12-5-21 “Get Ready for Jesus Christ!”

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Luke 3:1-6

“Get Ready for Jesus Christ!”

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. The word “Advent” is from “Adventus” in Latin, and it is translated to “Parousia” in Greek, which means “coming” or “arriving at.” Advent in the Christian calendar means “the season that is waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ.” As everyone knows, we spend the season of Advent preparing for Christmas.  Some are putting up Christmas decorations, buying Christmas presents, preparing Christmas food, or even buying/wearing Christmas clothes. However, we shouldn’t forget that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. So, we should prepare something for Jesus, which means that we should get ready for God.

Therefore, I want to talk about “how we should get ready for Jesus”, especially focusing on “peace.” As we start the second week of Advent, we may think of “peace.” It is like when we light the second Advent candle, hoping Jesus brings “peace” again. The Prophet Isaiah named Jesus “Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus came to the world as the Prince of Peace, and in order to accomplish his mission, he died on the Cross. The Apostle Paul says, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14). However, we know that there are still wars, fighting, conflicts, violence, division, discrimination, etc., instead of harmony and peace. It is because we do not belong to God in wholeness yet. It is because we are not yet following Jesus Christ with all our hearts and minds. It is because we are not yet fully the children of God. If we are the children of God, we are at peace with one another. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). I wonder if we are at peace among our family, friends, and neighbors. I wonder if we are faithful as peacemakers. Every Sunday morning, we greet each other, “peace be with you!” It is a very simple greeting, but a very precious and meaningful greeting as Christians.

We may get a hint to “get ready for Jesus” from today’s scripture. We often mention John the Baptist every advent season because he spent his whole life waiting for the Lord Jesus. His vocation was to prepare for the way of the Lord. His father is a priest named Zechariah, and his mother is Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron. They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. One day an angel appeared to Zechariah when he was worshiping God at the altar. The angel said to him, “your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and you are to give him the name John. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:14-16). When John was born, Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.” (Luke 1:76-77).

As an angel said, and his father Zechariah prophesied, John the Baptist did not drink at all and lived in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey and wearing clothes of camel’s hair. Many people thought of him as a crazy man. However, he believed that his time was coming, which was preparing for the way of the Lord. Finally, “during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness” (Luke 3:2). Finally, it was time for him. “He went into the region around Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). His mission was proclaiming that he was to “prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Imagine, if we were to have an important guest, we may clean the house, decorate beautifully, and prepare food. If we had the Olympics in Wisconsin, Wisconsin may build a huge stadium, many hotels, develop many new cultural places and restaurants, and make new highways for many people worldwide. In ancient times, if they would have a king in their city, they had to make way for the King, as if “every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” In today’s scripture it says, “prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” To get ready for Jesus, who is our Lord, the King of kings, we should make our hearts, minds, and souls gentle and humble.

As the Baptist John did, many Christians live in their belief in Christ, Proclaiming the good news, outreaching to the people, evangelizing people, sacrificing lifelong because of Jesus Christ. They would sometimes give up their joyful life because of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, they disappoint at the chaotic situation in the world and pray that Jesus comes soon, Emmanuel our Lord! How about you? Do you wait for the coming of Jesus? If you are waiting for Jesus, let us think of where John met Jesus and where Zechariah met God. John was in the wilderness, and Zechariah was worshiping God at the altar. And as everyone knows, Jesus, who is the incarnated God, came into a manger. God appeared in the wilderness, at the altar, and in a manger. God didn’t come to a luxury palace. Where are you at? It means not only your physical place, but your spiritual and mindful place as well. Why don’t you think of Jesus and his friends at Christmas in order to meet God? Waiting for Jesus, let us take care of his friends, who are the poor, the sick, the homeless, and those in need. At least, let us put our mind down in the pursuit of lots of Christmas presents and food this Christmas. Instead, give thanks to God for what we have already and share them with Jesus’ friends. And, get ready for Jesus humbly.

Why don’t you reconcile with your family, friends, and neighbors if you have a broken relationship with them? Are you at peace with one another? Jesus said, “if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). A peaceful and harmonious life is more important than offering a gift to the altar. Before Christmas, let us reconcile with one another.  That’s the way of getting ready for Jesus. Therefore, we are waiting for Jesus Christ, who is coming to us again and bringing “peace” to the world. Even though our life gives us difficulties sometimes, and also the world is full of chaotic situations, let us be at peace with one another in the promise of Christ, holding the sign of the Cross. Thanks be to God! Amen.