I love Advent. These four weeks before Christmas are an unopened gift. During what is a busy time with shopping, school concerts, homes to clean, people to visit, family arriving or leaving for Christmas and a host of other things on our “to do” lists, these four weeks offer us the gift to reset and prepare space for Christ to be born in our hearts and in our world.
It may seem a little tone deaf and out of touch with all that is happening at this time of year, but it is necessary. This is when we hear the voice of John the Baptist proclaim that the People of God are to repent. Then they will need to be baptised, not with water mind you, but with the Holy Spirit. Then once all that is done, there is the cautionary note about fire and damnation. It is a bleak message and one too that seems quite out of touch with reality and the point of the season, but think about it for a moment.
John proclaims a message of repentance, what he means is for the People of God to do an about turn and go in the opposite direction. They are to turn around and turn back to God. Baptism with the Holy Spirit transforms the People of God to carry out the mission that God has planned for them. Fire, while rather troubling, can also remind us of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit breathing life into the People of God to empower them to do God’s work. But for that to happen, they need to let go, to burn off that which is holding them back from being the people God intends them to be.
What do you need to let go this Advent in order to be ready for Christ to be born again in your life? How can you make space, like the Innkeeper of long ago, for Christ to be born in your heart, your life, and our world?
Editor’s note: This is the final column by Rev. Robin Ruder Celiz as he is moving to a new parish in Surrey.
