Many people of faith have equated our COVID-19 environment to being “in the wilderness” – a location characterized by uncertainty, expectation, journeying, and finding God in unexpected places. Advent then draws us even further into the wilderness as we’re cast into a liturgical period of waiting. While this can sound daunting, as Christ followers, we find hope, encouragement, and solace from this wilderness imagery.
Our Gospel for today gives us this Good News. We find hope in the wilderness because it is from the wilderness that the coming of Christ was prophesied by John, a man who never lost his faith while in the wilderness. We find encouragement because it is from the wilderness that we were promised the Holy Spirit, our guide and advocate. We find solace, because it is from the wilderness that we were invited to participate in God’s family through baptism. So, whether you find yourself in the literal wilderness, spiritual wilderness, or some combination thereof – take heart. Hope, encouragement, and solace abound. May you find God in the wilderness because God is there. |