Sermon: "Prepare the Way"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

Each of us could probably name one or two schoolteachers who played a particularly significant role in our development. Such a person likely was truly dedicated to the job of teaching, sincerely cared about young people and learning, and, also, was deeply interested in the development of whole people. Most often, that significant teacher was one of the hardest and most demanding. Perhaps your teacher said something like what mine used to say: "You'll thank me for this one day." And, just afterwards, we got socked with a difficult assignment or some added work to accomplish. Even so, that prediction was correct, at least in my case. I do now remember that teacher with admiration and with thanks. She helped get me ready for the life that awaited me.

It occurs to me that John the Baptist must have affected people in a similar way. He was tough on the crowds who came to hear him. He was direct - even harsh - in his message. He seemed to be uncaring at times, while actually he cared a great deal. His high expectations bordered on being unrealistic. He was firmly convinced of the importance of what he had to share with others.

I can almost hear John the Baptist say, "You'll thank me for this one day", right before calling the people a "brood of vipers." And then he demanded that the people repent … or else. What a guy! But, you know, I imagine that a lot of folks did indeed remember John the Baptist with admiration and with thanks. He helped get them ready for something important in life … important, indeed, for Jesus was about to come!

The setting for John the Baptist's ministry was so important for his message. In St. Luke's Gospel, the story of Jesus' birth has been told prior to meeting John. Some of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus have been related. That one story about Jesus' early life - his visit to the temple in Jerusalem at age twelve - has been told.

Then, into that situation, John the Baptist is introduced, and there is much in common about that introduction among all the Gospels, including the one from St. Matthew that we read this morning. John the Baptist is the person who ushers in the ministry of Jesus. He is to act as the forerunner of the Messiah. He encourages people to "prepare the way" for the Lord.

The story of John the Baptist is clearly grounded in history, much more so than many of the biblical stories. In St. Luke's account, once again, dates, names, and places are given. It is clear in the Gospel witness, therefore, what the particular time and circumstances were, into which John the Baptist came.

Also important in the life of John was his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Indeed, John was a kind of culmination of those prophets from earlier days. Thus, John's message was forward-looking, but in an interesting way, he himself was a throw-back … an example of an Old Testament prophet from earlier days.

In our First Reading - from Isaiah - there is the prophecy of a time of fulfillment for God's Kingdom. That Kingdom will begin with the person on whom God's spirit will rest, and the Kingdom will be characterized by righteousness and peace. The words in the reading imply a call for preparation in order to be ready for this great and wonderful day.

Of course, as we understand John the Baptist, he was the one who helped prepare for the coming Messiah … and that Messiah's arrive would signal the beginning of the fulfillment of God's Kingdom. John called on Israel to be ready for the day of fulfillment, the time of restoration for the faithful people of God.

Thus, the setting of the ministry of John the Baptist was indeed important. He came just prior to the start of the public ministry of Jesus. John was the one who introduced Jesus onto the scene. And he did so as one who fulfilled what was expected by readers and hearers of the Old Testament Scripture. John was demanding in his message, and he delivered it with urgency. It was so important for the people to hear the message and to be prepared for him who was to come. John was instrumental in that process of preparation. Indeed, he and his ministry symbolize and incarnate the process of preparing for the Messiah, who then would fulfill God's will.

In this regard, some words of Isaiah the prophet are quoted in the Gospel reading. Those are indeed the most characteristic words of John the Baptist: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight"(Matt 3:3). The words of the prophets were important as the people awaited the Messiah. John the Baptist used some of those words again, as he ushered in the Messiah, in the person of Jesus. And, in our day, these same words are important to us, as we await the Messiah's return: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight."

In John's day, the key to preparation for the Messiah was repentance. Of course, in our day, the Messiah - Jesus - has come already. However, in our time, we await Christ's return, and so, we live in a kind of second Advent, a second time of awaiting. And the key today as we prepare for the Messiah's return is repentance, once again.

Repentance is not all that familiar a term or concept for us, however, and in fact, it may seem foreign to our understanding. Indeed, in our day, we are far more prone to look for someone else to blame than to consider that our own behavior might need to change. However, rather than looking at others and their need to change, John calls us to look at ourselves … for, after all, it is only ourselves and our behavior that we can really affect. Repentance has to do with changing our own ways, and that often is difficult to admit as a need and, also, difficult to accomplish as an act.

It is easier to make a show of repentance than actually to repent. Sometimes, we may even enjoy looking dismal and practicing our piety before other people, like the hypocrites that Jesus spoke about elsewhere (Matt 6). We may occasionally participate in what might be called a "sack cloth complex." And then, having made ourselves feel better by obviously seeming to feel so badly, we return to our former ways. That is, we go on our merry way, not really having changed at all.

That is not the true repentance to which John calls us and that Jesus expects. That is not the repentance that will prepare us for the return of the Messiah.

I read a helpful definition for "repentance" not long ago, and I want to share it with you, as a way to conclude these thoughts. According to this definition, repentance is "the change in one's state of spirit and conduct from regret, remorse, and despair to satisfaction, accord, and serenity." Now, isn't that interesting? Usually we think of repentance precisely in terms of "regret, remorse, and despair." But, that is not the intention and goal of repentance, according to this definition. Rather, true repentance ends in giving thanks for the spirit and conduct of "satisfaction, accord, and serenity."

Thus, in this Advent season - as we prepare for our Lord's return - may we do so with thanksgiving. May we realize that Jesus Christ is indeed the Lord of heaven and earth, now and always. And may we know that only with a spirit of true repentance - of satisfaction, accord, and serenity - only with such a spirit will we truly be prepared for Him who is to come, as our Savior and our Lord! Amen.

Copyright © 2007 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee