Advent II in Mark 1

 MARK 1:1-8 Advent II

“ The way of the Lord must be prepared within the heart; for great and spacious is the heart of man, as if it were a whole world. But see its greatness , not in bodily quantity, but in the power of the mind which enables it to encompass so great a knowledge of the truth. Prepare, therefore, in your hearts the way of the Lord, by a worthy manner of life. Keep straight the path of your life, so that the words of the Lord may enter in without hindrance.” Origen

Today I want to talk about beginnings. Now we are in a time of preparation . The Candle of Hope has drawn us to the Candle of Preparation in today’s Gospel from Mark 1:1-8. Hope draws us to the light of Christ. In that Light we have life. We have Good News. “ The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God …” 1:1 Good News or Glad Tidings. The Greek word here describes the effect of Good News from a distance runner who has come to the battlefield to let the warriors know that the war is over. He holds up his hands and his expression is joyous. This is how the word for Gospel, glad tidings (euangelion-Greek) was used back then. Hopeful good news has come. “ The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jn 1:5

But the heart must be prepared for such light otherwise the person will not receive it. Too much clutter! Too many noises. Too many channels. Too many things to do . In Advent we sit quietly to await the true joy and true light “ which enlightens everyone.” John 1:9 I think there is a strong link between the mind, the body and the spirit. “Keep straight the path of your life ,” Origen has so aptly reminded almost 2,000 years ago, “ so that the words of the Lord may enter in without hindrance.”

How to make a beginning? The New Year is not yet here but the New Church Year has begun. Advent began last week. Do we need to bottom out before we get the help we need? When I was in the military as a Chaplain, I was stationed in Korea for two separate one year tours. The funniest thing I heard there ( well when I thought about it , it was not so funny) was the term “ turtle ditches”. What on earth is that I thought? Are there a lot of turtles here? I found out later these were people. The ditches were the big drainage places by the road sealed by concrete to hold the monsoon rain waters. But many people would fall into the “turtle ditches” after a long night drinking too much. So the term was correct. They fell into them like turtles. How deep is the ditch we are in? Can we see a way out?

So we want to make a beginning. That says something that there has to be an ending. An ending of ______________? A beginning of new life, a new start has its bumps too but it is a path that leads to eternal life forever. Jesus said , “my yoke is easy , and my burden is light.” Mt 11:30 John the Baptist who is talked about in these verses was so good at telling people to find an ending those things that were keeping them from living. 1:3 “ As it is written in the prophets…. John told the people to get baptized for repentance. In other words, make an end of what is keeping you from God. “ And all were going out to him…” 1:5 I ran into the “Crossover ” ministry in town the other day as they were helping the Middle School to be prepared for the Sav- a –Life offices there. They were painting and getting it ready . There were men there who had found shelter there after their old lives had come to an end. I do not know what the ends were all about. All I know is now they found a certain refuge in this ministry in Opp that houses men that are seeking a new beginning. What needs to end in our lives so that we can make a beginning?

John the Baptist knew a thing about these matters. He called the people “ who were baptized in the Jordan river by him, confessing their sins.” 1:5 John is called a messenger from Malachi 3:1 and the one “who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” 1:2-3 from Isaiah 40:3 What does all this have to do with us? We are also called to do these things spiritually. It can give us a foundation for a beginning. I am rather intrigued that this is part of the Good News. Would it not be easier to just skip it? Believe in Jesus so many say and all will be well. But we see no changes in lives where this message is taught so often without its parts. Something is missing in the equation here. To truly believe the life should be different. I think the Children’s catechism is helpful here, Q“ What must you do to be saved?” A. I must repent of my sins, believe in Christ and live a new life.” Q. “How do you repent of your sins? A. By being sorry enough for my sin to hate and forsake it.”

The Good News is about the One who John talked about in his messages. “ And he proclaimed saying He who comes is mightier than I , the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” 1:7 This is true understanding by John. He knew his condition and state before the one He was preparing the way for. So He says, “ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 1:8 This is Jesus, Son of God, the Good News we have been looking for. And when we are found by Him, we are truly free. We have made a beginning. This light is “ the light of men.”John 1:4

“ Great and spacious is the heart of man, as if it were a whole world…” Origen reminded us in the first part of this message. So many are not there. They are living a shallow life, often short in years for they have nothing to live for. No God, no joy, no good news, no light . How dark is the darkness. How a little light can change our lives. We look for Jesus, the baby to be born soon on Christmas . That innocent holy life can change us. But we must desire this change and begin again with God and His Word and His people. We cannot do it by ourselves. Preparing for Jesus must have a beginning for He increases. We decrease.

“ Make ye straight what long was crooked, make the rougher places plain;

let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign,

For the glory of the Lord now o’er earth is shed abroad;

And all flesh shall see the token, that his word is never broken.” Johannes Olearius 1671 ( hymn- “ Comfort, Comfort Ye My People”)