Asante Todd Meditation

Advent is a time of restoration, but the prophet reminds us that it is also a time of rebuke. Like the crowds in Luke 3, many today feel displaced and fragmented, and have turned to tradition to gain a sense of firm footing. As many of us know, however, our deification of popular culture can cause us to justify its preservation by any means necessary. Before the Messiah comes, certain crooked paths must be made straight. To avoid the fire, we must ensure that our liturgical and ethical content  matches its form. In preparation for the Messiah, let us produce fruit in keeping with repentance, share power and possessions, not falsely accuse one another, be real about the shortcomings and successes of our faith, and treat one another according to the law of love and cooperation instead of competition. These gifts, inspired by the Spirit, are, perhaps, the greatest we can give this season.