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Reflection By Judith Campbell, member of Diocesan Mission council.
Gaudate Sunday – Rejoice and be glad – your salvation is near at hand!
The appearance of John the Baptist in the wilderness with a message of preparation and repentance for the coming of the Messiah may not have been exactly joyful but it was a source of hope for the crowds who came to listen to him- ordinary people seeking something more in their lives- a better way of living- a more meaningful purpose- a way forward.
Remembering this helps to make sense of this week’s Gospel.
They ask John what they must do to prepare. He gives them plain straight forward answers – answers they may not have wanted to hear, answers that foretell what Jesus will tell the crowds later – give away to those in need what you can do without- do not live with excess- be content with what is sufficient for your life . A message as vital in our modern world as it was then.
As this gospel draws us closer to the birth of Jesus let us not forget that this tiny babe, so full of promise and hope for the world ,will also demand much of us – as John did of the people who came to hear him. Jesus will ask for whole-heartedness in following him- no ifs, buts, or maybes. We are to love God with our whole being and then our neighbours, our communities, even our adversaries as ourselves- often a hard ask!
The second part of this gospel is one with which we are very familiar- the prediction of the coming of the one more powerful than John who describes himself as not worthy to untie his shoe. I have heard John described as the “stagehand”- getting the scene ready for the main character, making sure all the props were in place, ensuring an audience: a great image and one that will culminate with the baptism of Jesus later in the story.
When I read this statement of John’s I often think of the people I’ve met who would echo his words – I am not worthy- And I would say to them- not so. We are all worthy because we have been baptised! That baptism brought with it a responsibility to work for the coming of the Kingdom, a commitment to the Word of God, a desire to be part of something greater than ourselves, an exhortation to always be people of hope. It is the reason we do what we do!
It’s why, as a Diocese, we are currently looking forward to a future church-and working towards it. We are living John’s mission – to prepare the way. We are to recognise voice of the Spirit and to bring about change in our lives and the lives of all our communities.
As we approach this Christmas let us pray that our celebration of this birth, of this promise of a hope-filled future, of God’s wish to save us, may be heard in our fractured world, may make a difference in disrupted lives.
Let us rejoice and be glad indeed
