The times are tense. A foreign power occupies the land; the local government seeks to balance the demands of the people with the demands of the occupiers, not doing particularly well in either effort. The religious authorities are split into factions that aren’t really getting along, while other religious groups stir up trouble for both the religious and civil authorities.
To top all that off, a crazy-looking man wanders into town. He is barefoot, wearing a coarse woolen-looking robe and carrying only a walking staff. Somehow, this man is gathering quite a following. People seek him out at the river where they participate in a ritual bathing. The religious authorities also seek him out, if only to find out what is going on. He must be trying to start a revolution or overthrow the government.
When he sees them approach, he angrily shouts to them, calling them a brood of vipers who are seeking him out merely for show. He tells them that those such as themselves will be swept away, much like the chaff left over after the harvest, or else burned like the prunings from the fruit trees that no longer produce good fruit.
John the Baptist was a very interesting man. People followed him not for riches, but for the promise of salvation. He called out to them to “repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. It must have been stunning for the temple priests and the civil government to see such crowds following what looked like a crazy desert hermit. The visual contrast must have been striking as well, John in his camel’s hair robe standing next to the temple priests in their fine robes trimmed in purple and gold.
Some claimed him to be the messiah, promised by God through the prophets of old, but he told them that he was preparing the way of the true messiah, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry.
In this second week of Advent, we are called to prepare for the Messiah. We are each like John the Baptist preparing the way for Him.
No, Jesus was not born during the winter solstice. Yes, “Christmas” is a borrowed practice / tradition from pagans. I’ve no problem citing these as fact but no need to get preachy over it. To me it doesn’t matter when Christ was born, nor the origin of Christmas celebration. What matters to me is the fact that once a year… Read more »
Hey! Who you callin’ an Asherah pole???
You mean Easter is not about Chubby Bunny contests?
Another discussion of paganism and the Catholic Church. I just love Catholic Answers!
Ah, I don’t flinch from the “paganism” label. Once one understands the whys and hows, it’s easy to understand (1) why it was done, and (2) why it’s so easily misunderstood. As I understand it, moving Christian celebrations to pagan festivals was one way to usurp that time frame and help ease new Christians into The Way. Christmas is a… Read more »
Tolerance ๐
Yesterday the choir sang the SATB version (sounds much better with male voices too) of this tune at church. We have an Advent wreath as well as a Menorah. And to keep the Pagans from feeling left out, we’ll probably do something earthy around 12/21.
Let me just say this – Telling the writers of a Catholic-centric blog that they are pagans probably crosses over into “ruffling feathers” territory.
#5
Me, too.
I just don’t have the energy for an endless, pointless battle.
Umm, I think I’ll stay out of this one ๐
I don’t mean to ruffle feathers, but in order to see the paganism in most churches today, one needs to get a real firm grasp on what is and is not pagan. I suggest the book, Fossilized Customs by Lew White. Here is a linkie-thingie to get the book. It is a real eye opener, it is disturbing but The… Read more »
Father, I have sinned against you; I am sorry for what I have done; I ask you to have mercy on me and give me the strength and wisdom to avoid sin. In order to avoid sin we must be able to clearly define it. 1John 3:4 Sin is lawlessness (anomia) and lawlessness in sin. anomia means to be in… Read more »
Repent also means to turn one’s back to wrongdoing, which is along the lines of what you are saying. Baptism is an OT concept. Christianity uses the formula of being baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” John foretells this when he tells the crowds that he is baptizing with water,… Read more »
Some claimed him to be the messiah, promised by God through the prophets of old, but he told them that he was preparing the way of the true messiah, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry. He, John the Baptist, walked in the office of Elijah and he, like Elijah preached repentance. 1) To repent in Biblical context means… Read more »
No, Jesus was not born during the winter solstice. Yes, “Christmas” is a borrowed practice / tradition from pagans. I’ve no problem citing these as fact but no need to get preachy over it. To me it doesn’t matter when Christ was born, nor the origin of Christmas celebration. What matters to me is the fact that once a year… Read more »
Hey! Who you callin’ an Asherah pole???
You mean Easter is not about Chubby Bunny contests?
Another discussion of paganism and the Catholic Church. I just love Catholic Answers!
Ah, I don’t flinch from the “paganism” label. Once one understands the whys and hows, it’s easy to understand (1) why it was done, and (2) why it’s so easily misunderstood. As I understand it, moving Christian celebrations to pagan festivals was one way to usurp that time frame and help ease new Christians into The Way. Christmas is a… Read more »
Tolerance ๐
Yesterday the choir sang the SATB version (sounds much better with male voices too) of this tune at church. We have an Advent wreath as well as a Menorah. And to keep the Pagans from feeling left out, we’ll probably do something earthy around 12/21.
Let me just say this – Telling the writers of a Catholic-centric blog that they are pagans probably crosses over into “ruffling feathers” territory.
#5
Me, too.
I just don’t have the energy for an endless, pointless battle.
Umm, I think I’ll stay out of this one ๐
I don’t mean to ruffle feathers, but in order to see the paganism in most churches today, one needs to get a real firm grasp on what is and is not pagan. I suggest the book, Fossilized Customs by Lew White. Here is a linkie-thingie to get the book. It is a real eye opener, it is disturbing but The… Read more »
Father, I have sinned against you; I am sorry for what I have done; I ask you to have mercy on me and give me the strength and wisdom to avoid sin. In order to avoid sin we must be able to clearly define it. 1John 3:4 Sin is lawlessness (anomia) and lawlessness in sin. anomia means to be in… Read more »
Repent also means to turn one’s back to wrongdoing, which is along the lines of what you are saying. Baptism is an OT concept. Christianity uses the formula of being baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” John foretells this when he tells the crowds that he is baptizing with water,… Read more »
Some claimed him to be the messiah, promised by God through the prophets of old, but he told them that he was preparing the way of the true messiah, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry. He, John the Baptist, walked in the office of Elijah and he, like Elijah preached repentance. 1) To repent in Biblical context means… Read more »