Read Luke 3:1-6
ALSO IN SCRIPTURE
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!'” (Matthew 3:3, NLT)
In the vast cornfields of Iowa, a whisper can change a life. As a devoted fan of Kevin Costner and the film “Field of Dreams,” I’ve always been captivated by the power of listening to that still, small voice that calls us to greater things. The movie, based on W.P. Kinsella’s novel “Shoeless Joe,” beautifully illustrates the transformative power of faith and obedience.
Just as Ray Kinsella heard a mysterious voice in his cornfield, John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus. Both stories remind us that preparation often requires stepping out in faith, even when the path seems unclear or unconventional.
Luke’s Gospel begins John’s story with a litany of powerful figures: Emperor Tiberius, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas, and Caiaphas. These were the movers and shakers of their day, the ones who seemed to control the fate of nations. Yet, it was to John, a seemingly insignificant figure in the wilderness, that the word of God came.
This juxtaposition is intentional. Luke is making a profound statement: true power and authority come not from political or religious office, but from God. John’s call to prepare the way for the Lord was a challenge to the existing power structures, a declaration that a new kingdom was coming.
In “Field of Dreams,” Ray’s willingness to follow an unseen voice led to extraordinary events and reconciliation. He plowed under his corn to build a baseball diamond, risking financial ruin and his reputation. His neighbors thought he was crazy, but Ray persisted in his faith. Similarly, John’s bold proclamation in the wilderness seemed foolish to many, but it paved the way for the coming Messiah.
The themes of faith, family, and redemption run deep in both narratives. Ray’s journey is not just about baseball; it’s about healing the wounds of the past, particularly in his relationship with his father. John’s mission was not just about baptism; it was about preparing people’s hearts for a transformative encounter with God.
Luke tells us that John proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” This wasn’t just about feeling sorry for wrongdoings. The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, implies a complete change of mind and heart. It’s about reorienting our entire lives towards God.
Metanoia is more than just repentance in the traditional sense. It’s a profound, usually spiritual, transformation or conversion. It’s a fundamental change in character or outlook. In the context of John’s preaching, metanoia was a call to a complete paradigm shift in how people viewed themselves, their world, and their relationship with God.
Like Ray plowing his cornfield to build a baseball diamond, John called people to level mountains of pride and fill valleys of despair to make way for the Lord. He was asking people to reimagine their lives, to see themselves and their world through God’s eyes.
The quote from Isaiah that both Luke and Matthew apply to John is particularly powerful: “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”
This imagery of landscape transformation is a metaphor for spiritual renewal. It’s about removing obstacles that hinder our relationship with God and with others. It’s about creating a clear path for God to enter our lives and our world.
In “Field of Dreams,” Ray’s faith eventually brings healing not just to himself, but to others as well. Terence Mann, a reclusive author, rediscovers his passion for writing and life. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham, a former baseball player, gets a second chance to fulfill his dream. And countless others find a place of reconciliation and joy.
Similarly, John’s ministry wasn’t just about individual repentance. It was about preparing a community, a nation, and ultimately the world for the coming of Christ. His call to metanoia was an invitation to be part of something bigger than oneself, to participate in God’s grand story of redemption.
This Advent season, we too are called to prepare the way. Like Ray Kinsella and John the Baptist, we’re invited to listen for God’s voice, to step out in faith even when it seems foolish, and to participate in God’s work of transformation.
What voices are we listening to in our lives? Are we attuned to the whispers of God, calling us to greater things? Are we willing to “plow under our corn,” to let go of the familiar and comfortable to make room for God’s new thing?
And how are we preparing the way for Christ in our lives and communities? Are there mountains of pride that need to be brought low? Valleys of despair that need to be filled? Crooked paths that need straightening?
As we journey through Advent, may we have the courage of Ray Kinsella to follow God’s voice, even when others don’t understand. May we have the boldness of John the Baptist to proclaim God’s coming kingdom. And may we, like the characters in “Field of Dreams” and the people who responded to John’s call, experience the joy of participating in God’s redemptive work in the world.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
What ‘field of dreams’ is God calling you to build in preparation for His coming?PRAYER
Lord, give us ears to hear Your voice and hearts ready to respond. Help us prepare the way for Your coming in our lives and in our world. Amen.
Devotion written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.