In this series we’ll reflect on the Advent Scriptures in the Revised Common Lectionary as a way of enabling us to celebrate the birth of Christ.
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas andCaiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:1-6 ESV)
Could there be a deeper valley than Newtown, CT?
Could there be a more crooked time than last Friday?
Could there be a rougher place than the hearts of those broken by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings?
It’s in times like these that Isaiah’s prophecy connects with us powerfully. He speaks of a time when deep valleys will be filled. Crooked ways will be straightened. Rough places will be leveled.
That work began through a child born in a manger. It will come to completion through a King who arrives in majesty. Jesus has come and is coming again so that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
And today we long for that salvation as never before.
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