12-15-96	Some Good Pre-Christmas Advice	Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

I mentioned last week, and perhaps last year, as well, how our attitudes about Christmas are often determined more by what is going on in the malls, in the media, and on main street than they are by the church. The lights of the decorations in the parking lot of Meijers can all but obliterate, in the hearts and minds of Christmas shoppers, the light of the star of Bethlehem, if our society can even remember what it means. It is so easy to get so completely immersed in Christmas lists and what its going to cost us, that we forget the Christmas message. It is so easy to get so tied up in the decorations, the missal toe, the eggnog and the "ho, ho, ho," that we forget about the baby in the manger and who he grew up to be.

And, so, we return to our Gospel, this morning from John, where we are reminded who John was: "He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." In a real way, John the Baptist came into the world as the first apostle – a messenger preparing the way for the coming of the Lord into the lives of all who would listen. And that is our role, as well, as Christians.

Our number-one priority is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in as many possible creative ways as we can imagine and to encourage one another to do that. And, today, more than ever, we are given opportunities to share the gospel with others. For instance, the other day I was pleased to see a television program that maybe some of you saw, as well: "Touched by an Angel." In addition to the angels, the particular episode I saw was centered around a small church, a little girl, a mentally challenged young man, and his brother, who resented having to take care of him. During the story, the little girl, a good friend of the boy, was dying of a lung disease. Her handicapped friend was having trouble dealing with it and wondered how he would be able to go to church to take part in the Christmas program as he was afraid to go alone if she wasn't there to walk him to the church in the dark, as she had always done. At the same time, the boy's older brother was having to work out his anger of having been "stuck" with having to care for his brother. But, what is interesting about all of this is how the Christmas program they were all working on together seemed to tie the plot all together. At the end of the program the boy makes it to the church on his own and recites his part. And then the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of the older brother and the congregation for this young man is made evident as the choir's imperfect rendition of the Halleluia Chorus is transformed into magnificence and the shepherds wearing fake beards, angels wearing fake wings, Mary, Joseph, and the plastic baby, himself, are transformed into an amazing reality of splendid proportions.

I was glad to see how this television program, and one growing in popularity at that, presented the gospel of our Lord to a public that yearns for it. And I certainly hope that more and more television programs start doing this even after a long history of television's portrayal of religious people as religious fanatics, charlitons, and the like. Imagine what such a technology can do if creative people strive to use it for the expansion of the kingdom of God!

Again, this year, our church is involved with caring for an Advent family – a family of a mother and her four daughters. Indeed, I am thankful for the Salvation Army's work at accepting and caring for all persons, regardless of their need or position. But, as our church supports the Salvation Army with our gifts we join a growing network of churches all over the country that may have to work together ever more closely in the future to care for the needy. By doing so, we prepare the lives of such persons for the coming of the Lord into their hearts, and we join with the prophet Isaiah who proclaimed, along with John the Baptist, and Jesus, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengence of our God, to comfort all who mourn."

Certainly, that was the mission of John the Baptist in our Gospel lesson for this morning. And that is the number one priority for us, as well.

But, it is interesting that in our Gospel lesson for this morning, John was careful to assert that John the Baptist always made it clear that he was not the light – that he had come only as a witness to the light. Certainly, John knew who he was and who he wasn't. He wasn't the light. Rather, he was a witness to the light. So, what is this saying to us?

I believe that it is talking about the human condition, itself. As babies are born into the world, they believe that they are the very center of the universe. Everything that goes on around them is either for or against them, either aiding them in their survival or causing them misery. When they want to have their bottle, they want to have it NOW. When they want to have their diapers changed, they want it IMMEDIATELY! Never mind that Mommy or Daddy have to go to the refrigerator or across the room to get it first. Babies have no patience, for they truly believe they are the light of the world.

It takes some growing up to learn that you aren't the light of the world. Nevertheless, there are those who believe that they are it! Or, as the song goes, "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you," when its not. We aren't the light of the world! The world doesn't revolve around us. To believe that is the very definition of sin. For Adam and Eve fell because they thought they were the light of the world – they thought they knew better than God. But they weren't the light of the world – God was. And we aren't the light of the world – Christ is! And we need to remember that, as well, and as our number one priority, which is, as John the Baptist proclaimed about himself: "To make straight the way for the Lord."

Do you remember the humorous country music song that was so popular a number of years ago, "O Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in ev-er-y way"? Certainly, it is hard for us to be involved with making the way straight for the Lord for those who are imperfect, if we think we're perfect. Indeed, our humility, our acceptance of others, our willingness to admit to being vulnerable, our willingness to submit to frailty, rather than to deny it, is tested every day, as Christ calls us to serve others. Our very linkage to Christ's presence in the world is tested every day, especially as we find ourselves in the midst of a Christmas season that is so full and so cluttered with so many messages leading us away from the manger of our Lord.

One of the notable things about our Gospel lesson for this morning is that John was asked by the Pharisees if he was the Christ, or if he was Elijah, or if he was great like Moses. They couldn't understand how anyone as mortal-looking as John the Baptist could be called to prepare the way of the Lord. They figured that anyone as wonderful as that would be able to fly or something; while John the Baptist couldn't even walk on water! All John could say was, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

Perhaps the greatest lesson of all in these scriptures about John the Baptist is this: Christ is in our midst. And it takes an attitude of humility, of humaness, of obedience and acceptance to recognize the Christ when you see him.

And he is here! In the midst of the pain of surgery or injuries or sickness, simply pray to yourself, "I am not the light – God help me prepare the way for the light," and you will know that Christ is there. When you feel insulted, or betrayed, or lonely, or forgotten, or up against the wall, or tired out, or frustrated, or belittled, or teased, simply pray, "I am not the light – God help me to prepare the way for the light." Again, "I am not the light – God help me to prepare the way for the light."

Someone sitting around you, a friend, an acquaintance, someone here, someone far away, may need that light – a light that only you can prepare the way for. Think about who that person may be and pray about it: "O God, I am not the light – help me to prepare the way for the light."

If we remember who we are – servants of God – simple messengers like John, then we can do anything to prepare the way for the Lord into the lives of others. Or, as a hymn in our hymnal asks: What gift can I bring? What present, what token? What words can convey it, the joy of this day? When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing, what song can we offer in honor and praise?

Amen.