Advent Voices – Elijah the Tishbite

Russian icon of prophet Elijah. Илия пророк с житием и деисусом. Икона из церкви Ильи Пророка в погосте Выбуты, близ Пскова (Public Domain)

‘Tis the season of obscure voices from long ago that speak into our contemporary scene – voices that call us to wake up and pay attention!

The Hebrew reading set for today is 2 Kings 1:2-18 – a confronting tale of a prophet, Elijah, who exacts some considerable collateral damage in awakening a king. The hapless Ahaziah is belatedly re-oriented to the faith narrative he is called to represent. It is too late for him, but his successors surely get the message!  Responsible leadership cannot take its eye off the ball or the people perish. A sobering thought for a democracy such as ours where our leadership is ultimately our responsibility, not just at the polling booths, but in our continuing dialogue with our parliamentary representatives.

Advent is the season that calls us to wakefulness. Listen for the voices that call us to alertness. There is much in contemporary life that distracts and diverts us from whatever high path we have chosen. For followers of the way of Jesus, this season is a reminder that our ancient faith calls us whatever our current preoccupation to focus on the meaning of his coming amongst us – then, now and yet.