John, Mary, and Lucy

John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 

He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 

John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

When Advent was first a thing, in the 4th century-ish, it was a forty day penitential fast before the feast of Christmas, just like Lent is a forty day penitential fast before the feast of Easter.  Back then, Advent began on November 11th, which is the feast of St. Martin, and like Lent, Advent included a one Sunday break from all the fasting as an encouragement to “hang in there to the end!”… to remember, “something good really IS coming!”  

In Lent that break is called Laetare Sunday, or Rejoice Sunday if you prefer the English.  The corresponding Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday or Joy Sunday.  That’s this Sunday.  That’s the reason for the pink candle on this Sunday in Advent.  In the modern days of the 13th century, Advent was changed to begin on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day or the nearest Sunday to St. Andrew’s Day if you’re Scottish, and then at the Second Vatican council, Advent took on a less penitential and more hopeful character for the season. But long or short, penitential or hopeful, purple or blue, this is the Sunday where we turn our attention fully to the coming of the Light of Christ… Jesus, the babe in the manger. This is the Sunday where we see John the Baptist testify to that light.  He is not the light himself, he makes clear, but he is there to testify to it, point to it, proclaim it and call people into the coming light of Christ. 

This is also the time in Advent where we celebrate St. Lucy's feast day… or Sankta Lucia if you’d prefer it in Swedish!  St. Lucy was a young Christian girl who lived in the darkness of the Roman persecution.  She too was not the light, but in a creative bearing of the light, she wore a crown of candles on her head so she could use both hands to bring food to fellow Christians hiding in the catacombs.  While, like John, she was not the light herself, she testified to the light by what she did.  Her actions pointed to it, proclaimed it and called the people in darkness to have hope in the light of Christ. 

This week we also hear from Mary.  She too was not the light herself, it is GOD, she says clearly, who is the One who does the great things… who shows strength, scatters the proud, casts down the mighty, lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty!  But she also made clear when she said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ that she was there to testify to the light, point to it, proclaim it, to bear it, and to call the people into the light of Christ.

  

That, my friends, is OUR calling in the midst of our world’s darkness as well.  We, like John, Lucia, and Mary are called to testify to the light, point to it, proclaim it, to bear it, and to call the people into the light of Christ.  The darkness John and Mary and Lucia knew were different in many ways than the darkness we know today.  The darkness of war in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, the darkness of rising Christian Nationalism and threats by authoritarians.  The darkness of our local hunger, poverty, addiction, underemployment, and housing shortages.  Our darkness may be different than theirs but we are called just as they were, NOT to BE the light… THAT is the work of the Messiah, the Christ.  But you and I, like John the Baptist, Lucia, and Mary… WE are called to testify to the light, point to it, proclaim it, to bear it, and to call the people within the circles of our lives into the healing light of Christ.

What will all that that bearing, proclaiming, and testifying to the Light look like for you?  Or as Frederick Buechner might ask, “where will your deep gladness meet the world’s deep hunger” in this week to come?  I think it will look as different for each of us as it looked different for John, Mary and Lucia.  I think we can learn from John that it can be bold and clear.  I think we can learn from Mary that it should be humble and brave.  I think we can learn from Lucia that it can be creative and practical.  Beyond that, the way each of us testifies to the Light of Christ in this next short week before Christmas is between you and the Holy Spirit!  

So be open this next week to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.  Take some time in the midst of the last minute noise and chaos to be still and listen for that Spirit.  Notice with her, the places that need to be filled in, cut back, and need a little extra light.  Then, remembering once again that WE are NOT the light, bring the One who is the light… EMMANUEL… God With Us, to shine into EVERY darkness wherever it might be and in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads you to do it!  Amen.