2nd Sunday of Advent

1st Reading - Isaiah 11:1-10

Psalm - 72 : 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

2nd Reading - Romans 15:4-9

Gospel - Matthew 3:1-12

2nd Sunday of Advent! This is such a beautiful season. And today is one of my favorite readings, where John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah's prediction:

A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.

I could write about this one section forever, as "prepare the way of the Lord" could take on so many facets. What struck me tonight, however, is the description in the Gospel of John the Baptist.

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

Look at the description of John the Baptist. He wore clothing made of camel's hair. He ate bugs and honey. To me it just seems like he would smell. He roamed around the desert, in the intense heat, wearing an outfit made out of animal hair. It all seems very unappealing (especially to a vegetarian). On top of all that, he ate locusts.

At least to me, John the Baptist, or JtB for short, does not seem very physically appealing.

Read on in the excerpt though... "the whole region were going out to him and were being baptized... they acknowledged their sins."

He wore camel hair, ate bugs, potentially smelt, and he attracted crowds of people. Not only did people come to hear what he had to say, but they came to be baptized. They acknowledged and repented of their sins. Amen! What great things can be done when we let go of ourselves, our pride, and become less focused on shallow appearances.

What a great challenge for our society (myself included). Would I be willing to completely disregard beauty and appearances, knowing that God will use me to bring others to Him? My answer would have to be: I hope so.

With all the stock our culture puts in appearances, in being physically attractive, in doing the "cool" thing (see: not eating locusts), JtB's radical lifestyle seems irrelevant and impossible. And I'm not sure that many of us are actually called to roam the desert living off insects. I do think, however, that we are all called to reevaluate our priorities and our own vanity. What is more important, the Gospel or our own pride? What is more important, that others find us attractive or that we are constantly leading others to Christ? (prepare the way of the Lord!) How many times in youth ministry have I been more concerned with whether or not a teen likes me rather than their relationship with our Lord? It's fairly shameful. I do not matter, He does.

Going forward, Lord, help me to be like John the Baptist. Help me to live with less regard for appearances and more determination to spread the Gospel. (to cite another reading.. John 3:30, He must increase, I must decrease. )