In the middle of this November our alarm clock rang at 3:30 am … on purpose. We were up and out to see the Leonid meteor shower whose prime viewing time was to be 4 am. Of course there is much too much light around here so we made our way to Fair Haven Fields, with a part of me wondering what kind of trouble one could get into by being at the park at 4 am. We found we weren't the only crazy people trying to glimpse the meteors … there was quite a group for that time of day. Blankets in place, we settled down to watch for meteors streaking across the night sky. Unfortunately after just a short time the clouds rolled in and we had only gotten to see a few sparks against the night sky. Tonight another meteor shower will be putting on a display, this time the Geminids, and perhaps the weather will clear in time for some spectacular views. Remember back in the late 90's watching for a newly discovered comet that was spectacularly visible without aid of telescope or binoculars? First seen in July of 1995 by two people, one a professional astronomer, Alan Hale; the other an amateur star gazer, Thomas Bopp, the comet brought out record numbers of people by the time it was bright a blazing in the skies of 1997. With some notable exceptions we do not see these occurrences as much more than beautiful displays of nature.

Far different than the times of our scripture texts. The people who waited for a Messiah to save them looked to the skies for signs that this was about to happen. In storms and eclipses and meteors, in the movement of the stars and sun and moon, they sought signs that heaven and earth were meeting and change was afoot. Eclipses brought times of fear, stars were followed at a person's birth … the brighter the star seen at a birth, the greater the person born. And so we know the story of the magi who traveled years to find the Christ child who's birth star was so very bright at its rising.

We may no longer hide in fear and trembling at the progression of an eclipse, and we no longer predict our life journey by the stars of our birth … but in some ways we aren't all that different than those ancients who looked for such signs. We are still enthralled by meteors streaking through the skies, entranced by watching a lunar eclipse and even still, find in them the possibility of the earth and heavens coming together. And we still long for the signs that will point to our lives having meaning in the midst of a chaos that seems to at times threaten to render all meaningless. Clear, simple answers would be nice. We don't scan the night skies anymore, instead we seek meaning and order in the shelves of self-help books, in talk shows, in instant result medicines and creams … all of which promise to produce for us the desired result. While some of that searching is useful, some of it empty; none of it will bring the ultimate result for which we long.

The people of our texts this morning were also searching. Zephaniah's community lived in fear as yet another group of people, this time the Scythians, threatened to sweep through their land. The prophet Zephaniah saw the dangers that faced his people as a sign of the coming Day of the Lord … judgment was coming, and only a faithful remnant would remain. Yet, even in the midst of fearful days, Zephaniah could see beyond and talk of joyful days to come: "with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation, and you will say in that day – give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted."

In our text from Luke, we continue from last week with the story of John the Baptist. John proclaims the Messiah is here! … that people had better be ready for the one who baptizes with the Spirit and with fire. Being ready meant that the religious authorities and political hierarchy needed to clean up their act. Being ready meant sharing and honesty. Be ready meant getting rid of anything that got in the way of receiving the good news the Messiah was bringing. Needless to say, with all the signs that the people had been looking for … John's message was not the one they wanted to hear. How much easier to see a sign in the heaven, so much harder to change one's life.

In this season, our lives are so filled, parties to attend and prepare for, presents to be wrapped … even a church calendar full to the brim. How crowded we become, living out the problem of the inn that was so crowded there was no room for the birth of the Christ child. Our call this morning is to find room in our lives, in our ways, in our hearts for God to be born anew. It is to find new depth and meaning to this truth – that God comes as one of us, to know our grief and joy, our celebrations and failures – for God is with us.

John's words challenge us to turn away from all that keeps us from finding the ultimate meaning of life in this season when literally the heavens and earth meet and God is born. I suspect if John came barreling into our Christmas times today he'd be going after the merchandisers who call us to spend more than we have on stuff we do not need. Take a trip through catalogues such as Neiman-Marcus where you can by a red velvet cummerbund and bow time for only $905, or a Faberge egg for only $4,000 … and the handling charges will only be $30 … or the perennial Lexus commercials each year that would have us think that Christmas is about getting a Lexus, and why haven't you yet? And John would be after us – to turn around from all the things and habits and grudges that we've wrapped ourselves so tightly with – the things that keep us from having an open heart so that we can find God anew in this convergence of heaven and earth that is Christmas, the birth of God.

The harshness of John the Baptist's words speak of God's longing to find us ready. And there is the Good News, the joy of that our texts point towards this morning. The meeting of heaven and earth is here. Rainbows are everywhere … in all shapes and colors and sizes. Remember the rainbow story I recounted in this month's newsletter: of my friend telling the story of one of the youth discovering a rainbow. He was very excited about his find and went into the church to find her so he could share the beauty. She went out with him looking to the sky – after all that's where rainbows are. She didn't see a thing and decided the rainbow had already disappeared. He said no, you are looking in the wrong place and pointed to a puddle in the parking lot. The sun was reflecting off the mix of oil and water and rainbow colors were sparkling. Repent and turn away from the things that keep you from experiencing the joy that is found in the Good News of God's birth. Rejoice for God is here.