ARCHBISHOP SPEAKS ON PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18639, 17 December 1928, Page 4

ARCHBISHOP SPEAKS ON PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS.

Preparations for Christmas was the theme on which Archbishop Julius preached at St Luke’s Church yesterday morning. The Archbishop spoke on the life of John the Baptist and his preparations for the coming of Christ. Archbishop Julius said that, he wanted his congregation to consider, in preparation for Christmas, John the Baptist—the man, the messenger, the preparation and the message. It was wonderful that of John the Baptist thej' knew really nothing at all, for thirty years of his life had been hidden away. They knew that he lived in the wilderness, a lonely place, although not desert, and that he lived simply. They knew no more except incidentally. They learned that he had gathered a band of disciples around him. They knew that he studied the Old Testament, and that, above all, he loved to study the latter part of the book of the prophet Isaiah. The life of John the Baptist might almost seem a wasted life, said the Archbishop, but he spent thirty years studying and learning before he came out. There was a sect of the Jews which went to lonely places for this purpose, but they did not come out. After thirty years, John the Baptist came out; he felt that he could not stay any longer, but he must deliver his message to the crowds. The preacher pointed out that life was a preparation for all. No one knew what God had put them there for. All that they could say was, ’“Lord, make me ready.” ‘‘Prepare ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” was the burden of what John had to say. When he was asked what he was by the Pharisees, he answered with words that the speaker loved greatly, ‘‘l am a voice.” Someone had to prepare the way, and John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. That was what was wanted to-day, preparation for Jesus Christ. No one would ever know the real joy of Christmas until they prepared for it as John the. Baptist had prepared for Christ. When the preacher thought of all that was going on to-day and the efforts men were making to patch things up, he thought that, if John the Baptist were here, he would say. ‘‘Mend yourselves. Prepare ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”