Read Matthew 3:1-3
The
year was 1971. A black vinyl 33-rpm album spun round and round on a portable
record player. In my hand the abstract cover proclaimed in a groovy font- “GODSPELL
– A Musical Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew ” The phrase, “Prepare
ye the way of the Lord,” circled my middle school mind. Each time I dropped the
needle on that portion of Act One, a shofar reverberated off the walls of my
bedroom and ushered in a dozen repetitions of the one and only lyric of that
song. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
Advent
is the liturgical season when we “Prepare the way of the Lord” by recalling the
events leading up to the birth of Christ. Scripture passages about Mary,
Joseph, shepherds and wise men fill sermons, Sunday school lessons and
Christmas programs.
But
before all of those key figures in the nativity we learn about a faithful
priest named Zechariah and his elderly wife, Elizabeth. Through angelic proclamation,
just like his cousin Jesus, the birth of a child is announced.
“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to
the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and make ready for
the Lord a people prepared.”
Luke 1:17 RSV
After
Elizabeth gave birth to her son, Zechariah named him John and delivered this
eloquent prophecy to those gathered around to celebrate the blessed occasion:
"And you,
child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, when the day
shall dawn upon us from on high to give
light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79
As
a grown man John prepared his people for the ministry of Jesus by telling them
to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Jesus was baptized by John and
at once the voice of his Father God proclaimed, “This is my Son, with Him I am
well pleased.”
God
is pleased with you, too! So much so that He sent Jesus to draw you to Him.
Prepare the way of the Lord in your life. Just as we clean and decorate to celebrate
Christmas, make time to clear the cobwebs from your heart, move from
disobedient to wise and present yourself to the Lord as a person prepared.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to be the light in our darkness.
We celebrate the birth of your son, our Savior, the Prince of Peace. Amen
Thought
for the day:
The
composer, Steven Schwartz, commented, “GODSPELL is about the formation of a
community which carries on Jesus’ teaching after he is gone.” How is our
community of faith carrying on Jesus’ teaching?
