If you’ve ever been to a rock show or an arena performance with a pop star, then you know that there is always a warm-up artist who performs first. 

The star only shows up for the second half. 

If the star is an A-list celebrity, then your warm-up band 

is probably a C-list performer.

When Elvis Presley went on stage, he was preceded by 

comedian Jackie Kahane.

When Taylor Swift goes on stage next year, 

the artists opening up her show might be Paramore or Gracie Abrams.

There will be some common element between the headliner and the opener, some similarity, some connection,

maybe in music style, or maybe they were friends at one time, or played in the same band, or met at a festival.

Nobody would confuse the warm-up band with the main act. 

There is a clear distinction in quality and popularity. 

People come for the superstar, they don’t come for the opener…

although oftentimes, the openers are surprisingly good, 

even if you haven’t heard of them before.

In the second Sunday of Advent, 

we always talk about Jesus’s warm-up band, 

the Dunker, 

aka John the Baptist. 

He was getting the arena all stoked and ready for the headliner,

to prepare the way of the Lord. 

John is a herald, a forerunner, a messenger to announce the nativity and the second Coming of Christ. 

John reminded the crowd that the main act was more powerful than he was, that the headliner of the cosmic show would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with Fire and other pyrotechnics. 

But most important of all, 

he announced that the One to Come would judge the nations 

and there would be a reckoning for their sins.

John calls on the crowd to repent, to turn back to the Lord, 

because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, the headliner is soon to arrive. 

Get yourselves ready, turn away from your sinful ways, 

your selfish needs, 

and re-orient your lives towards the Lord who is to come.

In this season of Advent, we need to declutter,

 to rid ourselves of everything that obstructs our view. 

We need to focus on Jesus Christ Superstar, 

to point out his real presence in and among us. 

Take this time to acknowledge we need God more, 

and with our words and actions show it. 

December is a busy time for sure, but surely, 

We can take some time out to prepare ourselves for the King of Kings?

It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you are rich or poor, 

male or female, queer or straight, settler or indigenous.

This is a time to open the gates to your hearts, that the King of Glory can come in. 

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, 

put your hands together and get ready to welcome the A-list celebrity, 

the King of Hearts, Jesus the Christ!