Hearing The Word

A weekly newsletter delivering context and insight into the Sunday Gospels.

Making Room for Christ Through Self-Emptying

~ Rev. Thomas Whittingham

Pastor, Saint Laurence Parish + Upper Darby, Pa.

These six short verses trace a speedy transition within Luke’s gospel from the infancy narratives of the first two chapters to the public ministry of John the Baptist, as John begins to prepare the way for Jesus’ own ministry. 

From the very beginning, the author takes care to situate us directly in the historical context. Much like the historical context was previously established before both the Annunciation to Zechariah (1:5) and to Mary (1:26-7), the author painstakingly sets out the historical events surrounding the launch of Jesus’ preaching. The Roman emperor Tiberius, the governor Pontius Pilate, several tetrarchs and Jewish high priests all circumscribe the time and place where John launches his mission of preaching repentance, in Greek metanoia. 

Much has been written previously about the meaning of this word – metanoia – and once again it confronts us in both John and Jesus’ preaching. It denotes a fundamental transformation, a reorientation, encompassing our understanding of the world and of ourselves. In my own reflections, I often focus on road construction and all its hassles as a modern image of the imperative of John to “prepare the way.” One aspect of that is the need to clear out everything, down to the ground itself, in order to proceed with major construction or expanding an existing road. This can be likened to a kenosis – the Greek word for self-emptying – that Saint Paul quotes in the Philippians hymn. The pattern is hopefully clear: the true metanoia God desires for us – putting on the mind of Christ – cannot take place unless we first make room by our own imitation of Christ in his self-emptying kenosis. 

What needs emptying in us so that metanoia can happen in us; that is, so that Christ can be formed in us?  

Preparing the Way: A Call To True Happiness Through Repentance

~ Jennifer Dusza

Saint Mary Church + Schwenksville, Pa.

In the Gospel of Luke, we see a beautiful call to something "more" which is attainable by each one of us regardless of status, gender, culture, or how far we've strayed. The recipe for happiness did not come from the emperor or the governors of the time, nor did it come from the religious leaders. It came from a simple man who was living in the desert with a simple message: repent. When we repent, we humbly admit that we've hurt God or another and we ask for forgiveness; we mend what was broken. This lays the groundwork for grace to be able to flow out of these moments and bring us closer to Jesus. John the Baptist is the one spoken about in the book of Isaiah that cries out: 'Prepare the way of the Lord.' John speaks to us; he calls out for us to prepare the way. What an honor this is!

We can 'prepare the way' by keeping the path straight and by not straying from the truth. We can fill the valley by filling our hearts and minds to desire the Will of God. We can level the mountains and the hills by putting away our pride and our vices. The rough way is made smooth by choosing to walk in His ways and alleviate additional strife that our self-dependence can sometimes bring. And these difficult but worthy choices bring us closer to the promise that 'all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'