When I ask people what kind of a world we live in, some describe it as scary, lawless, cruel, immoral or greedy. We Christians may not like the way the world is in this moment, and we are called to maintain true hope and trust that the world of tomorrow will be a better place. The prophet Isaiah tells us “then the wolf shall be the guest of the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid…the baby shall play by the cobra’s den and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.”
Are these just empty words, or expectation, after the coming of our Savior? There is a real temptation to see Advent and Christmas as a ‘warm and fuzzy’ time. Some people may look at the manger scene and walk away simply thinking that Jesus’ birth was nice. However, there is more to this story than just sentimentality.
The meaning of Christmas is much deeper. The Gospel this week tells us that John the Baptist was the voice crying out in the desert and shaking up the status quo. John is the one the Church places before us during this Advent season, to challenge us to be more holy. We may disagree on what the world is like this very moment, but we need not disagree on what it can become. With God’s help, the world will be better. I need to be better, and we all need transformation. This is the good fruit which John speaks of. Advent and Christmas are channels of God’s grace. This is why a better world is possible when we say “Yes” to Jesus.
Deacon Mark
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