wrongfulness of how we’ve been living. Success, achievement, and material possessions do not make for a meaningful life. You can’t be well if your neighbor is not well. You can’t keep wasting the gifts of God’s good creation with no thought of future generations.

 

This is why Jesus comes—and why people go out to him.

 

Even as the pandemic worsens and innocent people die; as frontline workers are exhausted and neighbors line up by the thousands for food…

 

This is why Jesus comes—and why people go out to him. “Comfort, O comfort my people.” “Here is your God!” “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!”

 

Jesus comes bearing the presence of God to all for whom life has become unlivable. He comes to lead you down in a new path; on a new direction; on a journey towards healing and transformation.

 

Think about what this will mean to you this Advent: Jesus is calling out to you. Calling out to show you mercy and compassion. Calling out to forgive you. Calling you away from the whirlwind of activity and worry into the peace that passes understanding. The voice of Jesus will be calling out to you in the cries and groanings of the neighbor who needs your love and good works. Jesus assuring you that your simple acts of care and concern can mean the difference between life and death. Jesus assuring you that anything you do for the least of those who are members of God’s family, you do for Jesus himself.

 

Jesus was born in a manger, but he comes alive for you when faith meets obedience, and when godly compassion meets human needs; when forgiveness is sought and received; when love prevails. Let this Advent be the one Jesus makes history—for your life to go in a whole new direction, leading you closer and closer to Jesus and the life he brings to the world. Don’t keep going down the well-worn path. You did that last year. Follow Jesus in a new direction, trusting in him to lead you towards the life that is really life.