Preparing The Way
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11-12)
John the baptizer's entire purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. As we redecorate our homes, adjust our bank accounts and reorder our lives around the Christmas holiday, prayerfully we are also assessing our values and priorities, adjusting our attitudes, and realigning our lives with the One whom we celebrate. Making room in our lives for Christ and preparing for God's kingdom on earth also means making room for others - not just those coming after us, but those who would walk along side us.
At least in theory, we do a good job of preparing for those who will come after us - ensuring that they can do everything just as we do it, and if they don't we won't be there to see it. But how well are our hearts and minds prepared for those who will come along side us. Are we prepared to teach those who will do things differently or "wrong"? Are we as ready to listen and learn as we are to teach? Are we willing to share or even yield the spotlight to someone just as capable or, perhaps, more capable than ourselves? Scary, messy work indeed - we may not always be happy, it won't always be fun, everyone won't agree. This is a season of giving and sharing, of welcoming and remembering, and of opening - opening gifts, yes, but also our doors, our hearts, our whole selves to the messiness of each other. During his birth, his life, and his death, our savior was soiled with the world's mess - our mess. We too are so called, to the glory of God.
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; 10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; 11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; 12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15: 7-13)
