Words of Advent: Prepare

Once when (Zechariah) was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” ~ Luke 1:8-17

The enemy is fear. We think it is hate, but it is fear. ~ Gandhi

The beginning of the story of John the Baptist - he who comes to prepare - begins before his birth. Even before John was a twinkle in his father's eye, the world was being made ready.
First to be made ready is his father Zechariah. Zechariah was a priest, and in his old age. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had no children, so life was most likely fairly regulated for him. He knew when his priestly duties were, and he knew how to do them. 
He wasn't prepared himself then for what would happen next and fear took hold of him.
And so how does the angel begin to prepare him?
"Do not be afraid" is the most common admonition of messengers of God. 
And always - ALWAYS - following "Do not be afraid" is a charge to do something. Do not be afraid is the way to be prepared for everything that God will send next.
In this season of Advent, "do not be afraid" seems to be more appropriate as a word of preparation than ever. Fear seems to be prevailing wherever we turn.
Fear that makes us see our neighbor as an enemy.
But our God says to us just as the angel says to Zechariah: "Do not fear."
To prepare for our God we are charged to live in faith and love and courage.
Not fear.
Not violence.
Not separation.
Fear takes an awful lot of space in the heart. Instead, says the angel, hearts will be turned. Rended and torn in two so that they can make room for the Lord. 

Love come and banish fear away. Amen

Thoughts for engagement:

What fears are taking up space in your heart this season for you? How can you sweep them aside so that love can come?

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