One of the great Advent figures is John the Baptist. John was a prophet and he has some helpful things to teach us about how to prepare for Christmas. Let me mention three all beginning with the letter S.
John was single-minded. The focus of his life was Jesus. He had come to prepare the way for Jesus and to point Jesus out when he came. John let nothing distract him from centering his life on Jesus. At this time of year there is a danger we would forget that Jesus is the reason for the season. We need to try to keep Jesus at the centre of our Christmas preparations and celebrations. If we don’t, Christmas will leave us with a sense of disappointment and perhaps even emptiness.
We are told that John the Baptist lived out in the desert. He sought silence. Silence helped John not only to reflect but, more importantly, to listen to his heart. In listening to his heart John knew he was listening to God. Silence enabled John to experience solitude. Solitude is finding the Presence of God within. It is prayer experienced as friendship. Like John we too need times of silence in our lives, especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas. How else can we glimpse the great wonder of God becoming human in a helpless, vulnerable child? Without silence Christmas can be a superficial experience.
John also lived a simple life. The scriptures tell us that he wore a camel skin and ate locusts and wild honey. There was no excess baggage, no clutter or waste in John’s life. His life was focused on the essentials. John’s example is an important one for us who live in a consumerist culture that is in overdrive for months before Christmas. It often feels as if the real religion at Christmas is shopping. Of course it is a good thing at Christmas to give presents. Gifts are an expression of our love and appreciation of others. But there is so much needless spending and waste at Christmas. Waste is offensive to the poor. It also distracts us from the things that really matter – our relationships. The investment we make in building relationships is much more important than our investment in material possessions.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas John the Baptist’s message to us is clear. Don’t forget that Jesus is the reason for the season, create a little time for silence and put relationships before possessions.