The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:1-13
Years ago, I was asked to help prepare for an historic service to take place at Jamestown in 1997. Indigenous people from all over our church, in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the landing and settlement at Jamestown, gathered to call the church to a new way of Native ministries. Instead of mission to and for, we would focus on a ministry of Native peoples by the church remembering the past, repenting for the past and reconciling for the future. I went out to visit Chief Webster Custalow, bringing tobacco and other gifts, to ask his permission to hold this service on the traditional lands of the Mattaponi and to invite him to participate. I sat with him for hours as he regaled me with stories about his life. He was well into his eighties then. Preparation requires time to listen, to open up to new ways of understanding, and doing the hard work of making space for the surprisingly new.
Gracious Creator, you send us to prepare the way
putting your love and wonder in our hearts
giving us the strength to forge new relationships
and empowering us to carry your good news.
Often, we humans want the way prepared for us
we do not want the hard work and the challenge
wo like the familiar and the comfortable things
yet you call us to discomfort that paves the way for love.
Help us to get up and prepare your way today
let our fears and restrains fall away so love is here
make us take the small steps that can change everything
and baptize us again in your Holy name for service. Amen.
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