John 1:1-18
The first three weeks of Advent had us moving from exile to the valley of dry bones, and then to Isaiah’s language of seeking God. The people are the ones moving in all these passages. God moves the people around, trying to get them to be more faithful, to be better followers, to be more closely the people of God.
As we read through scripture, we see that those efforts aren’t always successful. These efforts on God’s behalf often last a generation or 3, and sometimes not even that. David’s lineage doesn’t last. Prophets get run out of town and out of the country. The law gets lost and found, and the people are faithful and unfaithful. God’s name is venerated, cursed, and forgotten.
And then God changes the approach. Instead of moving the people, God moves. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. Note here that God has to come to us. Often in the church we ask why those people don’t come to church. We hope that the people will move to us. Ultimately, if we follow God revealed in Christ, we might need to go to them. The incarnation of Jesus changes so much. It represents a change in how God relates to us. Will it also be a change in how we relate to one another?
