Sermon: Advent 3

The Honesty of Advent
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Advent 3, Year B (RCL)
John 1:6-8,19-28

Then the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” To this John confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” And again they asked him, “Are you the prophet?” Once again he answered, “No.”

I love Advent. It’s one of my favorite seasons. It’s so countercultural. Advent calls us to slow down, to be quite, to confess our sins, to repent, to be mindful of ourselves and others, to wait, and just to simply be. Advent calls us into the stillness of a winter night, even as we are surrounded by the lights and the hustle and the bustle of a Christmas season which is still far off. I love Advent and the spirit of simplicity and humility that it brings. I love hearing the words of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. ‘Who are you?’ they ask of him. ‘Are you the messiah?’ ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘Are you a prophet?’ ‘Who are you?’ they ask. Hearing these questions, I’m reminded of the question that many small children ask when loved ones come to visit for the holidays. ‘What did you bring us?’ they inquire with great anticipation, with great expectations.

I love John’s response. It’s so honest, so pure, so filled with humility, reverence and grace. John spends the bulk of his breath telling the priests and the Levites who he is not, instead of making any claims or boasts about who he is; that he is the messenger bringing the good news of the Christ child to come. John could have easily claimed that he was more than he was. He could have claimed that he himself was the Messiah. He could have claimed that he himself had come to baptize with the Holy Spirit and not just water. He could have been more prideful of his proclamation; he could have been loud, flashy, charismatic, convincing. But he wasn’t. Instead, he was meek and humble in heart. He didn’t push Christmas, but instead, made way and made room for Advent.

It’s hard to find that kind of honesty, humility and grace in today’s world, especially around this time of year. This last week I was walking through Burlington Town Center and passed by the J. Crew store there. On the glass store front, large red letters said, ‘Give love’ and framed a mannequin dressed in a warm, lambs wool, cable sweater. The next window over read, ‘Give hope’ and it too had a mannequin, this time dressed in a different stylish ensemble. Still other windows spelled out other ‘give’ motifs. I stopped and thought about how many people really think that they are giving love, or giving hope, or giving anything else for that matter, other than the clothing itself, when they give a gift from J. Crew. I thought about how truly deceptive marketing can be when it tells us that we can give something, be something, have something more than what it is we are buying. I thought about how distant the spirit of J. Crew’s marketing campaign is from the spirit of Advent; from the spirit of John the Baptist as he told the priests and the Levites time and again that he was not the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet, but instead, he was simply one who had come to prepare the way for the Christ child.

I wish Advent was much larger in our world today than it is. But then again, like I’ve already said, Advent is so countercultural. When the world says hurry up, Advent says wait. When the world says you can give love and hope and whatever else in the presents you send off to your friends and family, Advent shifts the focus and instead, calls us as John called us to open ourselves up to receiving the true gifts of love and hope which come through Christ. The honesty of Advent would tell consumers that the sweater from J. Crew they’re getting ready to buy will never give love in and of itself, even though it may in some small way symbolize that. The honesty of Advent would tell holiday shoppers that Christmas isn’t about them and what they get or can give to others, but instead, is about God and what God can and will give to us. The honesty of Advent, like the honesty of John, doesn’t claim to be something it’s not, but rather, points us towards something which is much greater than ourselves, yet something which even in its greatness chooses to become one with us.

Living into the meaning of Advent and the true reason for this season which we find ourselves in today means that we need to be honest with each other; not telling each other what we know the other wants to hear, but speaking the truth in love to one another. Not telling each other what we are and what we can do, but instead, telling each other what we are not and what we need to lean on God for today. In Advent, this is the best place to start; from a place of honesty, humility and grace. Christmas brings with it enough tinsel, lights and wrapping paper to make even the ugliest souls pretty. Advent is free of those things, a face without makeup, a body without clothing, a soul exposed to the elements and beautiful in its simplicity.

In all of this, I’m reminded of a comment made by a parishioner here at St James in response to the parish profile after it had been written. After looking over what the profile stated St James was looking for in a priest, that parishioner commented, “Sounds like we’re looking for Jesus Christ.” This being Advent, and in the spirit of John the Baptist, it may be helpful for me to remind you of who I am not. I am not the Messiah. I cannot save you or this church. I am not Elijah. I am not a prophet. I am very far from perfect. I don’t do well on pedestals. I’m afraid of heights. What I am is human. I try to reach for a better world. I do my best to love people unconditionally and completely. Sometimes I do this really well, other times I don’t. Yet in the end, more than anything else, I strive to be honest, humble and conscious of God’s grace working in my life.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because Advent calls me to, Advent calls us to, Advent calls the world to speak the truth in love. And because in the days ahead much more will be expected of me, and much more will be expected of you. As we enter into 2009, many challenges have been set before us. While many things will be needed for us to face the days ahead, none will be needed more than our increased awareness of each other’s goodwill and humanity. I will surely stumble and will ask that you help me get back up. At the same time, you may trip and fall short and need a helping hand as well. If that’s the case, I and others will be there to pick you up. May we, this Advent, hold firm to the spirit of John the Baptist as we enter into a new year, that we may remember that we cannot do it all and that God is there to help us; that we remember that we are not the Messiah but only point to something greater than ourselves to come. Amen.