Whistling in the wind

Jane Denniston December 13, 2023 3 3

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Mark 1: 1-8 (NRSVA)

1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way;

3 

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    “Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight”’,

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

A voice crying in the wilderness – for me this conjures up a picture of someone engaged in a thankless task, struggling against the odds, whistling in the wind, and when you read about the lives of the prophets that’s not far from what it was like. Yet the role of the prophet was fundamental to the life of Israel. Always there, calling the people back to God, convincing them to repent, turn around. When I look at the world today, crumbling and breaking, groaning for release from our greed and exploitation, whether of people or resources, I long for a prophet. And then I realise that I am the prophet. I am the one with the message of hope and transformation. And mine is the task to be that voice crying in the wilderness, crying out against injustice and oppression, discrimination and inequality, prejudice and privilege.

As prophets we speak to our society, we engage with our society, with its politics and culture, with its sins and struggles. Whenever we stand up for what is good and right and true, we are the voice crying in the wilderness. Whenever we do something, however small, which leads to hope rather than despair, which gives comfort rather than brings pain, we are the voice crying in the wilderness. Whenever we show the love of Jesus in our words and our actions, we are the voice crying in the wilderness. We are the sign of hope for this generation. We are not whistling in the wind when we speak the message God gives us. Let us pray that our voice can be heard.

PRAYER:

Father, strengthen our voices

as we cry out your message of hope and consolation.

Help us to be your prophets today,

not to be discouraged by the indifference of the wilderness,

sometimes so much worse than active hostility,

but to trust that as we point the way

you will draw more people into your community of love.

Show us, guide us, lead us, your prophets,

to bring your word of life to our communities,

that they may find life in you. Amen