Advent may be a time of waiting, but it’s also a time of announcing. An angel appeared to Zechariah announcing that he would have a son who would go before the Messiah to proclaim his coming. Zechariah’s son, John the Baptist, announced the imminence of the Messiah who would judge the world. An angel appeared to Joseph announcing that Mary’s pregnancy was of divine origin. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary announcing that she has been chosen to bear the Messiah. Angels from on high announced the holy birth to shepherds in the field. A lot of announcing fills birth narratives of scripture, and in our own day, a lot of announcing fills the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Every store is decorated for the holidays. Holiday music fills the air. Television is overflowing with Hallmark Christmas movies. Carols are broadcast over every medium. Each in their own way announce a special time: a time of joyfulness, of generosity, of unrestrained consumerism, of love, of hope, of harmonious togetherness. It’s all a bit pagan, and we love it, but it raises questions.
What are we Christians announcing, and to whom do we announce it? The remembrance of all the announcing of Jesus’ arrival is warming, comforting, soothing. It’s wonderfully promising that the Prince of Peace has arrived, and all will be well. With carols filling every public space, adorable pageants, and decorations everywhere, It’s tempting to sink sentimentally into the story of two thousand years ago, with renewed hope that the time of long awaited peace will finally be ours. Not to be too cynical, it’s a feeling that fades by New Year’s Eve, even as some of us try to keep it going until Epiphany. Either way, the questions of what we are announcing today, and to whom we announce it remains unanswered.
For one thing, who says we’re supposed to announce anything? We are the consumers of Christmas hope, not its purveyors, are we not? We are not. We are called to be the stumbling, mortal angels of today. Whatever else an angel is, it’s a messenger of God’s word – an evangelist. Just to be clear, ’we’ isn’t a place holder for amorphous somebodies other than you and me. It’s especially true for those of us who have made, and regularly renew, our baptismal covenant to “…proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.” (BCP 305) Jesus said to his followers,”What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.” (Matt. 10) Luke put it another way: “Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.” (Luke 12) In Matthew, Jesus instructed his followers to actively proclaim the good news. In Luke, Jesus warned his followers that whatever they say or do will proclaim something about what Christianity means. It can’t be avoided.
The entire story of God’s people in Hebrew and Christian scripture is about announcing God’s word. It’s not the exclusive job of prophets and pastors. In fact, clergy are mostly responsible for preparing ordinary, everyday Christians to go out on their own to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. What better time to get to it than the Advent and Christmas seasons. It doesn’t require much. Just give some thought to allowing yourself to bring a little of God’s presence with you wherever you go and with whomever you meet. Relax. Let God’s Spirit do the work. When asked, tell the Christmas story. Charlie Brown and Linus did it well, and you can too. Don’t worry about it. It’s always a work in progress.