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This Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent. When I was a child I thought Advent meant that Christmas was almost here. Now I understand that during this season of Advent, it’s the reign of God that we are preparing for. And for those of us here in Portland that is the R-E-I-G-N of God and not R-A-I-N of God. We’re preparing for the fullness of God’s reign in a transformed world, a new heaven and a new earth. So during this Advent season, as we prepare for the fullness of God’s reign to break forth in our lives and in our world, let us think about how to renew our sense of joy and hope that the reign of God is close.

As we read in today's gospel, "the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Luke 3:2-3). In this short text we find the three steps necessary to transform from whatever our current state of mind—and over-stimulated, exhausted or depressed are all common states during this hectic holiday season—to joy, to hope and to fullness in our faith. As we read in today's gospel, John took three steps:

Step 1: To withdraw. John went into the desert but in today’s world we can retreat in any way we want to achieve a place of solitary thoughtfulness. We need a place of interior quiet to prepare to receive God’s word. “Desert” can be understood as a metaphor of any place where we can be alone with God. But we have to take the first step to reach out, to look for God, to withdraw and prepare to listen.

Step 2: To receive the word of God. The Gospel says, “…the word of God came to John…” This is a tough one for me. How do I know that the tiny voice I hear is actually the word of God? Well, I don’t. I wrestle with this every day. In the end I apply this test: Does this thought/action/choice make the world a more just, kinder, more loving place for all of us? Or even some of us? Maybe just a handful of us? How will I feel about myself? How will others feel? Is this thought/action/choice “a good thing”? Well, maybe I can’t define “a good thing” but I recognize “a good thing” when I see it and I want a life filled with “good things.”

Step 3: To proclaim the faith. John left the desert and went about “preaching” or proclaiming the faith. The experience of God is like the experience of love. You can tell people about it but they will not understand what you are talking about until they themselves experience it. This is a never ending circle: In order to experience God’s love, we must resolve—in this busy season of Advent—to make quiet space for God, make time for prayer, for hearing the word of God. Only then can we receive the Word and proclaim our faith in the coming reign of God.

John said when he first began his preaching, “The reign of God is at hand.” Now I understand that during this season of Advent, it’s the reign of God that we are preparing for. John was a man of action—he preached, he baptized and he called people to a new way of living. Now it’s our heritage as disciples of Jesus to continue the work to transform our world into as close an image of that reign of God as possible. The reign of God is happening, it’s happening right now and a lot of us are working every day to make that happen.

About a year ago, Sam witnessed and stood in solidarity with Muslim men and boys as they gathered to register with the new Department of Homeland Security. It was a frightening time for Muslims in America—well, it still is. Sam told me yesterday that he had just read in the Asian Reporter that 85,000 men registered in this 'dragnet' and over 13,000 Muslim men and boys received notice that they will be deported. But the good news is that this past Wednesday the registration requirement was abolished. I want to believe that our government took one tiny step towards recognizing that Muslim men and boys are not inherently evil and that just maybe that registration requirement was unjust, discriminatory against one religion and actually did more harm than good.

This past Thursday I read that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston has decided that to help pay an $85 million settlement to compensate hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy it would sell the archbishop's grand residence, which housed Boston's Catholic Church leaders for 75 years. I think this is a “good thing” on at least two levels: as a practical matter to raise money for the settlement; and as a symbolic gesture—the Church is divesting itself of at least some of the symbols of wealth and power that helped to create the climate that tolerated and then protected abusers in the first place. Another single step towards justice.

Finally, I heard a news report last Thursday that the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had convicted on Wednesday three Rwandan media personalities of genocide and sentenced two of them to life imprisonment and one to 35 years in prison. Over 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered during this genocide. The trial was in session for two years and nine months. Now I know that Rwanda is half-way around the planet and this genocide happened a decade ago. But it is so significant to me that the legal system is occasionally capable of dispensing justice. Another single step on the road to the reign of God.

My personal struggle is against despair and hopelessness—to hold faith and believe in the goodness of God’s kingdom in spite of sometimes overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Every story that demonstrates justice is happening is—for me—one paving stone in the roadway leading to God’s kingdom.

So, as we commit ourselves in this time of Advent to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom, let us open ourselves to justice so that all people share in Earth’s bounty that God gave for all and not for a few. Let us struggle to avoid the excesses of the consumer-ism that is promoted so heavily during our holiday season. Let us commit to a new coming of the Holy Spirit into us so that each of us can know deep in our hearts that peace of God which comes with the reign of God and which is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I hope all of us will once more commit ourselves to enter into this season of Advent, preparing for the reign of God that will happen. Let us commit to work for peace and justice for all and a deep peace in the heart of each of us. Amen.