We’re so used to our image of John the Baptist hanging out in the desert, that something that would have been obvious and shocking to his contemporaries slips right past us: John isn’t supposed to be in the desert! He is the son of Zechariah the priest. And so, as a member of the priestly class, John is supposed to be in the Temple. And yet here he is, as far away from the Temple as he can be. Deliberately.
Yes, John, just by his presence in the desert and far from the Temple is making it clear: the Temple is corrupt. He wants nothing to do with the broken system—one that more often alienates people from their God than draws them into an encounter with the True God. Yet John proclaims that, in the desert, he has discerned the presence of God, a presence that will become visible for: “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Of course, we know that John is referring to Jesus. In Jesus we see God. Jesus is the new place of encounter with God. As we continue our Advent journey, the question before us is: where do I find God?
For some, it may be the Temple, the church where the Community gathers, the Word is proclaimed, and the Bread is broken. And that is awesome. Yet we remember that there are many who, for many reasons, like John, prefer the desert. They flee the “official” place of encounter with God because they don’t find God there; they don’t experience the love of Jesus the Christ there.
So, look around! Find God in the searching member of your family. See God in the one who says she is “spiritual but not religious.” Encounter the face of God in places where it would seem God’s presence is least expected.
And BE the presence of God for all those who, whether they can articulate it or not, are crying out, “O come, O come, Emmanuel!”
With Advent hope,
Father Liam