Brushing Up in Preparation

The world is changing so fast; I look back at what was normal to me as a child, and I hardly recognize it as having been in my lifetime. When I was young, the Amazon was just a long wild river, not the unstoppable currents of merchandise moving everywhere and swelling the fortunes of the few in the executive board room. No one was clicking images on phones to buy things. If products came to your door they came not from the Amazon package currier, they were supplied by the Avon Lady, the milkman, or the Fuller Brush man.

The Fuller Brush Company had their people selling cleaning tools and products door to door. The company started in the late 19th century with Alfred Fuller, born in Nova Scotia, and settling later in Somerville, Massachusetts. By happenstance, the name Fuller is connected with an ancient working trade of those who cleaned cloth and garments. In these opening days of Advent, we hear Scripture on how the prophets’ words come to clean us up and purify us in preparation to meet the  Lord, whom they announce. Look at the words of the prophet, Malachi:

The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)

The priestly people are to be refined, to be rid of corrupt practices that arise out of greed and thoughtlessness. We, the body of Christ, as priestly people, are to hear perpetually, certainly in Advent, of our own need to be cleansed and purified. We need a good scrubbing. Nearly every service we share in corporate worship includes an element of confession. We have the chance to take this time of contrition, authenticity, and repentance quite seriously. The opening weeks of Advent carry this penitential tone and heighten our own serious sense of need for forgiveness.

The message of John the Baptist comes to us on the Second and Third Sundays of Advent. He is seen as the one who absolutely fulfills the prophecy of Malachi. John’s father, Zechariah had a priestly role in the temple of Jerusalem, and while he was making an offering at the altar of incense, he had a terrifying encounter with the angel of the Lord. Gabriel foretold to him that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a baby whom he must name John. Because of the old priest’s questions about it, he was struck mute. He had the whole time of that pregnancy to think, not being able to speak.

When his mouth was finally loosed, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, unleashing a prophetic song of gladness, telling his baby boy and all listening of John’s role as the forerunner of the Savior:

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins. (Luke 1: 76-77)

Are you ready for a good, late-fall cleaning? The worship life of the church will supply the brushes and soap The messenger is indeed knocking at the door, “but who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” We can and we will endure it. In fact, we really can welcome the opportunity for the purifying, refining action of the Spirit in our lives. Let us pray (BCP, page 211):

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.