Advent of The Way
A Parable of Expectation
The Kingdom of heaven is like a church who received a message from God saying My son is coming to be with you. Prepare ye the way.
The members of the church became excited. God’s son is coming here…to our house of worship! And then they asked, “What does it mean: Prepare ye the way?”
Some people said: we must prepare a feast!
Others wanted to learn and perform beautiful music.
Some suggested the church must be made more presentable
and there were those who wanted to announce to the entire community “the king’s son is coming! Please, be our guests. Come and join us so you can be in his presence as well!”
In the spirit of expectation and anticipation much busy-ness ensued. No expense was spared – only the best would do for the son of God.
Great prayers began to be prayed….prayers of repentance, prayers for and of forgiveness, prayers of gratitude.
Hearts were opened and everyone shared one enormous hope: that he or she would have the great privilege of serving God’s own son when he came to visit.
Men did what lots of men do: they repaired what was broken and moved what needed to be moved. They hammered and sawed and drilled and dug. They painted and leveled and sanded and polished while all the while women came along side and did what lots of women do: they cleaned and sorted and washed and swept. They dusted and arranged and organized and shopped.
Cooks cooked and singers rehearsed. Teachers prepared and leaders led.
And amidst all of the preparations friendships long forgotten were renewed, wounds long neglected were healed, grudges long nurtured were abandoned and forgiveness long overdue was offered and accepted.
Perhaps most remarkably, on the day the guest of honor was to come strangers were welcomed and the hungry were fed. The poor were included right along with the rich. The blind were led by the sighted and the lame were wheeled in or carried in the arms of kind friends and family.
The sick were given places right up front in hope that the holy one’s healing touch could reach them. And all the people were one in Spirit because of Him who was expected.
They waited and waited and waited even more.
And when it seemed that all had been in vain, they cried in one voice: “O God, where is He who was promised? We long to see, to know, to touch. To serve and to be whole!”
The still, small voice of God answered:
“My children - my dear, dear saints,
My son has been among you all the while.
When you gathered together…. he was there also.
When you served your brothers and sisters, it was he who was served.
When you welcomed the blind, the lame, the poor, the stranger you welcomed him.
When words of reconciliation and restoration and healing and love were spoken they resounded in his own ears and in mine.
When the hearts of a people are one and they seek not their own good but the good that is born of love, my spirit dances and all of heaven is glad.
Beloved,
My message was simple: prepare ye the way.
THE WAY is not a path or a place or a pageant.
THE WAY is not a doctrine or a dogma or a decree.
THE WAY is not a sermon or a sonnet or a song.
THE WAY is the heart. And to prepare THE WAY is to let love be all there is..
When this happens “paths are made straight, valleys are raised up, every mountain and hill is made low, and the rough ground becomes level. The glory of the Lord is revealed so all mankind will see it.”
This is what the Kingdom of God is like.
And He who testified to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. Amen.”
Come, Lord Jesus. We are expecting you. Even now.
The Kingdom of heaven is like a church who received a message from God saying My son is coming to be with you. Prepare ye the way.
The members of the church became excited. God’s son is coming here…to our house of worship! And then they asked, “What does it mean: Prepare ye the way?”
Some people said: we must prepare a feast!
Others wanted to learn and perform beautiful music.
Some suggested the church must be made more presentable
and there were those who wanted to announce to the entire community “the king’s son is coming! Please, be our guests. Come and join us so you can be in his presence as well!”
In the spirit of expectation and anticipation much busy-ness ensued. No expense was spared – only the best would do for the son of God.
Great prayers began to be prayed….prayers of repentance, prayers for and of forgiveness, prayers of gratitude.
Hearts were opened and everyone shared one enormous hope: that he or she would have the great privilege of serving God’s own son when he came to visit.
Men did what lots of men do: they repaired what was broken and moved what needed to be moved. They hammered and sawed and drilled and dug. They painted and leveled and sanded and polished while all the while women came along side and did what lots of women do: they cleaned and sorted and washed and swept. They dusted and arranged and organized and shopped.
Cooks cooked and singers rehearsed. Teachers prepared and leaders led.
And amidst all of the preparations friendships long forgotten were renewed, wounds long neglected were healed, grudges long nurtured were abandoned and forgiveness long overdue was offered and accepted.
Perhaps most remarkably, on the day the guest of honor was to come strangers were welcomed and the hungry were fed. The poor were included right along with the rich. The blind were led by the sighted and the lame were wheeled in or carried in the arms of kind friends and family.
The sick were given places right up front in hope that the holy one’s healing touch could reach them. And all the people were one in Spirit because of Him who was expected.
They waited and waited and waited even more.
And when it seemed that all had been in vain, they cried in one voice: “O God, where is He who was promised? We long to see, to know, to touch. To serve and to be whole!”
The still, small voice of God answered:
“My children - my dear, dear saints,
My son has been among you all the while.
When you gathered together…. he was there also.
When you served your brothers and sisters, it was he who was served.
When you welcomed the blind, the lame, the poor, the stranger you welcomed him.
When words of reconciliation and restoration and healing and love were spoken they resounded in his own ears and in mine.
When the hearts of a people are one and they seek not their own good but the good that is born of love, my spirit dances and all of heaven is glad.
Beloved,
My message was simple: prepare ye the way.
THE WAY is not a path or a place or a pageant.
THE WAY is not a doctrine or a dogma or a decree.
THE WAY is not a sermon or a sonnet or a song.
THE WAY is the heart. And to prepare THE WAY is to let love be all there is..
When this happens “paths are made straight, valleys are raised up, every mountain and hill is made low, and the rough ground becomes level. The glory of the Lord is revealed so all mankind will see it.”
This is what the Kingdom of God is like.
And He who testified to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon. Amen.”
Come, Lord Jesus. We are expecting you. Even now.
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