Advent II

You wake up to the morning feed of current events, you hear it in conversation at work, or read it in social media, but what affect does the word "evangel-ical" have on you? Does it make you proud like hearing the name of your favorite sports team? Does it make you cringe? Does it conjure political identity or a derogatory description? Has it lost all affect from overuse?

It comes from the word eye-witnesses were using to describe: The “good news”

of Jesus Christ—the Message!

…

John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”

It’s the “Good News” Isaiah spoke of centuries before them: A voice says, “Shout!” I said, “What shall I shout?”

“These people are nothing but grass, their love fragile as wildflowers…

Tell the cities, “Look! Your God!”

Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power, ready to go into action…

I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say [sang the Psalmist:] “God’s about to pronounce his people well… Love and Truth meet in the street, Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!”

Peter responded to similar questions when he saidBut how do you taste this Good News, can we find sustenance in a cookbook? When will this good news actualize into our present, pressing life? :

“... beloved, with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise…”