The time for preparation is underway. The time that we begin to see lights decorating homes, trees decorating living rooms, greens hung in our church home. We begin thinking about what to get our loved ones, how we are going to celebrate, what services we will be able to attend, how we want to spend our Christmas. There is much preparation in this season, in every area of our lives, including our journey of faith.
The word Advent means “coming” or “visit” a time when we are able to come together and wait in eager anticipation for the arrival of the Messiah. It is a time when we prepare our hearts and minds for the season before us.
When we talk about the preparation of our Advent season, we often discuss the life and work of John the Baptist. We celebrate his ministry in getting the world ready for the coming of the Savior, of the one who would transform the world far beyond what we could even imagine. Yet this week we hear John calling out the people “you brood of vipers” he says . This does not really sound like great news to me, and yet, it is an opportunity for us to think about the anticipation of transformation. We see in Luke that those who were present on that day did not grow discouraged, they did not give up because there was no hope. The people grew in joyous expectation because John offers a way out of “viperhood.” They could live differently. And so can we. This is a week where we light the candle of Joy, and we celebrate the opportunity Jesus offers to meet us where we are at, no matter where we are at when our hearts and minds are open.
Pastor Melissa Hurley is Pastor at Middletown Community United Methodist Church. She urges residents to “Please join us in Middletown at 11 a.m. as we work for the transformation of the world. All Are Welcome”.
