Encountering God begins with our willingness to make space in our lives. Encountering God leads us to prepare with concrete actions. As we prepare for Christmas and the celebration of God-in-our midst, join me in reflecting on what it means to encounter God. Thanks.
The following is a text version of this blog posting.
How do you prepare for Christmas? Trim the tree? Shop for presents? Make cookies from recipes handed down through your family? Those are some of the ways people prepare. But today I want to talk about preparing for Christmas in terms of it being a spiritual holiday. All the things we do to celebrate the holiday like trees, gifts, cookies, and carols are important. But let’s not forget our spiritual preparation because that’s important, too.
A traditional figure associated with the preparation for Christmas is John the Baptist. We don’t know a lot about John. It seems that he was a cousin of Jesus and no more than a few months older than Jesus. The few stories in the Bible depict John in much the same way as the Hebrew prophet Elijah was described: the same kind of clothes, living in the desert, and a similarly abrasive personality. Both John and Elijah were prophets who weren’t afraid of telling people what to do. From that perspective, John is described in the gospels as roaming the countryside with a simple message: Prepare the way of the Lord! When asked what that meant, he gave clear directions like, “If you have two coats, give one to a person who doesn’t have a coat,” “Soldiers, be content with your pay! Don’t press civilians to burdensome tasks,” and “Tax-collectors should collect only what is due and not extort extra money for their own pockets.” John laid it on the line.
We often focus on this dimension of John. We picture him as someone who appeared to be a little bit crazy, on the edge, while telling people what to do. But that’s a selective image of John. That’s not the whole story.
Here’s what we miss. Before John told people to “Prepare the way,” he spent time preparing himself. Before he started his itinerate ministry, John lived in solitude in the desert. He was deeply contemplative. In silence and solitude, he came to understand himself, his inner spirit, his relationship with God, and his mission. We don’t know much about this time but the gospel narratives tell us that it occurred.
I think this is significant. John would have known Jesus in real life. They were cousins and they were the same age. There’s something about that encounter with Jesus that led John into the desert to lead a contemplative life. Knowing his cousin caused him to consider who he was and what he should be doing with his life. All of that came before John engaged with other people in ways that shaped their lives.
If we pay attention to John, then we’ll understand that preparing the way of the Lord begins with our own preparation. It starts with our solitude and prayer. It’s not that we need to run off to the desert and live in a cave. Instead, we need to step away from life’s busyness to be alone, in prayer, meditation, and spiritual practice, and allow our spirits to grow. It was only after that self-nurture that John began to engage with others. The same is true for us.
What’s also important to remember is that what John told other people to do are the same things that Jesus taught. Further, they are the same things found in the Hebrew scriptures. We hear them as outlandish and harsh, but, in truth, being generous with those in need, being people of integrity, and respecting the welfare of others are principles found throughout the Biblical tradition and all of the religious traditions of the world. What empowered John to have the confidence, conviction, and stamina to speak these truths to others was his deep contemplative life.
Preparing for Christmas? Yes, trim the tree and bake the cookies. But also, build into your life the pattern of contemplative spiritual practice. That’s the foundation for spiritual preparation for Christmas and for life all year round.