As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
‘A voice of one crying out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths’ (Luke 3:4).
I have a friend who is deployed in an area of the world that is mostly desert. He recently sent a photo of a bright orange leaf that he found on the ground. There was something about that faint glimmer of new life in a place that seemed desolate that was captivating.
I am reminded of the way God’s people must have felt while waiting for the Messiah. The time of Jesus was a time of unrest in both political and religious leadership. I can imagine that people felt as if they were wandering through the desert, waiting for a glimmer of hope.
But they had faith. They had faith in their God who had proven Himself faithful before, even though it wasn’t always made clear to them right away. God promised to lead His people out of slavery and He made good on that promise. He promised them a land of their own and He made good on that promise. He promised them a Savior…
I think of the prophet John the Baptist. The Word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. What is usually a place of desolation and hopelessness, comes to this most unlikely person in the most unlikely place. And he stood as a sign to the people…a glimmer of hope, that the Messiah was coming.
“The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one crying out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths’” (Luke 3:2-4).
I imagine the star of Bethlehem like this bright orange leaf. A glimmer of light in a desolate place. Enough so that it captured the attention of the wise men from the East. Enough so that they told King Herod:
“In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel’” (Matthew 2:5-6).
The Letter to the Hebrews reads, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith, we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible” (Hebrews 11:1-3).
God’s people had faith that their Messiah would come. And when He came, there were signs, bright and glimmering, in a land that seemed barren. Like a bright orange leaf during a desert deployment, or an “unkempt” prophet with an important message, or a star leading the way to the God Son in a manger.
By: Elizabeth Clyons, Communications Associate for the Diocese of Bridgeport
