A Voice Cries in the Wilderness

 A Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Once upon a time, in an ancient and far away country, when there were no cities, no towns, only small tribes, clans and caravans of people living on the land, wandering from place to place looking for water and vegetation for their sheep and goats, there was a sacred mountain.

 

Whenever people climbed to the top of the sacred mountain, they experienced a presence of holiness, a spirit of love, and knew that they were at home in the household of eternal love. Some named this YHWH, some Elohim, some Allah, some simply God. At once they knew this sacred presence loved them and cared for them and called them to love and care for others, all others, especially those in need, the poor, those without families, widows, orphans, resident aliens, neighbors and strangers from other clans and tribes. The presence of holiness assured them that we are all one, one with the Presence and one with one another.

 

As people left the sacred mountain feeling loved they would remember to love and care for others the way the Presence cares for them. Throughout the ages people would come and go from the sacred mountain and return with a message to proclaim the love of the God who loves you, and to care for one another, all others, especially those beyond your tribe and clan.

 

As they left the sacred mountain, many would place a stone there for remembrance, as brother Jacob had as a memorial at Peniel; as Joshua and the people from the wilderness had after crossing the River Jordan into the land of promise. Even many who came but did not experience the sacred presence still left a stone to commemorate the remarkable events and stories which they had heard about those who had. Throughout the ages, more and more stones were placed at the top of the sacred mountain until soon a magnificent Cathedral began to rise over the place where people had first experienced the Presence of Holiness, where God’s presence and love can be known.

 

As people came to the Cathedral, they would know that something important had happened there, that there was a Holy Presence there, and they would pay their respects, praise the name of God and pray to be One with the Presence. Each visitor would leave a stone.

 

Over the years, as more and more people came and left more stones one atop the other, a great city was built around the Cathedral on the mountain, with long, winding, narrow streets, lined with homes and shops, fountains and plazas. People coming to the mountain would need to stop and ask the way to the Cathedral so as not to get lost in the back streets of the city. Once there, each one would leave a stone, until a great wall with majestic gates was built around the city. Visitors would need to find an open gate to be allowed to enter. Sometimes the gates would be open, and sometimes the gates would be closed.

 

For many, even in the city, the place at the top of the mountain where the first people had experienced the Presence of  Holiness became difficult to find, now that it had been covered by so many many stones. The gates were crowded, the streets were crowded, winding and narrow, there was so much noise and activity both inside and all around the gates of the city that no one could hear the way to the path that leads to the top of the mountain where God's presence would remind them to love the God who always loves them and to care for one another, especially the others beyond the walls of the city.

 

Far, far away, beyond the gates of the city, was a man lonely in the wilderness. A voice, crying in the wilderness. Above the crowded streets, beyond the crowded gates, above the top of the Cathedral towers, the voice could be heard. Some people, discouraged at no longer being able to find the top of the mountain could hear his voice, so loud and lovely was the cry of the man lonely in the wilderness.

 

First one, then another would go beyond the gates of the city and follow the sound of that voice. They could hear it floating in the wind, they could hear it like music in the air. As they came upon the man lonely in the wilderness, they could make out his cry: "Prepare, prepare ye the Way of the Lord. Make straight his roadway, make straight his path. Prepare, prepare ye the Way of the Lord!" Over time, more and more people came out of the city and into the wilderness, following the voice carried on the wind like music in the air, until everyone, all the inhabitants inside and beyond the gates of the city were there with the man lonely in the wilderness, down by the River Jordan where Joshua had left stones to remember crossing into the land of promise.

 

The people joined in his cry, "Prepare, prepare ye the Way of the Lord. Make straight his roadway, make straight his path. Prepare, prepare ye the Way of the Lord!" So that more and more people throughout the whole earth could hear the voices of many being carried on the winds to the four corners of heaven and earth.

 

Then the man lonely in the wilderness led them to the banks of the river, and invited them all to bathe in the waters of the river. And as they bathed in the waters of the river, he said to them, "Remember, remember. Our God also speaks to us through the life of the waters of this holy river. Remember, remember what he has said: love the One God who cares for you and loves you always, and always love and care for one another, especially the others, those who are poor, have no families, widows, orphans, resident aliens, strangers and neighbors from other tribes and clans. Remember, remember, remember!"

 

Then he said, “One is coming who will show us our way back to the top of the mountain, to the Presence of Holiness, to the household of eternal love. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Spirit of Holiness. Yes, you will remember today, but soon he will show us the Way. He will show us that the Cathedral and the sacred mountain is here, in the midst of us, wherever we are as a community of his people. We are made One body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. He includes the others - all the others. Here in our midst, wherever we are, God's presence, God's voice, God's message does dwell, God is with us and in us, Emmanuel. Remember today, but the one who is to come will show us the Way." As it was in the beginning of our story, so it is today.

 

Even now, as you listen far above the crowds and all the noise, all the chaos and distractions, the voice can still be heard floating on the wind, like music in the air, a voice so loud and lonely and lovely, a cry from the wilderness, above the tops of the highest Cathedral, calling to us to, "Prepare, prepare ye the Way of the Lord. Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." Remember, remember today, but the One who is to come will show us the Way! Amen. It is so. It is true.