I used to think that it was strange that the figure of John the Baptist was able to cause such an uproar.

I mean, we're told that John ran around wearing a camel-skin garment, surviving on a diet of locusts and wild honey, preaching that people should repent to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. And we're told that the people came to him in droves, embracing his message and allowing themselves to be baptized by him to symbolize their conversion and rededication to God's ways.

As we prepare for Advent, I was thinking about this passage and again reflecting on the odd picture in presents --- people standing in line to receive the blessing of what appears to be a bit of a kook. Then I thought of all the times I've stood in line with my children to see a man in a red suit with a fake beard, to receive his "blessing" for my kids. I guess I can after all understand hoards of people flocking to see someone in an odd outfit making mysterious promises!

John the Baptist is a central figure of Advent. His message of preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ into our world and into our lives is indeed the message of Advent. We too are called to repent, to turn away from all the things we trust more than God to take care of us in this world, and to renew our faith in God as the true source of life.

John reminds people that they cannot rest on their spiritual pedigree or genetic links to religion as a substitute for a relationship with the living God. "And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

John calls us to make a choice to live our faith. The test of faith is the impact our lives will have, not our spiritual resume. "Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance," John says. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

Church membership is not the same as Christian leadership. Being Christian by birth is not the same as being born again.

Of course, it is not the clothes or the diet of John the Baptist that drew people to him and that draws us to him still. It is his challenging message of hope and change. We are called to be different as Christians, to think differently and to live differently. We are called to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves --- more than we love our money, possessions, careers and popularity.

Advent prepares us to embrace what is truly valuable even as the wider culture celebrates what is superficially valuable. We are called to practice generosity, hospitality, compassion, and joy, while we are surrounded by glittering consumption.

We need to hear the message of John the Baptist in this season. We need to be reminded that before we make our wish list of Christmas gifts, we should make a wish list of what we want our lives to stand for, what kind of fruit we will bring in this world. For Advent calls us to prepare the way of Christ not just into our lives but also into the world, that he might continue the transformation and renewal that began with John's ministry.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.