Docking in the Wilderness

Docking in the Wilderness

‘Docking with the spacecraft.’ The phrase gives a sensation of relief, arrival, security. Imagine this frail vessel sailing through the heavens and then suddenly connecting with ‘a mother ship’ out there in the emptiness! The actual physical ‘docking’ is followed by locking in with no possibility of disconnecting. It’s home.

Religious experience is one of coming home, arriving at the place you belong, coming to something familiar and knowing it anew, seeing it with fresh eyes. The words of the prophets are attempts to describe this experience. The coming of the Messiah will mean the deepest needs of the people will be met. He will bring ‘good news to the poor and bind up hearts that are broken; he will proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to those in prison.’ In other words the deepest longings of the human heart will be met.

In a variety of images tumbling out, one after the other, integrity, wholeness, will come to the nations. It all begins in the wilderness; the wilderness of Judea and the wilderness of our own lives. A voice appears in that wilderness calling for ‘the straightening of the ways.’ The task of John the Baptist is the task of every mother who opens the way for her child with a tender mixture of guidance and waiting. It is the task of every father who shows the way by his own life but then stands back and allows the child to find his/her own.

John the Baptist had this unique role; he was an usher, opening the door so we could walk into the presence. But it is a role we can all play. Normally by our lives, but maybe sometimes by our words, we can introduce people to God. It won’t be anything dramatic and it might be in a wilderness of doubt or pain. But that simple task is always there. If I think over my own life and the people who have had an influence they are many. Let me mention one.

Mary was old and the ulcers on her legs wouldn’t heal. She was in hospital and the bandages were changed every day. I can’t imagine the pain of it as the wounds never dried. I went to see her and she was clearly happy. ‘The hospital is wonderful. The nurses are great.’ You’d imagine she was on holiday! I was deeply touched and somewhat baffled by her peace and joy. She died not long after. It was like going home. Her pain must have been a wilderness for her but she found her way. She never preached a sermon in her life but her life itself was a sermon.   

‘I exult for joy in the Lord. He has clothed me in the garments of salvation, like a bride adorned in her jewels.’ (Isaiah 61)

14 December 2014                  Advent Sunday 3 B

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11                1 Thessalonians 5:16-24          John 1:6-8, 19-28