sermon excerpts: "For Crying Out Loud"

A long journey lies ahead for the Hebrew exiles in Babylon. All because Isaiah the crackpot prophet who talked about the destruction of the temple is now saying that it’s time to go home? It’s a little too late for that. People had settled down, they made the most of their situation. They’ve adapted, accepted their fate, their punishment and have closed that painful chapter of their lives. Best to just live in the here and now.

They’re comfortable now. Which is all about God’s call to us to move from our comfort zone into what is faithful. As much as we look to God as the source of love and care and compassion, God also challenges us to make a difference, to live out our faith in service of others. We are told to go beyond what we know and is safe, to risk encounters with others, to risk changing the world around us.

In this season of preparation for Christmas, the advent season we fall into traditions and family gatherings. The routine of balancing visits, presents and decorations. We fall to the familiar and trusted. So it is disturbing to think that all of our works, our traditions, our way of life, are in vain. Isaiah reminds us that we are but withering grass and fading flowers. Our time is limited and will end on this earth. That is guaranteed. So it seems rather pointless when a voice says, “Cry out!”

Cry out! Why bother? Just as we are reminded of the frailty and impermanence of our lives, we are also reminded that we are heralds of good tidings. We are not random creatures without purpose, we can make a difference, albeit a minor one with little visible effect.

Cry out! What shall we cry? Anything, as long as it is honest and sincere. Even if all we cry out is something as simple as: enjoy life. Be thankful. Celebrate each day. Pray more. Pay attention. Or if it is as brutally truthful as: life isn’t fair. Watch your back. You get what you pay for.

For positive or negative, we have lessons to teach. We have something to share with the world. There is more to what we have in our lives than what we own, work at or tell. It is our responsibility to convey the ancient truth that we all possess; ideas and revelations about life, love and the eternal source of all.

What if what we have to say isn’t worth saying? Or if no one is going to want to hear it? John the Baptist had an unpopular message that attracted hundreds and thousands. And he, in turn, pointed down the road to someone else who would follow him.

Is John the fulfilment of Isaiah’s words? Yes. Is he the only one? I don’t think so. We are all to do our part in paving the way for God’s reign. We are to widen the highways, raise up the pitfalls, break down the barriers. All this to allow anyone who is searching for purpose and truth to find access to the divine.

That is not to say we have the monopoly on the truth or the password to eternity. But it is our duty to make things as easy as possible for others to find their way. It is not about sitting back and nodding our heads with John the Baptist. We are to do the same as he. He hasn’t done our work for us. He’s merely pointing the way. He has told us that the job isn’t finished yet; there is more to come.

Alone in the desert, reminding us again that a life of faith, of following God means moving out of our comfortable areas and into uncertainty, reclaiming our heritage, following in the steps of a saviour. We are not to seek earthly comfort. God is the source of our comfort as we are reminded by the beginning and conclusion of Isaiah’s remarks this morning. Before and after, all of our suffering and dismay, God the shepherd of compassion and protection is present.

This Advent Sunday carries with it a theme of peace. But it isn’t necessarily peace as in tranquillity, calm or serenity. We notice the Peace that comes from God when we are most distressed and in need. Following in the way of peace does not mean peace of mind, but it does mean we do what we can to bring peace to others. Knowing this, we venture forth anyway to lift up valleys, bring low the mountains and hills, level out the uneven ground and smooth the rough places. We go forth down a highway for the way of peace, justice and faith.