Voices Cry Out - Isaiah 40: 1-11; Mark 1:1-8

A sermon by Kate Fiedler on December 10, 2023

Prophets fascinate me. Right out of seminary, I taught at an Episcopal school in Charlotte, and when introducing the Old Testament prophets to the fourth graders, I encouraged my students to think about the problems of the world they would address if they were God’s prophet today. I worked with their interest in superheroes, and we imagined what it would be like to be God’s Justice League. The fourth graders were quick to imagine their superpowers: ending homelessness by building homes around the world so everyone had a safe place to live, stopping hunger by instantly creating enough food for everyone to eat, or being a Peace Prophet, who could stop all fighting—between siblings and countries. As a brand-new teacher, I was figuring out how to make God’s prophets from long ago matter to my students.

I still believe there are prophets in our midst today, proclaiming messages of justice and peace and confronting the powerful on behalf of the voiceless. Mary Jane read from the prophet Isaiah, lifting up words of comfort and challenge to God’s people while they were living away from their homes. I bet I’m not the only one seeking a word of comfort and compassion from God these days. Fred lifted up several reasons why many of us are weary in his sermon last week…

Today our scriptures offer the message of another prophet from the New Testament. The baby born to Elizabeth and Zechariah from last week’s Luke passage is all grown up. We find John living out in the wilderness, echoing Isaiah, and setting the stage for the ministry of Jesus. Listen to how the Gospel of Mark begins, from the first eight verses of the first chapter:

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

“Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight” ’,

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

We hear the same line: “Prepare the way of the Lord,” as Mark quotes Isaiah to point to John. Advent is a season of preparation, and the prophets made me wonder, what voices are we listening to as we prepare our hearts for Christ? Who are the voices crying out in the wilderness of our world today? Who is pointing our attention to the presence of God?

Both Isaiah and John share a message from God for the people to be ready for God’s presence. While God’s people are in exile, Isaiah shares words of comfort—God’s word will stand forever, and God will gather them and care for them as a shepherd cares for her sheep. Isaiah notes the inconsistency of the people, but God is steadfast, and God’s word can be trusted.

Out in the wilderness, John offers a message of equal parts challenge and comfort. John baptizes the people, with hope that their repentance will change their hearts and their lives. He proclaims the good news that Jesus will be able to do more. Jesus will arrive with the Holy Spirit, able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Both Isaiah and John cry out to prepare the people for the presence of the Holy to change their lives.

We are invited to prepare for such a change ourselves. As we watch the light move from one candle to two around the Advent wreath, we are invited to reflect and prepare our hearts for the light of Christ to inspire us.

Today, I want to lift up two voices that cried out to me this week. They may speak to you as well. Poet and professor Refaat Alareer taught English literature at the Islamic University of Gaza, teaching courses in Shakespeare. [1] Once the bombing began, he documented his experience living in Gaza on social media, and he posted this poem at the beginning of November.

If I must die,

you must live

to tell my story

to sell my things

to buy a piece of cloth

and some strings,

(make it white with a long tail)

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza

while looking heaven in the eye

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze—

and bid no one farewell

not even to his flesh

not even to himself—

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up

above

and thinks for a moment an angel is there

bringing back love

If I must die

let it bring hope

let it be a tale. [2]

His poem was more prophetic than he may have intended. The poet was killed weeks later. He died last week along with his brother, sister, and four of her children in southern Gaza. [3] I pray that his voice crying out does in fact bring back love and hope. As we continue to pray for peace and a permanent ceasefire, not only in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank, but also in Sudan, Haiti, Ukraine, and Russia, we pray for God’s prophets and angels to prepare the way for justice and peace today, just as the prophets Isaiah and John proclaimed a message of hope.

As an Earth Care congregation, we listen for the voice of creation crying out as well. The UN Climate Change conference (COP28) will continue through Tuesday in Dubai. I’ve been impressed by the number of youth who have attended the conference to lift their voices. Last Friday, Romanian youth climate activist Mara Bulan (spelling?) addressed the conference, saying,

“You usually tell us that we give you hope. But we’re not here to give you hope. Nor are we here to pay the consequences of failed leadership. We’re here to make you realize our world as we know [it] is in your hands, and that you, your excellences, have the power to build or to destroy.” [4]

The power to build or destroy. Isaiah describes the power of God, able to lower mountains and hills, level uneven ground, and make rough places plain. Creation plays a part in revealing God’s glory in Isaiah. We are called to listen to voices crying out for environmental justice and creation care, not just for the welfare of humanity. God’s message of hope is for all creation.

As we prepare our hearts this Advent, how is God’s message resonating for you? Is your heart moved by voices crying out for justice? for peace? for affordable housing? for health care? How is God moving your heart to listen and to respond? We are called to witness to the voices crying out for God’s peace and justice today. I encourage you to listen, to pray, and to discern what steps you can take to respond to God’s grand call to love. As the season of Advent continues, we too are called to prepare the way for the Lord.

[1] “Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer killed in Gaza,” The Guardian. December 8, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/08/palestinian-poet-refaat-alareer-killed-in-gaza

[2] “’If I Must Die’: IDF Strike Kills Gaza Scholar Refaat Alareer; Friend Pays Tribute and Reads His Poem” Democracy Now. December 8, 2023. https://www.democracynow.org/2023/12/8/jehad_abusalim_on_refaat_alareer_death

[3] “’If I must die': How poet-writer Refaat Alareer inspired young Palestinians,” Murat Sofuoglu. TRT World. https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/if-i-must-die-how-poet-writer-refaat-alareer-inspired-young-palestinians-16151450

[4] “How to talk to kids about climate change,” On Point. WBUR. December 6, 2023. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510053/on-point