What's around the corner

18Dec
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.’
-Mark 1:1-8


Am I the only one who has grown weary of hearing about John the Baptist? May I assert for us all: “We get it. John was foretold by Isaiah. He was the one in the wilderness calling out for people to repent. He had to decrease so Jesus could increase. We got it!” This weariness of “odd Uncle John,” as Father Pitzer referred to him, was brought home Sunday when we heard about him yet again as we lit the third Advent Candle, the pink candle, which I always associated with Mary. The Mother of Christ hasn’t yet made her appearance in our readings, but she is always so heavy on my mind during Advent. 


Every year as we wait for Jesus, I think of this passage from Rachel Held Evans: 


“It is nearly impossible to believe: God shrinking down to the size of a zygote, implanted in the soft lining of a woman’s womb. God growing fingers and toes. God kicking and hiccupping in utero. God inching down the birth canal and entering this world covered in blood, perhaps into the steady, waiting arms of a midwife. God crying out in hunger. God reaching for his mother’s breasts. God totally relaxed, eyes closed, his chubby little arms raised over his head in a posture of complete trust. God resting in his mother’s lap. . . .” (Wholehearted Faith, Rachel Held Evans with Jeff Chu).


I imagine Mary as equal parts delight and terror when the Baby Jesus was placed in her arms. Isn’t every first mother? Despite the preparations we make? In this time and place new parents-to-be agonize over which stroller to buy. We choose our bottle brands and make our baby registries. And… SO MANY BOOKS! My baby bible was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and I remember reading it over and over as if parenting was an exam I could cram for. 


I doubt Mary did any of this. She had hopefully been coached by the women around her, as best a teenage girl could be. There was the Jewish Bris ceremony which provides lovely blessings and welcoming of her Baby Jesus into Abraham’s legacy. I’m hoping that tradition gave her comfort. 


Baptism did that for me. Before my babies were born, I knew which liturgical feast day they would be baptised on. I knew they would wear the same long white Feltman Brothers gown that I and my siblings wore when we were baptised. My husband and I discussed godparent assignments. All this before we were even able to kiss their sweet, baby-shampoo-smelling heads. 


Perhaps Mary felt as I did: that these faith ceremonies were rote until they came alive with your own child playing the starring role. When I heard the prayer offered after the baby is blessed by water and anointed with oil, I cried. It is perfect. It symphonically combines the silent prayers of a mother with the call to faithful action of John the Baptist. 


Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. (BCP p. 308). 


What more could a mother or prophet wish from the newly born? What parenting book could sum it up so well? 


As we move from John the Baptist to Mary and the arrival of Jesus, if you find yourself fatigued by the locus-eating prophet, reread this prayer. Consider your own baptism and the baptism of the ones you love. And prepare your heart for the Baptism of our Lord. It too is coming soon. 


Musical Reflection - Lullaby - Dixie Chicks


Sustain me, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give me an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

(BCP p. 308)

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