Called to have your head on a plate?

We have bought ourselves an Advent wreath with candles in it and later will light three candles. Traditionally, we remember John the Baptist on the third Sunday in Advent, preparing the way of the Lord.

It gets me thinking about how in life there are people who see a situation and have, through a deep conviction about change, or seeing a great injustice, to stir things up. This often leads to hostility, pain and ostracism.
Often, people in this sort of ministry do not see the end result, but without their outspokenness, their courage, their integrity, the cause they are fighting for would have died. They aren't popular at the time, but perhaps later people see why what needed saying or doing was necessary.

So today I am remembering people who are having a hard time convincing others of the need to change; of those who are struggling personally because people are not prepared to listen to them; of those who are called to prepare but not see (I often think of Moses who spent years preparing a people for good things, journeying with them through the desert, getting a lot of grief, and then he does not see the good things himself, but Joshua after him does. I wonder if he called God unfair?)

And, I am also remembering the Salomes in the world, who want nothing better than see a perceived troublemaker brought down, their head on a plate for their pleasure. There are people who don't like being told what to do. "What do you mean I need to repent? I am the pillar of my church."

Sometimes we forget the hard toil of making things better for people, and sometimes we excuse the behaviour of those who will do anything to stop that process.

Later, we will light the third candle to remember the messengers of hope and life and the reaction of those who hear such messages. Here is the prayer from the Iona collection Candles and Conifers for today:

"We light this candle for all God's messengers preparing the way for change, signs pointing to a new age to come. God, as we wait for your promise, give light, give hope."
(Prayer by Jan Berry)