One thing I’ve heard people asking recently is whether we need to attend protests in order to be good Christians. It came up recently in the theology book group and I’ve heard it asked other places. Part of the answer is that each of us has different callings in how we live out our lives as followers of Jesus. There is no one size fits all answer. There is no one right way to be a Christian. When we hear stories of radical Christians or figures in scripture, they are meant to inspire us. Not necessarily copy everything they do, but spark our faith to imagine ways in which we want to live out our faith.
Take for example John the Baptist in today’s gospel reading. He is a wild prophetic figure who rejected the few comforts that would have been available in ancient times. John inspires us, pointing the way toward Jesus. None of us needs to become John the Baptist. There is only one John the Baptist. Just as none of us needs to become Jesus. There is only one Jesus. John points the way toward Jesus. He is a voice in the wilderness that cuts through all the noise around us. He calls us and those first disciples into a life of repentance and shedding distractions. That is helpful to us today to hear.
Aren’t we the people, like the first disciples, who are easily distracted? I know I am distracted by all the different voices out there. Distracted by the shenanigans of a president who just received the first peace prize offered by a soccer association. That someone like him has power over us and affects our economy and jobs. Distracted by completing all the tasks I need to complete every day, including all the important administrative tasks at the church. Making sure there is still time left over for theological reflection. Some of the distractions are necessary, important things, but we don’t want them to occupy all our attention. There is life beyond e-mails.
God knows all this which is why God sends prophets like John. This is why God sends Jesus to liberate us from the many distractions of everyday life, so we also remember we were created good and beautiful. Despite marketers telling us we’re not good enough, that we need to become more beautiful to be worthy of life, Jesus tells us otherwise. John points to a simpler way rooted in faith and love. About repenting of ways that harm ourselves and creation.
Where do we find John the Baptist today in our world? One place I heard his cry was over at the UVic campus. I had an important gathering to be at with the Beyond Grief Group here at the church when it unfolded. But I heard the accounts and read the stories. Nearly 1000 Indigenous artists, students, faculty, and allies gathered on campus to counter the hateful voices of a few who denied that residential schools were bad and that Indigenous children died in these schools. These people exercise their time and resources to compound the trauma of Indigenous neighbours through hate. Nevertheless they did not succeed. Tanya Talgaq, an Inuit musician, and Juno award winner, was present and she used Inuit throat singing as a way to counter the hate. Using Indigenous art and music as protest. In this way the other joined around her and Indigenous leaders were there as support. They didn’t need to hold up signs or say anything. They just needed to be present.
Show up and being present is what is called of us as Christians and humans in much of life. Isn’t that what we do when someone is sick or suffering? We check in and offer to be present. When someone’s loved one dies we check in and offer to be present. When someone has a baby we check in and offer to be present. And also to give people space. Sometimes present in prayer and phone call is enough. In that sense there is no stark dichotomy between protest, between caring for elders and children, between listening to John the Baptist and Jesus. It’s about listening to a word calling us to love. Checking in and offering to be present. These things are not that different. And we each have our own charisms. Some of us make soup and some of us show up in the community and some of us respond in any number of ways.
In this sense the Christian calling to check in and be present is the same whether we are checking on one another or checking on friends in the community. Checking on Indigenous friends is also part of a ministry of care. It’s not that complicated but it does involve being consistent, being present, listening and caring. That is who we are called to be as a Christian community.
Right now I am asking you all to take five minutes to talk with your neighbours right now, answering the question: Where do you see John the Baptist in the world today?
Thank you for your time of conversation together. Wrapping up know that the Advent gospel is here. John the Baptist declares for us to make straight the way of the Lord. That Jesus is coming and a dawn of justice and love has arrived. This we celebrate and welcome in a time of waiting. Amen.
