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Dear Friends I have no doubt that this Advent someone will ask me the question: “Are you all ready for Christmas then?” The answer will almost certainly be: “No!” There will still be presents to be wrapped. There will still be cards to be written and, no doubt, right up until the last minute I will be remembering people whom I had otherwise forgotten and thinking of other things which I still need to do. So much energy goes into getting ready for Christmas but do we, I wonder, put anything like as much effort into preparing spiritually for the coming of Jesus? Some of us probably make lists of the things which we need to do, but do these relate only to our material preparations? In the New Testament we hear about how John the Baptist came to tell the people of Israel that the time for which they had been waiting was near: God was about to do something new: the kingdom of God was approaching: God’s redeemer was on his way. So they had to get ready; and many of them followed John out into the wilderness to be baptised as a sign of repentance: as a sign that they were going to turn their lives around and be ready for God’s anointed one when he appeared. But John told them that this must be no mere outward sign: Their repentance must be genuine and must show itself in their actions; in the way they lived their daily lives: they must bear good fruit. Some people wanted to know what this would mean: they wanted to know what they should, actually, do. And these people were not necessarily the most obvious people. Luke tells us that they included tax-collectors. These were people who were employed by the Romans to collect taxes on their behalf. So long as the Romans got what they were expecting they didn’t mind how much extra money found its way into the pockets of the collectors. These people were presented with almost limitless possibilities for corruption. John told them that this had to stop. The taxes must be collected but it must be the correct amount and no more. Then there were soldiers. These were probably not Roman soldiers but rather Jewish mercenaries, this time employed to keep the peace. They were not well-paid. They were told that they must not use their position of power to extort and threaten. So before the Messiah came there had to be some radical changes in the ways in which people behaved: but something more radical still was required: and this was something which John could not provide: only the one who was to come after him - the one who was greater than him - could do this. You see, an efficient and honestly run tax service will put an end to corruption: a disciplined and well-paid military will be less likely to threaten or extort: we also know that people will respond to the needs of others when they see them; we are not all totally selfish; we will share. But something more is needed. What is needed is more than a restructuring of society; important though that is. It is more than just a concerted effort to do better; praiseworthy though that may be. What is needed is a new start for you and me and for everyone; even for those who think they’ve already got it right; especially for them. What is needed is a rebirth and it took the birth of Jesus; God and human being; to make that possible. We need to let Jesus be born again in our lives; not just at Christmas time but any time. Then we will be transformed: then the Holy Spirit will be at work in our lives making us whole, making us complete, remaking us in the image of God. And that is good news. It will not always be easy, but it is good news. When we ask Jesus to be born again in our lives we are set free from greed and selfishness and pride: we are set free to live and to bring life to others: we are set free to enter the kingdom of God. With best wishes |