A few years have passed, and while I don't know exactly how ontological change happens, I think it's working on me. We are at the third week of Advent--Gaudete Sunday--the Sunday of Rejoicing, and this Sunday's lessons are proof (to me at least) that the Spirit is at work on all of us to rejoice in our calling as proclaimers and evangelizers.
In the Isaiah reading, God has sent the prophet to bring good news, heal, liberate, comfort and provide hope for restoration and abundance. The prophet tells us that God loves justice and will re-establish the covenant with the people. The prophet tells us to rejoice in all that God is doing. Given that at the time of this good news the people were in exile, what does it mean for us in 2011? What is this great salvation message that Isaiah is proclaiming? Is it something in the future, or something right now? Well, what Isaiah is really talking about is salvific living...living as if salvation has been given. For the Jewish community of the time, salvific living was hope for a Messiah. But salvific living is more than just hope for a Messiah; it's also about how we minister to the world around us. According to Isaiah, salvific living is about spreading the good news, working for freedom and justice, bringing about liberation and restoration. Salvific living means overcoming the obstacles of broken relationships, hidden or unnamed addictions, violence or abuse, shame and guilt, anger, fear or depression. Salvific living means addressing issues like poverty, health care, homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment & underemployment, and other barriers to safety and security. Well, I don't know about you, but that sounds like a lot of hard work and responsibility!
But then again, maybe it's not too hard. Maybe it's about choosing to drink fair trade coffee and tea, or volunteering with the warming shelter or FISH, or supporting a friend through a difficult situation. Maybe it's about helping out in the classroom, mentoring a child, or donating a coat. Salvific living doesn't mean we do these things out of obligation, but because to do them means we are rejoicing in God's healing of the world.
Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians talks about salvific living as well. Paul tells the community to rejoice, pray, give thanks, be open to the Holy Spirit, to be hopeful...all ways of proclaiming the good news (hint, hint, that's called evangelism). And Paul goes on to say that God will sanctify those who live this way; in other words, God will heal, restore and make you holy. God will bring you into a life of salvation. A life that is filled with laughter and joy, not tears and grief. Salvific living, according to Paul, is a life of thankfullness that opens us up to saying 'yes' and embracing life. Salvific living means recognizing that God uses everything that life has to offer--the good and the bad--and then makes things new. Salvific living means living not with shame or guilt, but with joy and curiosity.
And then when I read the passage from John's gospel, all that pre-ordination fear and trepidation had a name--witness. Just like John, all of us, not just those who wear the collar, but all of us who have been called as one of God's children, are to be witnesses to Christ. In the Gospel, John is modeling for us salvific living--to be witnesses to and proclaimers of the light of the world. Our calling, however we live it out, is to nurture humanity by offering compassion and justice. Here we are again with that overwhelming sense of responsibility. So just take a minute and breathe. Think for a minute about the song "this little light of mine" and smile. Yes, each of us can be reflections of the light of Christ, and we can live in such a way that proclaims that light to the world.
Advent is a time of hopeful preparation and waiting, but it's also a time of rejoicing. Rejoicing in the power of the Incarnation. Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Rejoicing in the power of God to make all things new. While you might come to the table with sorrow, leave with joy. Rejoice!