The word of God comes in the wilderness
Welcome to the Second Week of Advent
Yesterday’s walk to church was in rainy, windy London weather with gusts that twist umbrellas inside out. The rain slicked the pavement and a damp chill penetrated my coat and jumper. Yet, inside I experienced a deep warm joy to be here in London with my daughter and young family.
Sitting in church, the phrase from this week’s Gospel Luke 3: 1-6 ‘the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.’ caught my attention. The Gospel lists all the powerful men of the time, yet the word of God came to John in the wilderness, not to any of them.
I thought of my walk to church as a small wilderness and in the midst of it the word of God was calling me. Isn’t that a truth in our lives? That it is in the wildernesses of our lives that the word of God breaks in. It is in times of distress, desolation and anxiety that we hear the word of God.
There is a Greek word for that phenomenon, Metanoia. Metanoia is an ongoing process of being willingly captivated by the possibilities God holds out for our lives and the world. It is a grace, an offer we can accept or refuse.
‘Metanoia was the experience that Mary had in the Annunciation, the same grace that led disciples to leave everything behind to follow Jesus. Metanoia involves the sacrifice of setting off on an enticing adventure that colors and reevaluates everything else in our lives. It becomes a communal adventure, joining people together in joyful anticipation, in action and in union with God. Metanoia propels us beyond our puny mindsets into a grand experience of living in unanticipated joy.’ Barbra Minczewski
Metanoia is the word of God breaking into our lives. It is Metanoia that called me to be a permanent deacon and to visit London once again to celebrate Advent and Christmas with Simone and family. And it occurs in the wildernesses of our lives.
Friend, probably you are experiencing a wilderness this Advent. If so this week’s Gospel is saying to you - expect a Metanoia experience. As with all such experiences it requires an affirmative response on our part.
Last week, the First Week of Advent, we became aware that the turmoil and distress in the world, nations, families and even within ourselves were actually signs of the impending coming of the Christ Child into our lives. We are to stand tall and hold our heads upright.
This week, the Second Week of Advent, we are expecting the word of God to break into those wildernesses. We are to open ourselves, change our ways and experience a Metanoia. It requires a response of expectant hope and an openness of ‘Here I am Lord, Let it be done according to They word.’
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