Seeking Prophets

Advent Day 19

Third Thursday in Advent

December 15, 2011

Reading: Luke 7:24–28 (NRSV)

²⁴ When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Theme: Seeking Prophets

Reflection:

Jesus asks the people why they have been going into the wilderness seeking John the Baptist. For millennia, people have been attracted to prophets. People today still seek prophets. What is our fascination with prophets? What is it we hope to learn? Most of us are uncomfortable with uncertainty. We would rather deal with any defined situation, even one that is uncomfortable or unpleasant, rather than wallow in uncertainty. Uncertainty has a way of driving us nuts. For instances, the time spent waiting for results from medical tests is an extremely painful time for most of us, because we just want to know! If we know, then we will figure out a way to deal with the diagnosis.

One of the reasons we seek prophets is that we hope that they will help us understand the future. We sense their connection to God, and we believe they speak God’s word to us. Many times we go into our own version of the wilderness looking for someone who will help us see what is to come. Our own dilemma is to discern who is a prophet of God and who is a false prophet.

Unfortunately for us, the prophets who offer the most certain answers, a certainty that we would like to hear, are the ones who are most likely to be false prophets. Think of the several “prophets” in the past couple of years, who have predicted, with certainty, the date of the end of the world. Jesus told us that we could not know the time or place that the end would occur. Consequently, anyone who claims to have this inside information must be a false prophet.

The people who sought future certainty by following John were not given that certainty. All John could promise was that there was one greater than him who would follow, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Those of us who seek future certainty by following prophets will also be disappointed. The only certainty that we are given is found in the love of God through Jesus Christ. God does not promise us any particular future, what God promises is that God will not abandon us. The one whom John prophesied has come--born in the manger, does come daily into our lives--as our Savior, and will come again in the final days. Emmanuel, “God with us”, fulfills God’s promise of accompanying us.

Prayer: Come, Lord, Jesus Come! Be with us. Walk alongside of us. Come into our lives, daily, to give us the strength and wisdom that lets us deal with the uncertainty with which we live. Amen