The Second Sunday of Advent

Advent, in striking the balance in anticipating both the initial appearance of Jesus in human history and in awaiting the coming of the Son of Man in glory, becomes a many-layered observance in the church’s calendar.  It further confuses some people as the store displays, television commercials and radio music is largely concerned with Christmas Day and has no interest in this season.

The church, in reckoning time a little differently, also adopts a dissimilar set of emphases. 

On example is that, for churches that utilize the NEW Revised Common Lectionary (NRCL), the Gospel reading for the day in Cycles A, B and C all have to do with the appearance of John the Baptist in the narratives.  John is portrayed as preaching in the wilderness of Judea, baptizing people and pointing toward the (unnamed) Messiah.

This message of anticipation of the adult Christ occasionally pushes Christians off-target.  For one thing, they hear the word “baptize” and they make the (erroneous) assumption that all ritual lustrations belong under one big umbrella.  It is astounding to me – and more than a little bit troubling – that a great deal of the church uses language related to John’s baptism to describe the Christian sacrament.

John’s baptism was preparatory.  It was a way of inviting those who awaited the coming of the Messiah to make their spirits ready for the Messiah’s appearance.  The appearance of Jesus made John’s baptism moot.  There was nothing more for which to prepare.  The action had moved from making ready to following.  Christian baptism is an initiation, an act of inclusion.  It is that “outward and visible sign of an inward and spirituals grace” by which God calls those who desire to enter the community of faith to Godself.  It has nothing to do with the call of John.

The liturgical year will deal with Jesus’ baptism and the baptism of believers soon enough.  We remember that the account John’s baptizing is part of the historical record.  Along with other pieces of the narrative, these tales set the stage for the advent of Jesus in the stories and in our lives.