Second Sunday of Advent 2023

Mark 1,1-8

Rev. Neli Miranda

We are only in the second week of Advent, walking towards God’s visitation on Christmas Day; however, “commercial Christmas” has already invaded us with a lot of images: big malls, gifts, food, clothes, Santa Claus, etc.  These images contrast with the images of the first Advent, two thousand years ago, when people were not invited to go shopping but to go into the wilderness, the Judean wild country, where they saw a very singular man, John the Baptist, who “was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.” His rough clothing was in strong contrast with the priestly garments and the luxurious robes of the Jewish and Roman authorities. He was dressed like the ancient prophets, especially resembling the great prophet, Elijah.  John, the son of a priest (Zechariah), had renounced a priestly career in the temple of Jerusalem and decided to proclaim the word of God as a prophet, not in the city nor in a temple but in the wilderness, away from civilization.  There, people were called to hear God’s word. Going into the wilderness on the first Advent meant to leave the official, traditional, and oppressive religion, the alienating Empire, a decadent civilization, and welcome the Kingdom of God.

  The great proclaimer of the first Advent was not a priest, a king, a military man but a singular prophet who called people from the centers of civilization to the margins to find God. So, the primordial Advent was a call to leave the corrupt, oppressive system that dictated how to live, what to eat, what to wear, what god to worship. . . Advent was a liberating time to leave the empire and religiosity to encounter God on the fringes! 

In the wilderness, without the blessing of the official religion, John the Baptist proclaimed the visitation of God and urged the people, “Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight…” His call implied a change of path, a transformation, and conversion to God. In the wilderness John announced the coming of the long-expected Messiah, Jesus, the One sent by God, who baptized people with the Holy Spirit, the living presence of God.  John’s call was heeded by many people who turned to God, were baptized, and welcomed Jesus and his announcement of the Kingdom of God. Thus, the primordial Advent, proclaimed on the fridges, called people to purge themselves of the corrupt world and enter the Kingdom of God!

Today, as we celebrate Advent, in preparation for Christmas Day, John calls us to go into the wilderness. So where is the wilderness today…? Going into the wilderness means stepping out of our comfort zone, of the system that domesticates us and changes our liberating Christian spirituality into empty practices. Going into the wilderness means leaving our obsolete religiosity, our outdated paradigms, and moving toward the fringes where life vibrates. Being on the fringes renews our spirituality, purifies us from the system, submerges us in the living Jordan waters, opens our eyes in such a way that we recognize as brothers and sisters those whom we find strange. Being on the fringes prepares us to recognize Jesus among us on Christmas Day. 

Sisters and brothers, Advent calls us to journey into the wilderness to encounter the strange prophet crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Let us go into the wilderness today!  Amen.

Image: https://www.divineuk.org/articles/voice-in-the-wilderness/