Advent 2024: Roadbuilding
John the Baptist went all over the Jordan valley proclaiming baptism in token of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ‘A voice cries in the wilderness ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ (Luke 3: 3 & 4)
Roadbuilding is rough, heavy work. It involves a lot of digging, excavating, and levelling. This is especially true where the land is hilly or unlevel or where it is rocky or the soil is in poor condition. Thorough preparation of that land is essential before the hardcore and then the tarmac can be laid. Failure to get the preparation right can be disastrous. Within a matter of years, a road that hasn’t been laid correctly will soon begin to break up and require urgent repair.
John the Baptist, quoting the Prophet Isaiah in the above Bible passage, likens the preparations God requires of his people, ahead of the arrival of the Messiah, to road building. Just as the diligent engineer needs to carefully prepare the land before a new road can be built, so we the people of God need to prepare our lives carefully in this season of Advent ahead of the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christmastime.
So in this season of Advent, we need to clear out all those obstacles that can hinder our Lord’s arrival. Clear out the arrogance, the pride, the selfishness and the greed of lives that are controlled by the material gods of our world and open ourselves to the ways of the living God. We need to open ourselves to his love, his grace and his focus away from our own selfish needs and towards the homeless, the foreigner, the lost, the sick and the elderly in our world.
Only when we open ourselves to God’s grace in this way, will we be ready to truly embrace the Good News, which is the birth of Jesus Christ, God made human, that helpless child in the Bethlehem manger who comes to bring light and life and hope to our world.
The Good news is that this work doesn’t require shovels, spades, excavators or tractors. What we need is an openness of spirit. A willingness to wait upon God in worship, prayer and service. So it is that I invite you to take part in our circuit Advent Bible study ‘Preparing the way’ as we draw closer to God in this season of watching and waiting.
Praise to the God who clears the way
preparing room and space;
for power and pride will loose their sway
and peace comes in their place.
Praise to the God who waits with us
for hope and joy to reign
who shares our suffering and our loss,
embodies in our pain
(STF 183 verses 1 & 3)
May the good Lord go with you all this Advent season and for evermore,
Revd Richard A.J. Grocott.