Advent 3B - Who are you?

St. Andrew's Church

11 December, 2005

You could be forgiven for thinking that you were experiencing some sort of deja vu while you were listening to today's Gospel reading. Come again? Didn't we have that reading last Sunday?

Well the quick answer is: almost! Today we have the story of John the Baptist from the point of view of the Gospel of John. Last week we had the same story from the point of view of the Gospel of Mark! Big difference, right? It is a challenge for the preacher.

So I thought I would ask the question, what is the difference between last week's lesson and this week's? Both have the reference to Isaiah's prophecy of the one crying out, "In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord." Both have John referring to one coming after him and John says that he is not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.

The main difference is that in today's reading from John, we have some new characters who have shown up: the religious authorities: the Priests and Levites, who have been sent out to investigate John. They have been sent out from the temple in Jerusalem. This baptizer, John, is muscling in on their turf. No one else is supposed to be a religious force in Israel; just who does he think he is?

So they send them out to give him the third degree: "Who are you," they ask.

Who are you? It's quite a question. Would we know how to answer it? Who am I? What do you stand for? What is important to you? Why are you here?

Who are you includes all of those questions and more. What is your essence? It is a good question to ask yourself during Advent. There might be people who want to know, or need to know. Maybe you need to know who you really are.

Yesterday twelve of us from St. Andrew's Church joined with sixty-six others at an advent retreat at Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls. It was a time to try to dig a little deeper and to think about what Advent really means, and what the Christmas story really means for us.

I think one of the most insightful things which our leader, Father Jim, had to say was that the mystery of the incarnation isn't only about how God came to us in human flesh two thousand years ago, nor how God will come again at the end of time, but how God is incarnate today in human beings around us - maybe in you, maybe in me.

How is your being you today showing the light of Christ to others in this world?

Father Jim also quoted a poem written by R.L. Sharpe which he had to commit to memory for his English teacher in grade school:

Isn't it strange how princes and kings,

and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,

and common people, like you and me,

are builders for eternity?

Each is given a list of rules;

a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.

And each must fashion, ere life is flown,

A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.

Ask yourself the question posed to John the Baptist: who are you? When you know who you are, you also realize whose you are.

As the darkening days of Advent draw ever closer to the light of Christ's birth, ask how you can use the tools, or gifts which you have been given, to reflect Christ's light brightly. Make straight the way of the Lord - be a stepping stone for others. Amen.