Angel Second Class

Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 3: 1-6

One is coming who will prepare the way for you.
He will sit like a refiner and a purifier of silver.

John the Baptist says his mission is to tell people of the Coming Christ. His purpose is to make a straight path for Jesus, to refine a way for him to live into his life's purposes.

Not unlike our dear Clarence Oddbody, AS2. Angel Second Classs.  Clarence feels a bit inept that he has never earned his wings, but the Divine was waiting to send him on a mission perfect for him.  In that way, George and Clarence need each other. Clarence helps George out of his despair and into seeing that he really does have a wonderful life. George helps Clarence get his wings.

It's like that when we give of ourselves. We find that we, in turn, receive great benefits.  When we learn to give without any hope or possibility of anyone giving us anything back, it becomes a blessing.  That is what George has to discover about himself. He ends up in a set of life circumstances that, from the beginning, he never asked for or wanted.  But, he gave of himself, all the while. He gave people loans, he trusted people to pay back without signed contracts. He was a man of strong character, even if he has a secret desire to be spending his life somewhere else.

Clarence needs George to get his wings. But he also learns that his role in keeping George going is monumentally important. He learns that it isn't about getting his wings, it is about showing someone the way, being a guiding light when all the person you are with sees is darkness.

John the Baptist ends up giving his very life. He sets a stage of radical change, of something coming that people will not understand. He understands his role in this, but feels he has to do it anyway.  He understands that Jesus needs him to set such a stage. Jesus relies on John to get the ball rolling. If I may use theatrical metaphors,  Jesus needs John's 'stage managing' for his 'curtain to open.'

We all rely on each other for salvation from our current chaos, for setting the stage for the next act.  We need the people of our faith communities to hold us... and to push us into the spotlight when we are not sure we can do it anymore.

How do you see John the Baptist's role as vital in the Advent journey?  Could George have come out of his despair without his prayed for Angel Second Class to save him?

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