December 10, 2006  -  Second Sunday of Advent

Luke 3:1-6   

Pastor Gary E. Benson

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota

 

                                                “The Voice of One”

Recently I have been reading a very popular book entitled, Flags of Our Fathers. Many of you may have read the book and/or seen the movie.  The book tells the account of raising the American flag over Iwo Jima in World War II on February 23, 1945. To set the stage for the book, the author, James Bradley, tells of the historical and political context, specifically the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Then the words of one person are lifted up, the words that have strongly and boldly taken their place in history, the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who on December 8, 1941, said “This day will live on in infamy.”  Our nation was plunged into a dark and difficult period of war.  Truth told, however, as I looked out of my office on Thursday and saw the flags at half mast, such were a visual reminder of the war in Iraq, and the flags without voice reminded me that this week another young Minnesota soldier had died serving his country.  Be it 60 years ago or this week, in the midst of dark times we look for that voice, that word, that ray of light and peace through the chaos and darkness. Isn’t it our human condition and journey?

 

Today, as we have heard what many call “The John the Baptist” gospel text, it is  helpful to be reminded of another dark time in history. So what was going on in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius -- when Jesus was around thirty years old, and his cousin John, and I quote, “…continued to grow and become strong in spirit, as he lived in the deserts.”

 

Simply put it was dark and chaotic on the political, social, and spiritual scenes.  Regarding the leaders of the day, it has been said of them, “It would be hard to assemble a more wicked company of scoundrels.”

• Tiberius, the Roman emperor, wanted to be a god
• Pilate, the Roman governor, was despised and feared
• Herod, the occupant of the Jewish throne, was unbalanced and dangerous
• All were noted to do anything to retain power

 

It was against this backdrop of political and religious darkness that, “The Word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness.” 

 

Because of his family background, John could have dressed in robes and fine clothes. However, we know the familiar description:  John dressed in camel’s hair, wore a leather belt, and ate honey and locust – and he was the first prophet in 400 years to confront the nation as God’s messenger. It was not a “let’s be happy, comfortable” word.   No, the voice of one (not of a president, but a prophet) was meant to turn the listener around, as Israel was in a wilderness of unbelief and the road to spiritual truth was twisted with despair.

 

What do you think?  Can one voice from another “turn people around?”  We know that one word/voice can get our attention.  I think of recently:

 

• Pastor Tim Johnson – seeing double in his left eye, goes to doctor and finds out he has cancer and needs radiation therapy.
• Receiving phone call and a voice shares – “Crack cocaine has taken over our daughter’s life.”
• Many know what it means to get a phone call, and the word is “Meet us at the hospital!”
• 1955 when soldiers came to my parents’ front door to tell them Buddy Peterson, the nephew who they had raised, had been killed while serving in the Army. One word, one image, and a family’s whole world changed forever.

 

Today’s gospel challenges us spiritually as we listen to the “voice of one” crying in the wilderness, “Repent, prepare the way of the Lord.” Can we wade through the chaos, darkness, and temptations of our life and culture to turn, and return, to the “Word of God” for us?  And let us not have spiritual blinders on to the state of Godly trust and faithful following in America.  Truth is we may have printed on our money, “In God We Trust,” but I ask, how true is that today across our country – is the evidence clear?

 

In that regard, on a computer message board where pastors give voice:

• that worship/faith/service in America is not at the heart and core of priorities, but rather it is now on the edges, an option, an alternative, convenient if chosen, more or less “a consumer product” to be judged and engaged simply in relationship to “if it makes me happy or I find it entertaining;” thus there is little room for being challenged by the question, “How can I serve God in daily life?”  Discipleship and servant hood give way to self centered success and motivation; the theology of the cross and selflessness is too often replaced by the theology of glory and selfishness.
• But then (on the other hand) I think of being at Our Savior’s Lutheran last weekend as now Pastor Josh Fite was being ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament.  He knelt in front of the Bishop’s assistant; wearing his robe, cross around his neck, RED Converse tennis shoes on his feet – tears welled up in my eyes as I was honored to be in the place where a young person was voicing through his promises, “I will be that voice, I will be that prophet, I will be that presence of God in the wilderness of our culture, in the darkness of temptations and all that draws people away from God. I will be that voice, witness, that expression of God’s light and grace!”

 

Know well, that as Advent is a time of waiting, there is a world outside these doors, and it may begin in your home, that is waiting for that One voice – that one faithful expression of God’s love and grace offering -- light through the darkness, and “a future of hope.”

• Each time we share in our liturgy the confession and hear the voice/words of forgiveness, we are saying, “Oh, God, don’t allow me to be swallowed up by the darkness of sin and all that would overshadow me. Rather empower me to repent, to turn and return…….. and listen, maybe not to a loud voice, rather that still small voice of God that invites as we sing, “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and abounding in steadfast love.”
• Amidst all the conditions, chaos or calm of life there is but one voice – that is the voice of life, hope, and salvation. It is the voice of One Jesus Christ. May we turn and return to him in this hour and in all our days. Amen