Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Year A + Advent II
Matthew 3:1-12

Like Isaiah, whom we discussed last week, John proclaimed a message that many did not want to hear. However, Isaiah was a member of the ruling class who lived in safety and had plenty of time to develop his theme and fill in the details. John, on the other hand, was constantly looking over his shoulder, wary of Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers.

Like a smart marketer, John knew how to attract an audience. He dressed strangely, ate disgusting things [Matt 3:4], and kept far away from the cities, where the attention of the authorities might interfere with his work. A bit on the wild side, John knew his strengths and weaknesses. When he spoke with ordinary people, they accepted his warning, “the kingdom of heaven is coming near.” But when speaking to the wealthy and powerful, John failed to adapt his message to the different audience. Instead, he called them a “brood of vipers” [Matt 3:7] and openly condemned the king and queen. [Matt 14:6-10] We all know how that worked out for him.

John’s view of the coming kingdom was stark and violent. He saw the Messiah as a reaper, a burner, a guy with an ax in his hand. [Matt 3:12] Perhaps that is what the people needed to hear, especially the rich and complacent. If so, then John’s brief time in the limelight served its purpose. He denied that he himself was the Chosen One. In fact, he said he could not even serve as a valet to the true Messiah. [Matt 3:11] His only role was to make way for the King.

And John quoted Isaiah: “make straight the path for him.” [Isaiah 40:3] Roman roads were an engineering marvel, but Caesar’s government officials didn’t spend any more than they had to on infrastructure after the roads were built. When a ruler wanted to visit his kingdom, plenty of advance notice was necessary. Soldiers and work crews went ahead of him, fixing the highway and straightening some of the detours around broken bridges and giant potholes.

John used an example that everyone could understand. People could relate to the fact that a great King was coming, and that someone had to get things ready, had to prepare the way for him. John felt that he was on his own, a voice in the wilderness, a lone warrior trying to wake people up. But gradually, those who heard him and recognized the truth of his message accepted what he offered.

Jews did not think that they needed baptism – it was a symbolic, ritual cleansing reserved for Gentile converts. For John to suggest that good, righteous Jews also needed cleaning up was controversial. And yet they flocked to him. They wanted a tangible sign that they were on the right road, the straight path. They wanted him to punch their ticket, so that when that Kingdom of which he spoke arrived, they would be guaranteed entry.

We know it doesn’t work like that. We know that the work of preparing the way is never-ending. We realize that our own baptism makes us citizens of the Kingdom, but it is our actions after that event which separate us from the vipers, the chaff, the trees that need to be cut down – or which don’t.

John prepared the way for Jesus. We, too, are called to continue to prepare that way, to cry out in the wilderness, to shout the Good News that the Kingdom is at hand. We also need to remind our listeners that those who are not ready to receive the King and be part of the Kingdom face a very different future. It takes courage and faith to be a prophet, a harbinger, a herald. Let us pray for the grace and strength to accept our calling and carry it out with confidence, and let us strengthen and comfort one another in this mission.