Rev. Betsy Aldrich Garland
December 14, 2008 – 2nd Sunday in Advent
John 1:6-8, 19-28

We Are Not the Messiah

This Sunday, the Advent theme is “joy” and this service is about rejoicing. And what a gift of joy to have these children lead us in worship this morning. Thank you to Brenda and all the teachers who have prepared them for this time. This is a precious Christmas gift!

And now, I would like to take just a very brief look at the gospel of John – A second gift of joy for all of us busy folks this season. In the first chapter of the gospel, “a man sent from God, whose name was John,” Jesus’ cousin, appears on the scene, baptizing people in the River Jordan.

We can imagine the stir he must have created across the countryside, because the powers that be in Jerusalem send emissaries to ask, “Who are you?” John’s answer is quite clear: “I am not the messiah.” We would do well to remember his words and take them to heart for ourselves.

For all those of us who are overwhelmed during this holiday season – going to work, taking care of our families, sending cards, buying presents, attending parties, visiting relatives, keeping up all of our family traditions so that we don’t let anyone down, meeting everyone’s expectations, including our own, trying to bring in Christmas single-handedly, let me remind us:

We are not the messiah. That position already has been filled.

For the people of this church who seek to be faithful leaders at all times – the Deacons who work so hard to make wise decisions, the choir members who sing their hearts out, the teachers who give up worship to teach Sunday School, bakers of holy bread like Jametta, coffee hour hosts like Sharon and Glory who makes delicious brownies, administrative people like Wendy who hold the congregation together, and Jack and Don behind-the-scenes people counting the offering, and Fred our webmaster, and Alan who knows what this building and grounds need, and for all whose lives revolve around this community, let me remind you:

You are not the messiah. That position already has been filled.

And for myself, who works at Beneficent as well as at Edgewood, and serves on countless boards and committees, and hates to say no to my children and my friends, and thinks I can do anything and everything, let me remind myself:

I am not the messiah either. That position already has been filled.

The gospel writer tells us that “[John] was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” In that same way, we are not the messiah, but our lives point the way to the messiah, not only through our good works but also in how we live and love. You will have noticed that I hold us accountable in my preaching and through our prayers for the kind of lives we live. I agree with Martin Luther who said we are to be “little Christs” – Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick.

We do have responsibility – but we are not the messiah. That position already has been filled. We can do only what we can do. We don’t have to be God. We don’t have to do it all. We don’t have to feel guilty if we can’t do it all! We cannot “fix” everyone and everything. And it’s not healthy for us to wait to be “fixed” by anyone other than ourselves. An ancient rabbi wrote, “No woman is required to lose her life to save the world.” And so it is for all of us.

My prayer for us this Christmas season is that we might re-evaluate our “to do” lists, set new priorities, and make room in the inn of our hearts for the Christ child.

My prayer for us this Christmas season is that we might rest ourselves in the growing darkness of Advent, so that we might be awake to the light that the messiah is waiting to bring us.

My prayer for us this Christmas season is that we might take some time – and make some space –
to experience the wonder and expectant hope that we see this morning in the faces of our beautiful children.

Amen.