Official Advent readings include the story of the birth of John the Baptizer. He was the forerunner or preparer of the way for Jesus. And also his cousin.
We can consider John as the start, the first lesson, of Jesus’s ministry.
I thought of this when I recently heard this old Sufi story.
A person wanted to learn to play the flute. A woman in town plays and teaches the flute. The person goes to her house and knocks at her door.
“I would like to learn to play the flute. Can you teach me?”
“Yes, I can. The first lesson is 20 rialis. All the rest are 10.”
“Great,” came the reply. “Let’s start with lesson two.”
But, you can’t begin with lesson two. The first lesson is important. The first lesson is the first lesson, not the second.
And the first lesson about a crucial meaning for the coming of Jesus?
John lived in the wilderness and preached, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is around us.”
Repent—perhaps an emotion-laden word these days. Translate it as—change your ways. Instead of living like you have been, choose the better way, the way of living in God’s Kingdom.
How are you (we) living? Would it be better if you (we) changed our direction? Even just a little?
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