Advent 2
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
-- Luke 3:4
We are living in a wilderness period in which many of the trappings of civilization have proved to be unsatisfying. There are many false starts that reflect a deep spiritual hunger in our society. We use lots of different words, but we seem to be seeking the underlying connection that holds life together and provides us a steadiness and a grasp of the truth. In biblical days when an emperor was going to visit, his entourage went before him to prepare the way of his coming. The path was made smooth and obstacles removed to make his coming as comfortable as possible. The procession route was established so that in his coming the people could see him along the way. Luke used this image to suggest the changes we need to make in preparation for God's coming. He sets us up by naming all of the important people in the power structure of the empire, both political and religious.
However, Luke then suggested that the word of God, the most important message of the universe, comes not to the politically or religiously important people or places but to a man in the wilderness. The wilderness is not a place of importance by our calculations. The wilderness is the opposite of civilization. It is the location where humans are not in control. In Israel's history, the wilderness was also the place where they were clearly dependent on God for survival and salvation. The word of God comes not where we believe we are in charge but in those corners of our life where we lack control. It comes not where we think the important events take place but in the neglected areas of our lives. It comes not where we feel strong and in charge but where we are vulnerable. If we are to make God's path straight, it is in those areas that we need to make preparation.
-- Luke 3:4
We are living in a wilderness period in which many of the trappings of civilization have proved to be unsatisfying. There are many false starts that reflect a deep spiritual hunger in our society. We use lots of different words, but we seem to be seeking the underlying connection that holds life together and provides us a steadiness and a grasp of the truth. In biblical days when an emperor was going to visit, his entourage went before him to prepare the way of his coming. The path was made smooth and obstacles removed to make his coming as comfortable as possible. The procession route was established so that in his coming the people could see him along the way. Luke used this image to suggest the changes we need to make in preparation for God's coming. He sets us up by naming all of the important people in the power structure of the empire, both political and religious.
However, Luke then suggested that the word of God, the most important message of the universe, comes not to the politically or religiously important people or places but to a man in the wilderness. The wilderness is not a place of importance by our calculations. The wilderness is the opposite of civilization. It is the location where humans are not in control. In Israel's history, the wilderness was also the place where they were clearly dependent on God for survival and salvation. The word of God comes not where we believe we are in charge but in those corners of our life where we lack control. It comes not where we think the important events take place but in the neglected areas of our lives. It comes not where we feel strong and in charge but where we are vulnerable. If we are to make God's path straight, it is in those areas that we need to make preparation.
