1.Hold on to that which already had hold of you!
2. Expectations are not wrong...it's where we look for them that's wrong.
3.Is God really absent, or does God appear so because we are looking for the wrong God?
4. Old man playing baseball. Hit ball as hard as he could. Ran as fast as he could. When he finally reached 2nd base his breath was back on 1st and his heart was on 3rd.
5.We never lose God. Even after we die the shell is there but the nut returns to God. Hope this helps. Lindy
I see this passage as a message for the here and now. Be alert. Be ready. Be doing today the work you have been called to do today. Today is the day God has given us to work in so we need to roll up the sleeves and get about doing the work.
Many, I fear, hear this passage as a call for waiting and hanging around looking at the sky. I try to remember that, if we are walking around looking up all the time to the clouds for the return of Jesus, we will probably trip over that homeless guy sleeping in our doorway (referencing last weeks Gospel lesson).
TB in MN
Quote from Thomas Merton
"What is uncertain is not the “coming” of Christ but our own reception of him, our own response to him, our own readiness and capacity to “go forth to meet him.”
tom in ga
From Oklahoma Irishman again, to TB in MN:
On Monday night I lay on the grass in my front yard
watching for the promised spectacular celestial
meteor shower. From 3:30 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.
I shivered,expecting a Steven Spielburg production.
I saw three shooting stars. I was disapponted. Look
at all I sacrificed!
Then it occurred to me, For centuries people watched
for Messiah, starring Leonardo Decapricorn, and they
got a baby born in a cattle stall with angels
sprinkling stardust all over the place. Most missed
it, because Messiah sneaked into our world in an
unexpected way.
I am not going back to the front yard, but I am
going on a scavenger hunt around town to see what
got birthed on Monday night. I trust that God did
something good again!
The sun will be darkened, the moon remains dark, stars will fall, the powers will be shaken (Mark)
The mountains would quake, the nations will tremble, you have hidden your face from us (Isaiah)
God will not come when things are normal, when there is no threat, when we are comfortable watching the Simpsons or MTV. God will not come when we are in control, when we are able to reap our wealth, when we are in control. God will not come when we are making love, enjoying ourselves.
He comes with disturbance, with confusion, with hostile activity in the heavens, he comes at those times when we have no choice but to pay attention, to wake up, to be aroused from our sleep. He comes in surprising moments, moments that take us off guard, that threaten us with their power.
So we need to keep awake, pay attention.
tom in ga
I really like many of the comments so far. It seems to me that there is an air of urgency in this gospel. I really sense Jesus desiring to make a point in "Keep awake". My stuggle is always how to find the grace. But, the grace seems to me to begin with the urgency. Jesus wants no one to be asleep. The Boy Scout's motto really doesn't seem to do justice of "Be Prepared!" It's more than preparation. It's being awake. But, awake for what? The signs of the Parousia? Or, that Jesus is coming and indeed is here. We begin Advent this year with a first Sunday of the month which for many denominations is a Communion Sunday. For those who believe in a presence of Jesus in the meal, there is an opportunity to direct the Celebration to the presence of Jesus. A presence of Jesus that is with us now among the people he dwells and the gift of the future where he promises always to be.
Lynn Parsons, Shepherd of the Hills, Omaha
Irishman in OK, Yes, Yes!! We are often looking up in the sky for "other worldly" experiences and miss the miracle happening on our own block, in our own town.
We are sometimes spend more time watching the famous "stars" on earth instead of seeing the briliance of God's love in the people around us - Are we watching for Love? Are we looking in the best places?
Great Stoy about how - even when we are not watching for it - love and grace come in the most unexpected places from the people we least expect!!
Love is a verb, how is it living its way out in our lives during this blessed, busy Advent?
jmj in MT.
The story is told that when Martin Luther was asked what he would do if he knew that the world was going to end tomorrow, he replied without hesitation, "I would plan an apple tree this afternoon." Luther didn't speculate about the end of the world. He focused on the present. He would plant that apple tree today because he believed that what may happen in the future does not excuse us from what God requires of us now, today, in our ordinary living. roberta in qc
Here's an idea that might be really cheesy for our first Sunday of Advent: "Heralds, Potter, Chambers, and Secrets"--of course a play on the popular holiday movie "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Each week use one of these words (although not in this order) as a memory device for different Advent themes in Year B. 1. Potter: God the Potter (Isaiah 64:8) 2. Heralds: Isaiah and John the Baptizer (Isaiah 40, Mark 1) 3. Secrets: Isaiah's and John's (not so) secret proclamations (Isaiah 61, John 1) 4. Chambers: Places of the heart where Gabriel met Mary (and Mary met Elizabeth) (Luke 1:26ff) Kind of forced? I think it might be fun for the kids. Pastor Mitch, Hanapepe HI
AS usual, there are a many postings that give me food for thought. I'm trying to get a head start this week so I can enjoy some time away from church concerns and Credo writing to just BE with my extended family. I started out with the working title "Sitting in the Dark" in reference to the darkening of the sun. But as I began to formulate my introduction, I realized that sometimes we are forced into darkness unexpectedly and sometimes we elect to be in darkness.
I'm telling a story about how I used to enjoy sitting in the back yard of the farm where I grew up, enjoying the silence and the darkness of the nighttime sky. But the longer you sit in darkness the more you are able to appreciate the light that comes to you from the stars, the moon, or even the dawn of a new day. Instead of trying to reach for the light ourselves, we have to wait for God to bring the light to us. Sometimes we have to "Just Sit There" and I think that will be my title for this week.
StudentPastor in KS
I don't see this text as one of judgement. Instead, I see it as a freeing gospel. "He will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." As the roberta in qc and others reminded us, we don't need to sit in fear watching the skies with our Bibles folded in our hands. We are free to go out and do and be planters and builders and whatever God calls us to be, wherever that may take us... to the four winds if necessary.
DSS, are you resigning with another call so you know where you are going? My prayers are with you. I also see great potential in the Gospel lesson, as the congregation will be called to watch and wait and hope with anticipation, even as many will be grieving losses (as will you).
Eric, I hope the vestry didn't jump to this decision because of the challenge to respond... but if they did they will need to learn greater personal response in your absence, so God must be working here... somehow... In addition, I firmly believe God has a call for you, for I, too, have been inspired and educated by many of your postings. God's blessings to you and your family in this trying time.
Michelle
Eric,
I feel compelled to write (moved by the Spirit?!)
"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind . . . so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
May God Bless, guide, direct and sustain you in your ministry - wherever and whatever it may be. Thank you for your contributions to this site that have assisted me in my minitry to others. Long may they continue.
Wendy in Canada
Eric in KS - I also want to add my voice to the litany of praise. I have come to recognize your "voice" in your postings, and always read what you have to say, even before I know it's you. Your thoughts and comments have been very helpful to me and I pray God's blessings on you and your family. May God lead you to a place where you can serve fruitfully.
DGinNYC
Eric in KS,
Are you serious? There is part of me that wants to laugh due to your postings last week that you finally gave the sermon that need to be preached and no one wanted to hear it, thus out you go!!!!
But you are serious. You would not be kidding! I am so sorry. What can I do to help. Grace Church in Elmira, NY is looking for a good priest.
Is there anything we can do to help you. You have made so many friends on this site and we rely so much on your teaching and reflections, you have made it possible for all of us to grow.
You will be in my prayers, and I am sure everyone here. Please let us help you if we can.
Shalom, tom in ga
Hey, everybody! Lighten up ... but thanks for your kind words.
This was not unexpected ... and it isn't a conflicted situation. I've been (and my family with me have been) living on a shoe-string, less-than-minimum salary for the past few years, and doing without benefits trying to get this parish out of doldrums it had been in since the death of its founding vicar. I've done all I can do and I can't continue to balance the church on my sole back! And that's what I told the vestry.
I told them I needed a full salary and full benefits or I'd have to invoke Canon 21 and ask the bishop to dissolve the the pastoral relationship. I had hoped they'd step up to the plate and challenge the congregation to exercise better stewardship ... they chose the easier route. Fine - I'll find another call (he says confidently).
In terms of this lesson, by the way, I finally decided that I needed to "learn the lesson of the fig tree" and honestly assess the signs of the times. It is time to move on (it would be nicer to do so with someplace to go, but we can't always have that can we.)
Now to answer some of your questions: tom in ga -- NY is, I'm afraid, too far from my wife's family for her comfort. Max -- not only have I thought along those lines, I are one! Adjunct anyway, or used to be.... I used to teach law and business ethics locally, but that got to be too much of a hastle. I would like to teach full time, but most seminary jobs require a PhD and I ain't got one. (But if I did that, I wouldn't have the joys of parish ministry and I would miss those.....)
Anyway ... stop worrying about me -- you people have sermons to preach!
Blessings, Eric in KS
Just wanted to wish all of our American friends a joyous Thanksgiving tomorrow!
Also, ditto on all those accolades for our colleague Eric -- you rock, buddy! Grace and peace to you and your family at this time of transition. I'll keep you in prayer...
Sermon?? Oh, right.......sermon... I'm looking at a theme of "creating advent" (which I suppose better fits with the clay and potter image), but I like Student Pastor's image of sitting in the darkness and finding that quiet center in which our advent experience can begin, and the light can begin to emerge..... early thoughts. The point will be that advent can either just happen around us, or we can create it within ourselves.
peace,
SueCan
Eric in KS. Wow, deja vu all over again. My little UMC congregation will be voting on Dec 8th on whether or not they can continue to support a full time pastor. If not, we will be moving. I, too, have been going without in hopes that they would be able to turn from decline to ministry. At this point, I wouldn't give odds in either direction. I will add you and yours to my prayer list.Pastor Rick in FL
DSS. I wanted to share my thought that a good farwell text, I think, is "Unless the Lord build's the house, those who build it labour in vain." I think it offers a chance to underscore a number of good qualities of a healty spirituality. I would suggest they are: 1. No one, no group of people, is in "control" of a church. The pastor isn't in control of the church, the trustees are not in control of the church, the board isn't in charge of the church, the woman's organization does not control the church. Who is in charge of the church? Who is control of anything? Often control in an illusion. We delude ourselves if we think we are in control. 2. Who knows the needs of the people and of the community? Often the people don't. Faithfully, God does. People can strive hard to climb whatever ladder they want, but they may find out, later, the ladder is not up against the right wall 3. We are not called to impose our agenda or will upon a people. We are to discern God's will and direction for a people. Perhaps many pastors want to impose their agenda, dreams and goals upon a congregation, which come out of their ego needs, rather from the directions of the spirit. So, I think it is true, practical and spiritual: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain." Brent in Pincher
Mike in NC:
First, I feel led to try to answer your two questions, which seem to be unanswered to this point.
Your first question was: "My question, is the depression and suicide rate in our society an indication of the longing for the Jesus and paradise we do not have."
My answer: Yes, in some cases suicide and depression rates indicate a longing to fill the emptiness some people feel due to not having a relationship with Jesus. But please do not confuse that to mean all depressed people are depressed simply because they do not have Jesus. There are many thousands of fine Chrisians living in clinical depression. Please remember the difference between clinical depression and being depressed. The first is a chemical imbalance in the physiological makeup of a person. It can be genetic. Prayer is probably not going to heal this well documented illness. The second, being depressed, is an attitude, which can normally be changed without medical treatment.
Your second question: "How much do we spend on anti-depressant drugs and fixes for this?"
My answer, some people spend much on this, while too many people refuse to admit a chemical imbalance and spend nothing on the treatments that could help restore them to a happier life. (I teach/preach that an emotional healing is more possible when combined with spiritual healing.) The suicide rate you spoke about is an all too frequent result of non-diagnosed, non-treated depression. A Pastor should normally refer people they suspect have depression. It might save lives.
I cannot help you with the third point, can anyone else help?:
"If you know of a place to get stats on perscription" (prescription?) "drug sales and money spent to make us feel good while we wait such as excercise equipment, gym dues, plastic surgery and other such things please let me know. I can't help but think there is a connection here."
As we were discussing what it means to be "awake," (a term that always seems to remind me of the Jehovah's Witness publication of the same name), our men's breakfast group triggered in my brain the concept of "vigil." Is vigilance what Jesus is asking of us? If so, how can we bring that concept alive for our people? A few thoughts...
The president asks us to be vigilant in keeping our eyes open for possible terrorist behavior. How do we keep vigilant without becoming paranoid?
We are vigilant in caring for our children, especially in tending to their safety. Two local children have recently died from bacterial meningitis due to contaminated tap water. Now, another child in the same area has come down with viral meningitis - totally unrelated but contagious. There are times when vigilance tempts us to give in to hysteria.
As I revisited the text this morning, it occurred to me that the type of vigilance Jesus encourages may be just how a group of us has been living for the past 5 days. A dearly beloved member of the congregation is in extremely critical condition. She is in need of a liver transplant within the next 24-48 hours or she will not survive. While we hold in our hearts the knowledge that, whether she lives or whether she dies, she is the Lord's - we have been audacious enough - daily - to ask God to "tear open the heavens" - and bring life out of death. Twice. But then, that's just what our gracious God does best of all. No one else can accomplish the tas. So, we hold vigil, hovering, asking for God to break through, and looking - waiting - watching - for the coming of the Lord. For we do not know the day or the hour...
And I'm audacious enough to ask you for your prayers for her as well. Her name is Ann Taylor. She needs an adult liver from an O+ donor. And she needs it today. In Phoenix, AZ.
Desert Dweller
