Kelly, Lk 3

Okay - first off, I was wrong with one sentence yesterday....Joseph is mentioned very briefly in 3:23 - but the point of the argument stands.

Today's reading made me laugh....beginning with a list of the great and powerful - the rulers - both Roman and Israeli, the religious leaders - all the possible mucky-mucks Luke could name. And the WORD OF GOD comes to .......(drumroll, please).......JOHN. in the wilderness. Typical God - using the ordinary - and well written by Luke, to highlight that.

Makes me think of all the times the Word of God has come to me in the ordinary -and I've been too preoccupied to see it. How many times has someone needed some of my time (my kids, or even some store clerk who desperately needed a smile from someone) and I haven't noticed because of my own agenda? How many times has God sent me grace and I haven't noticed? God uses the ordinary - and I keep waiting for the world-shaking moment -- and when I slow down to remember to look for the ordinary, I always find what I've been needing. And then I forget again.

I was also struck by John's requirements from his followers....mostly just simple justice - share what you have that is extra, don't take bribes, don't extort people. And this was striking enough for the time that people thought he was the Messiah for demanding such basics.