Repent Ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
"Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Today - this text has become rather unpopular - a text to ignore - or to ridicule. I wonder how many of us will link this in our minds has often perhaps been with the world of Victorian novels as we picture the severity of those fictional preachers such as Mr Brocklehurst from Jane Eyre - or perhaps with the slightly comic figure of a man in a sandwich board walking the city streets.
And yet - and yet - every Advent we hear these words from Matthew's gospel, as we prepare for the coming of Jesus among us. These words form part of our baptismal promises - to reject evil, to repent of our sins and to turn to Christ. At each church service we are invited to bring before God our wrongdoings - or those missed opportunities so that we may be set right in relationship with God and find reassurance and forgiveness.
Talking about repentance and forgiveness is unfashionable: if we think of a modern approach - the concept that "I can do as I like so long as it does not harm others" prevails in many circles : and I have often heard the sentiment " it is my life and I have the right to choose". How then can we talk of repentance in this context? Are we even right to do so?
The trouble is, that talking of repentance implies judgement - in calling for repentance the world thinks that this implies a damning criticism on the behaviour of others. It would also seem to place us on a moral high ground but this is not so; repentance is not something that we can do for others - or others can do for us. Think of Jesus telling of the Pharisee standing proudly in the temple who prayed aloud thanking God that he was a good man - and the other - standing at the back asking quietly and humbly for God's mercy. Like John the Baptist we know that we are not worthy even to carry the sandals of Jesus - but we also know that we are the beloved children of God, of enormous worth in God's sight and loved beyond measure.
Despite the defensiveness shown in modern life, I have a feeling that the world is calling out for repentance. If you - like me follow the news on a regular basis you cannot escape stories that each week tell of repentance and restoration. Recently in the news we have seen how Wayne Rooney has been called to repentance - not once but several times. Rooney had earned the condemnation of fans and manager alike when his private and professional life went off the rails. Repentance allows a fresh start - In Rooney's own words "I apologise for my side of things - I just want to put it behind me and look forward." And forgiveness from fans and manager alike has followed.
And despite the constant assault on traditional values in the media - isn't it interesting that the two films that look most likely to achieve the box office records this month both tackle this issues of good, evil and repentance head on - where the heroes - all children - fight evil with good. In these films the values of courage, loyalty, honesty and repentance are very positively promoted.
Throughout the Harry Potter films there is a strong undercurrent of repentance - characters are always given the chance to change - to turn away from evil and be restored. Without spoiling the ending of either books or films - it is striking that this extends even to the most evil of characters - even at the point of death, for the chance of with repentance is offered and with remorse restoration is possible. There are enormous parallels here with the Christian message - that to turn to Christ and to confess sin is to strike out on the right path, to be restored to grace.
This is also the running theme through the second of the Narnia films to be produced. This based on the Narnia Chronicles written by CS Lewis for children which deeply rooted in Lewis' Christian faith. In the most recent film - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader we are shown how Eustace - a child that seemed beyond hope, is in the company of his faithful cousins, through the journey, brought back into right relationship and restored. This too is a message of repentance and a message of huge hope for the future.
John the Baptist calls us to repent and to look forward: to prepare for the coming of Jesus. What are we to expect?
Isaiah's prophecy tells us that we are to expect one who is filled with the Spirit of God - the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. He who comes as Lord will judge with righteousness. And in Isaiahs' prophecy we see the impossible happen - the wolf will lie down with the lamb, the leopard with the kid - and the calf and the lion and the fatling together - and a little child shall lead them.
Righteousness here is shown as the restoration - not the destruction of creation: the setting back in right relationship with God all those things that God has made and given: so that the meek and the poor find justice and that evil - not good is destroyed. This is a real hope - Isaiah gives us a picture of the kingdom of God where full restoration is possible - where when God rules in might creation can reach its full potential.
How far is this from our Victorian preachers message of doom and gloom? Repentance sets us in right relationship with God - the Kingdom of God is near - is so close that we are, through our baptism bound into life in Christ. And that is tremendously good news.
John the Baptist calls us to prepare the way of the Lord - to make his paths straight. How are we to do that today?
Like John - we may as Christians find ourselves living and preaching a message in a bit of a wilderness at times. There are days when it seems that our faith is under siege from political correctness - to say that either of the films I mentioned has a purely Christian message would be quite wrong; it is watered down, denied. One of the actors in the Narnia film tried to disclaim the Christian message and has been heavily criticised for a lack of understanding: and yet today many institutions and publications are fearful of allowing overtly Christian statements or acts of witness without a disclaimer.
Yet if we are truly seeking the Kingdom then we can engage with this media - we can share in the debate, we can use the means that we have in the press, the arts, the world round us to show others the signs of the Kingdom and to engage in open discussion of these issues with gentleness and respect.
We need to reclaim the Christian message from those who from ignorance, portray it as a miserable joyless hypocrisy and set the balance right, showing that we are not apart - not sitting in righteous judgement - but in humility, proclaiming a gospel of love.
I pray that we will find ways that will draw others to that true message of hope, the real and joyful advent message that lies at the heart of our own baptismal promises - that in turning to Christ we turn way from all that is damaging - all that impedes us - that it is only evil and fear that is destroyed, not that which is good: and in turning we find God waiting - and find all that is most wonderful, most loving and most fulfilling. Amen - Come Lord Jesus.
Second Sunday in Advent - Rev Joanna Naish