Who reads the newspaper? Daily or weekly? We get the Saturday and Sunday news at my house. Newspapers are dying. People get their news electronically today. They don’t need newspapers. Readerships are down. I heard about it on Marketplace report on NPR the other night. They said that newspapers are losing the loyal older population faster than expected and they don’t know how to attract the younger crowd. Wow. Sounds like a lot of Christianity has the same problem. The medium in which we share the news is not retaining and attracting newer, younger people. Newspaper is a 500 year- old- invention. So are Lutherans. Advent is about new beginnings, fresh imagination for what life in this world can and should be like. We want this season to be about nostalgia, but it is not. It is about change, new beginnings, renewal from the inside-out.
John the baptist was calling for radical life change. A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, according to the gospel of Mark. He was not only talking about my bad deeds or your wicked thoughts. He knew that the world had gone to hell in a hand basket. The whole world, from top to bottom. Things needed to change, whole cloth. We’re talking more like sweeping revolution than cleaning up spilled milk.
John knew the headlines, the news stories of his day. They probably went something like this:
“Herod builds new palace. 300 homes are torn down to begin new construction. Displaced families seek shelter in city.”
“Herod seen on the town with his brother’s wife. Scandal rocks the north country.”
“Emperor raising taxes to build better roads.”
“More Roman soldiers occupy Jerusalem.”
“Poverty rate increases in Palestine. Children are worse affected.”
“Temple reconstruction at its height. New baths rivaling the roman style are installed for out-of-town guests.”
“ Religious leaders seek to cool zealous radicals.”
Some of these headlines may sound familiar. The news doesn't change much. Power, wealth, suffering, violence. Wouldn't it be nice to have a different headline?
