Walking together, we are on our way to welcome the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. But we’re not there yet. The night is long, and we walk because we are pilgrims. Not tourists – no, a tourist would take a plane and a soft-seated coach, would glance at the street where Jesus was supposedly born, buy a souvenir and then get back in the bus again. We are not tourists: we are pilgrims. We walk along the road, accompanying Mary as she swaggers along, sway-backed, Joseph’s hand touching her back where it hurts. We walk beside her donkey, give it a drink from our water bottle. It’s a long walk, and it isn’t easy. We do it because we’re not ready to arrive just yet. We need to make the journey.
On the way, we encounter John the Baptist. “You brood of vipers!” he is yelling at us today. We are taken aback: we, after all, are the people who have come! We are the ones who are on this road to begin with! “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” he spits. He is dirty, hairy, smelly. But he has some things to tell us. “You who have two coats, two TVs, too many pairs of jeans, too much money to spend on holidays and gadgets. Look around! See who has none, and share.” We look at the ground, guilty, avoiding looking at the big suitcases we are wheeling behind us on this journey. Avoiding looking at the people who have to decide between buying medication or food that day.
What do we have to do to get past John the Baptist, on our way to see Jesus?
On this rocky road, we have been passing the candles of Advent. First it was Hope, flickering, tenacious, even on this cold dark journey. Then there was Peace. Today we come to the candle of Joy. Joy. John the Baptist does not seem very joyful.
But maybe there is some connection between the hard words of John the Baptist, and his challenge to the economics of our lives, and the visitation of Joy. We live in anxious times: a system that tells that that we never have enough, and that we should horde what we have, and not share. But perhaps sharing what we have as a pathway out of anxiety…and into Joy?
I wonder…how are you being invited to share your life, share your gifts, share your resources, today? And as you enter into the world of giving and receiving, might your actions light a candle of Joy…and set you further on the road to encounter the baby Christ?
Words by Rev Andreana
Image by Elaine Casap, Unsplash
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