Prophets aren't very popular people. They tend to tell anyone who will listen to them that something is wrong with the status quo.  Old Testament theologian Walter Brueggemann states the biblical prophets like John The Baptist enlivened two primary tasks. First they criticized established political and religious orders. Second, they sought to inspire their hearers to believe in a hope-filled vision of the new reign of God that was soon to arrive. Clearly, most prophets didn't prompt many leaders to change their tactics or give away their power.  John The Baptist's horrific execution was a direct result of his provocative challenge to the rulers and religious leaders of his time. He didn't stop with Herod. He called the faithful to to incarnate a change of heart and liveliness. I'm not sure if people departed from Jerusalem to be baptized in the Jordan River because they were astounded by his unmistakable personality or because they genuinely desired to become co-creators in God's new reign of justice and compassion on Earth.

Every Advent we Episcopalians hear John's call to repentance. Prepare The Way. No excuses; bear good fruit. Place God's righteousness at the top of our priority lists. Last Sunday, Fr. Howell Sasser reminded us that there is no possible way to know when Jesus the Christ will come in glory. Howie encouraged us to instead focus on dancing with The Word so that Christ encounters us doing the right things. Accomplishing God's work in our world can take place in all sorts of activities: faithful prayer, acts of mercy, solidarity with people who unfairly suffer from political or economic injustice. Prophets of our own time such as Dr. Brueggemann and of Jesus' day provoke us not to be content with the status quo. Indeed, they demand that we release ourselves from the bondage of imperial or political governance and self-contentedness alike. These are hardly the sorts of messages we desire to pay attention to as we evaluate the best available holiday shopping deals. Prophets consequently may not be popular but their poetically imaginative proclamations demand that we realize that God's agenda does not match Amazon's or City Hall's. Christ' reign is not primarily built upon self or secular interests but resides in the hearts, minds, and actions of the faithful who claim that Emmanuel is with us and is Lord and live in accordance with God's purpose and Will.

Blessings Along The Way, Jim+