Scripture Text (NRSV)
Matthew 3:1-12
3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of
Judea, proclaiming,
3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
3:3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths straight.'"
3:4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt
around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to
him, and all the region along the Jordan,
3:6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing
their sins.
3:7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for
baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?
3:8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
3:9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our
ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up
children to Abraham.
3:10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.
3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his
threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the
chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Comments:
How does it change our conception of Advent if we think of it as
waiting "on" God instead of waiting "for" God? These are contrasting
images for me. One says we will wait like a waiter/waitress, ready to
serve God by waiting on others(loving them). The other says we will
sit down at the counter and wait for God to come to us. Advent is
proactive waiting, not passive expectation. What do you think?
Robin in OH
This is the last comment on last weeks Matthew discussion. I liked it
and thought it might have some relevance this week.
QUESTION! I am sure that one of you will know why we can spell
Immanuel two ways. Immanuel and Emmanuel. Any help would be
appreciated! Nancy-Wi
For some, the following will be difficult. We are culturally
conditioned to avoid the kinds of words that follow. But look at the
Gospel for this week.
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Tough words. Tough talk.
The following is a sampling of words written recently by Marvin Olasky.
If you're not sure who he is, you should look him up. He's written a
widely read book called Compassionate Conservatism.
In a piece where he defends Franklin Graham's (son of Billy)
perception of Islam, Olasky wrote the following about, well, us.
How do his words play on our ears and minds? Much like John the
Baptist's perhaps.
"And yet, let's ask some questions about the current condition of
American Protestantism. Are we more likely to hear pop! or pap from
many pulpits? Don't books that document the state of our discourse
have titles like No Place for Truth? Don't many ministers today talk
more sociology than theology? Don't many seem more like politicians
than preachers? And isn't it vital that Muslims, and all of us,
receive not sweet talk but tough love?"
-Marvin Olasky
Rick in Va
I have often been wondering about the choice of the "lectionary
committee" to include John the Baptist on the Advent calendar.
To be perfectly honest, I think of this ragged prophet standing more
in the "pre-gospel" era than representing the "Good News" of the Jesus
era. On top of his message, this John really disturbs our festive
Advent celebration with his bad manners (I don't even want to know
what "brood of vipers" correlates to in modern language).
The postings of Rick in VA sometimes remind me of the voice of John
the Baptist; so I will draw a parallel to them and the voice of John
the Baptist in my sermon this Sunday.
I'm not trying to justify the postings of Rick in VA--especially not
the ones that feel personally offensive. But I see a definite
parrallel to the heart of these postings and John's message.
In a sense, some of the postings of Rick in VA represent this rugged
voice that highlights a side of the Christian heritage as portrayed by
the Scriptures that I feel somewhat uncomfortable with: an
uncompromising stance on traditional theology and values. Especially
the image of "the wrathful God" disturbs me in John's message.
Please note that I do not want to make any value statement concerning
the person Rick in VA. I rather refer to some of the postings on this
site that bear the signature Rick in VA. I don't know Rick in VA as a
person, I only know some of the postings that bear the signature.
Chuck in DC
So why do I have to repent?
(after all, I am one of those "good" people, at least in the eyes of
most, but why do I feel so empty?)
My life is drained from expectation, my hope is lost in the thicket of
daily life, I focus on the moment without acknowleding it as God's
home. I reject God love, by not loving myself or others, I run from
uncertainty without embracing the unknown as the place of meeting and
dialogoue with God.
I don't expect to be impregnated by grace, the coming of God was for
some past time, John the Baptist spoke milleniums ago, his words are
not heard, his proclamation falls on deaf ears, I want to believe, I
want to hope, I want to love, but there is no one to show me how.
Advent, comes and goes, Christmas is celebrated every year, and I,
well I remain the same -- caught in my own flesh, unable to see the
road ahead of me and wondering ....
tom in ga
Apropos of a prior Sunday's lessons, Don Hoff wrote of my typing: "I
know that i will not be the only one to see this beautiful typo...."
He was speaking of "the Lam of God."
I saw it, Don. I saw it in the pulpit on Sunday morning -- nearly
broke out laughing in the middle of my own sermon. I, too, thought of
God "on the lam" ("the running away of God" as you put). Actually, I
think that's the sequel to "God in the Dock"....
Blessings, Eric in KS
Chuck in DC,
You say you don't know Rick in Va. Bless you brother. And your words
concerning my posts. I believe they're insightful.
Was John the Baptist's "sharing" constructive?
I think the answer is clearly yes.
Can we agree on that?
What was The Baptist's purpose? Why is he given prominence during
Advent? Well, the literalist reads verse 3 of this Gospel and can
canswer these questions easily.
There is reason for The Baptist's offense. There are reasons why the
offended are offended. Were all of The Baptist's listeners offended?
Apparently not. Some allowed themselves to be baptized by him, others
decided to be his followers at least until Christ stepped into the
scene.
I am going to admit to a personal shortcoming here. I am woefully
dismissive of God's justice, his love for the poor. I am woefully
ignorant of what my duty as a Christian is in regard to Christ's love
for the poor and the marginalized. For that I, and my evangelical
brothers and sisters who share in my views, need to repent. I must do
more than the weekly tutoring or the delivering of meals to the poor
that I now participate in. Much, much more. Faith without works,
especially works that are representative of God's love for the poor,
is a dead faith.
John Stott has put it this way n a recent devotional:
"...social action is *a partner of evangelism*. As partners the two
belong to each other and yet are independent of each other. Each
stands on its own feet in its own right alongside the other. Neither
is a means to the other, or even a manifestation of the other. For
each is an end in itself. Both are expressions of unfeigned love."
After my own Pastor's expository sermon on Isaiah today, a sermon that
decried the evangelical sin of ignoring social justice causes, I
grabbed his arm and said "Thanks for stepping on our collective toes
today. I beat up on Liberals frequently because of their dismissal of
the Lordship of Christ. I needed to be beat up myself because of my
dismissal of God's love for the poor."
All of this is, in my less than humble but honest view, why the DPS's
desperate preachers need a John The Baptist-like voice on her pages...
and why that John The Baptist-like voice needs to continue to expose
himself to some of you.
That is community. That is dialog.
Now, if I may put back on my clothing of camel's hair with the leather
belt around my waist, and put down for the moment my food consisiting
of locusts and wild honey, what I'd like to see is some honest and
genuine repentance for dismissing concepts of atonement, downplaying
the exclusive claims that the Lordship of Christ brings, and the
outright denial of sin and sin's consequences, then maybe, just maybe,
someone can take a gander at these pages and see not disagreement and
dis-respect, but the Church doing what the Church is supposed to be
doing... preparing the way for the Lord and his love.... not just the
sentimental variety but the variety that calls for repentance and a
turning to Christ, and Christ alone.
God's blessings on all who have the tremendous responsibility and
calling to preach Christ crucified.
Rick in Va
From what I remember about the history of the times, the Pharisees &
Saducees had a corner on who was considered ok and who was out of
"favor" in the religious sense. They were the ones in power in the
Temple. They had developed many traditions that were impossible for
poor people to keep (See Mark 7: 1-8).
Also, the Saducees, who were successful in business and generally
quite wealthy believed that their success was a reward by God for
their goodness. Anyone who was poor or sick or down & out must have
done something to "deserve it." Thus, the Saducees had no reason to
want to help "the lowly."
By the time of Jesus, there were a lot of people who were considered
sinners and thus outside of communion with God. John the Baptist came
bringing good news to the poor and the outsiders and the discouraged.
The baptism he gave was a new start for the hopeless. It gave them the
chance to repent of their sins, and hope that the messiah was coming.
How nervy, then, for the Pharisees & the Saducess to show up wanting
this baptism. I don't believe John saw any repentance in those folks.
If they did want baptism, it was probably more for "insurance".
Reminds me a bit of today's non-churchgoers who want to rush their
babies in to be "done." jg in nj
The waters of baptism and the rite of new birth, the repentance that
figures out in transformational change of becoming a self before God,
the seeing and participating in the kingdom at hand/come near in the
better self who is our neighbor in need, our better self clothed in
another body, the sacred stories coming alive, Moses "drawn forth'
from the waters, the aesthetic Elijah filled with charisma spirited
leadership in spite of alone-ness, these are a few thoughts invading
my imagination all at once in light of this scripture focusing on
Saint John the Baptist and his call to repentance and the coming
Kingdom inclusive of shalom, the blessing to bless all natioins/peoples,
especially the suffering. (PaideiaSco in north ga mts)
Preacher in Ks:
You might try CCS Publishing. They put out a service every year
(sometimes it's better than others). You can get the bulletins
pre-printed. It is basically a service of scripture and carols, along
with communion. We've used them off and on. My co-pastor likes them
better than I do, but they are helpful, but I appreciate the ease with
which we can use them.
Pam in San Bernardino
Pro-active waiting. I like that. Isn't that what we are called to do
in this in-between time? In this already, not yet time? This lesson is
right where we are as Christians. Waiting for a Messiah that has
already come, but not yet. The message -- Repent, the kingdom of God
is near -- is so true -- it hurts.
What else can we do when the kingdom is this close? When the
perfect-all-knowing, ever-present, all-loving presence of God is so
REAL, so relevant. Repent because when faced with that light, we can't
help but feel unworthy, what could we possibley do to deserve such a
gift. It is his presence, his actions on the cross that make it clear,
like a light that shines leaving our shadow side. The good news is
that we know the ending, we know what is coming. Therefore, no matter
how long those shadows stretch -- no matter how dark those shadows are
-- they are no match for the presence of God in our lives. They are no
match for the love that has set us free from worrying about our
unworthiness, about our shoulda, coulda, woulda's -- that is who we
are waiting for -- it's already here -- stay awake, be aware, don't be
fooled by false prophets who say otherwise.
Active waiting is having the stay power, the stamina to continue
believing in what has already happened on the cross, what was said
before the cross, when God's presence was only a child, only a man
preaching in the wilderness.
We are waiting for a light that is near -- close -- almost -- a
kingdom that is all around us.
Fr Sully
Hi Iam saddened by the unchristian attitude towards RICK from VA. I
thought that we are mature enough to agree to diagree. Who knows maybe
RICK just may be the prophet to keep us Awake- to challenge our
prejudices and help us in the call to REPENT saintwin-Florida
I don't object at all to this passage being in the choices for this
Sunday. John is a necessary part of thinking about preparing for
Christ's coming. Bear in mind that only two of the gospels have any
account of Jesus before the beginning of his ministry. The earliest
gospel, Mark, begins with the preaching of John. So does the latest,
John.
John is the skunk at the garden party. He's the fly in the ointment.
He's the person who stands up at town meeting and takes a stand on
principle over some seemingly minor point. He simply won't go away.
John is our conscience, calling us back to prepare--not just
superficially, but deep down. Really prepare.
When I think of John the Baptist I think of the opening of the musical
"Godspell." The philosophers of the world are one by one contributing
to the Tower of Babel until there is complete disarray. In the midst
of that John appears, blowing a shofar and singing "Prepare ye the way
of the Lord." John is the wake up call when we need to be called to
task.
My thoughts so far.
Craig in Maine
Nancy-Wi QUESTION! I am sure that one of you will know why we can
spell Immanuel two ways. Immanuel and Emmanuel. Any help would be
appreciated!
ANSWER! No particular reason other than differences in transliteration
from the Hebrew. Sort of like some news organizations write "Al Quaida"
and some write "Al Quaeda".
Blessings, Eric in KS
Chuck, Even though you more or less said you don't want to know, my
reactive thought about the modern correlation to "brood of vipers" is
"snakes in the grass." :-) Janice in Ks
Wooaahh. What am I in here, a time warp??? Rick in VA, FrSully,
PaideiaSco, Pam in SanBerdu, tom in ga, Deke, et al??? Wow, seems like
old times.
Shalom my friends!
Nail-Bender in NC
A question to the exegete:
How do we bring this reading anew to our people? Given the present
situation, in post 9-11 America and world, how is this reading to be
received? How do we address our people in this "politically correct"
climate we are passing through? "Politically correct" was something
the Baptizer wasn't!!!!! What within myself and in the world needs and
seeks engagement? The visitation of God within our lives and world
means what? Why repent? Why turn? What does all this metanonia stuff
mean, in a world that seems to have returned to normal in someways and
in other ways we are fearful of everyone around us ... that is not the
time of "alertness" that the readings point us to.
So among the Biblical Theologians, your help is needed if we are to
address this reading from Matthew anew.
Thanks, tom in ga
I was just contemplating how the term "politically correct" has
changed meanings... It used to mean "pandering to liberal inclusivity
concerns" (or something like that) ... now it seems to mean
"supporting President Bush's 'war on terrorism' and waving the flag"
...
I think I agree with tom in ga that John the Baptizer was not
politically correst, in either sense.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Dear Friends
I haven't posted for a long while, but I still read and enjoy your
postings greatly what I've written is rather lengthy so my apologies
in advance.
I return to the site at this adventide surrounded by news of illness,
death and war. This Sunday I shall baptise a one year old baby whose
mother is suffering from breast cancer. We shall say prayers for the
mother of a seven year old we baptised three months ago. A talented
and dedicated theatre nurse she has just discovered she has a brain
tumour. Rather self-centredly I wonder whether I shall be able to
physically actually hold the baby for the baptism (due to a current
bout of multiple sclerosis).
Meanwhile news comes to me, as to us all, of suicide bombings in
Israel, ensuing repression, military "advances" in Afghanistan,
starving refugees, asylum seekers, violence against Muslims,
Christains, Jews or others simply because of their faith.
Tomorrow morning I shall meet for the second time with an
extraordinary woman who has been holding her family and herself
together for decades, Her husband committed suicide when their 4
children were under 6. Their third child died of a genetic illness
after years of institutional care 4 years ago. The oldest child
committed suicide a few months ago. A thin thread of faith helps her
to hold on but for how long?
This all will and has to be the context, local, global and personal
from which I approach this week's readings. I don't think it will be
possible for me to preach simply on the text from Matthew. The call to
repentance ( and I do love John the baptist's anger and engagement and
outrageous tones and they are important) surely has to be held
together with the extraordinary promess of a fresh shoot from the
dried out stump of Jesse in Isaiah. I love the way that Bible
encourages us to read not just text by text but encouraging the
reading together with other parts of the text for further and richer
understanding. Matthew 3 cannot stand alone and maybe imperfectly
that's what the lectionary encourages us to do too. The French
catholic writer and lawyer Simone Pacot formulates this much better
than I can, by simply saying that for each of us and for humanity as a
whole God is both love and truth. Her book is called Evangelisation
des Profondeurs (evangelisation of the depths).
In the church we get terribly hung up about labels which in the end
mean little to folk apart from ourselves, liberals, conservatives,
evangelicals, radicals. Perhaps the gospel needs fewer folk who
believe in the Lordship of Christ or in the Social Gospel and a few
more who gently, humbly and through much stumbling attempt to be
witnesses to the love and truth of God, to grace and judgement. Advent
is about the promess of incarnation not about the announcement of
correct dogmatic statements. Advent ends in the mystery of the word
become flesh – flesh that starves and suffers violence and war, and
doubt and depression and also gurgles and cries with new life needing
warmth and a mother's milk….
Last sunday and again this morning in the old peoples home I handed
out figs (all those seeds are not a good idea for those with dentures
I discovered!!) and asked folk to try to remember a bible story about
figs or fig trees. Both times the first story that came through was
the story in Matthew about Jesus cursing the fig tree when he found no
fruit out of season, a bit more prompting and we remembered Nathaneal
who had been seen beneath the fig tree, then and only then came the
memories of Lukes marvelous parable of the fig tree and the gentle and
patient gardener and the impatient master. I was truly surprised that
collectively these congregations had written onto the hard disks of
their heads and hearts the story of cursing in more retrievable form
than the parable of patience and forgiveness.
So do our people, do we, need more repentance or more promess or is
advent preaching about holding all this and much, much more together
in as a holy a tension as we can manage??
so to each of you beneath your vine and fig tree, dwell in peace and
be unafraid this adventide!
Jane in France
There's something rolling around in my head that I can't quite get to
come out as an intelligent question, so I figured I'd come to the
learned Desparate Preachers.
From Luke we learn that John was a descendent of the priestly
tradition. In today's text, John wears camels hair and eats locust and
honey. Why in the world would so many flock to him in the wilderness
to a hear a message of confrontation?
Was it his family connections? His entertainment value? His clever
speech? Or was something working behind the scenes?
There are many different STYLES of bringing the message of the Good
News in Christ Jesus, but there is only on power behind the message --
that of the Holy Spirit.
Was the message John brought or was it the one from Jesus that was
from God? I believe BOTH were messages from God, for the people of
God, thanks be to God!
Why is it that so many of us are worried about HOW we should preach?
Not every ear will hear the Gospel in the same way. Why should every
voice preach in the same style?
This Sunday, in my church, I am trying to listen (in the Spirit) to
what God's people need to hear. Is it confrontation or comfort? At
times, it's both. What is it on 12/9/2001?
Perhaps we do not see the same answer, because we do not all serve the
same congregation.
SOME came to see John in the wildreness. Others never left home. Which
did Jesus come to save? How can they best come to know God's grace
through the Good News? Where is all this going for Sunday?
I wish I knew.
Grace and Peace, Charley in NETex
Thank you, Jane in France.
Charley in NETex, Why did they go out? When I was growing up, every
year "the goat man" would come through herding his flock, and set up
camp out by the lake between our town and the next. He might stay a
day or two, then would move on. Word would spread and traffic would
increase out the highway, cars slowing and passengers gawking,"rubber-necking",
as the clean settled folks went past scrutinizing the dirty stinky
migrant. It happened year after year with the same response. Why?
Some mat have yearned to cut loose and follow, fleeing their small
town confinement. I imagine some needed to validate their own
respectability by comparing themselves to someone rough, dirty and
smelly. Some folks just like a freak show. Consider much current TV
fare. Most people see what they expect to see, but sometimes, folks
without strong preconceptions see or hear something that shakes them
up and gets them thinking in new directions. A few actually listen.
My guess is they went for many reasons and some heard reason and
responded.
What does it mean to make straight the highway for the Lord? How can I
possibly make the rough places plain for the Lord? After all, this IS
the LORD, the Lord of Hosts, the Creator . . . How am I, a lowly
preacher in a tiny rural church in middle America supposed to smooth
down a mountain for my God?
How do YOU get ready for an important guest? Ask my children -- it
isn't very pretty around here when company's coming! I may yell at
them to pick their stuff up, to get their chores done, to be on their
best behavior. I may be a bit frazzled trying to get everything done
that needs to be done. But I would never, ever yell at a guest.
It seems to me if John was trying to make the paths straight for the
Lord, he was doing a lousy job of it. "You brood of vipers" isn't
going to impress the powers that be who were the one who would say
whether or not Jesus was the Messiah.
Perhaps John is causing more trouble than he's solving. . .
Just thoughts
RevJan, I like your question about how we might smooth down a mountain
for our God; and the analogy of getting ready for company may be
helpful. It's midweek already, and I haven't yet discovered which
direction my sermon will take. I also agree with the one who poses the
question for the exegete, although I don't think I'm going to be
talking about 9/11 events this week. The one thought I've had that I
think may speak to the people I serve is around those last few verses.
Where the winnowing fork and the fire seems to be a rather threatening
message, there's part of verse 11 that may offer a tone of hopefulness
from John, when he says something like this: "My baptism is ONLY a
baptism of repentance, it's just about YOU making a change in your
life (and we all know how hard that it!); but the One who comes after
me? His baptism will be with the Holy Spirit and with Fire. HIS
baptism will change YOU. You'll be different from the inside out, and
the DOing you DO will come naturally, it will flow from the Grace he
gives you. You will become like wheat without chaff, wholesome grain,
good." And perhaps the human condition it addresses is that kind of
Paul-dilemma of not doing what we wish we'd do, but doing the very
thing we hate. Any comments, Desperate Preachers? Janice in Ks
In light of Jane in France's offering. I was wondering how we (as
preachers) go about balancing repentance without making it bad news?
OR talk about John's seemingly rough-around-the-edges message without
coming down on the people who are in the pews following the risen
Christ -- responding to God's grace in their life?
It seems to me there is a way to make this lesson heard even to the
ones who suffer the most -- without adding another burden to their
already burdensome life. At the moment I am at a loss.
Here are some brainstorms (although I would love to hear more):
We are the baptized -- we live a life of repentence -- therefore the
message could be the kingdom's close proximity. Baptism is the
guideline that sheds light on our reaction to God's grace. Baptism has
already burned that which is unworhty -- our new life in Christ is the
wheat that is left.
Fr Sully
To tom in ga and all Desperate Preacher's,
I agree that Sept 11 changes the way people hear the gospel and has
recalibrated the notion of politically correct (a term I have never
appreciated). I am reminding the congregation that repent has as part
of its meaning getting reoriented (toward God, hopefully). I am going
to encourage them that one of God's calls for us to be reoriented is
to live toward the future not the past and use the dramatic hope in
the Isaiah text for this week to let us give ourselves permission to
believe that God has a plan and a stake in the future that looks much
different than what we are currently a part of. We might even allow
ourselves to believe that some day, by God's leading, the people of
Israel will break bread with the people of Palestine, the people of
Afghanistan will sit down with the people of the United States, the
rich will have compassion for the poor, and "a little child shall lead
them."
It's not fleshed out yet, but that is where I am headed.
Blessings,
Cindy in Wisconsin
The season of Advent makes me nervous in my belly. It's not the
"preparation" for the big Holy Day- December 25- that creates anxiety.
It's the coming of God, which is both at once a threat and a promise.
Today John would see the religious people make thier yearly trek to
listen ever so briefly to his message- good clean religious folks that
surround us on Sunday morning in our spotless expensive churches, and
he would point at us and say, "You sons of bitches, you basterds, who
warned you? Do not presume that just because you are children of
Abraham or bear the name 'Christian' you are excused for that which
God demands of you."
Harsh words, hard words, because they ring true. Last week I heard a
Muslim cleric speaking to an adult forum tell us that "Christianity is
the easiest religion in the world and that is why the churches are
dying in the west, becuase you can say I believe in Jesus and put on a
'Jesus loves me buttom' and sit down in your e-z boy and relax."
I was offended by those words, but I recognized them as being
generally true of our modern American form of Christianity.
John's words should turn our stomach, cause us great anxiety, and jolt
us out of complancecy. John's words judge us for what we are and what
we are not. John's words cause despair and we realize we NEED a
Savior.
del in IA
Bear fruit worthy of repentance (v. 8) - December is a bleak month.
The days get shorter. Many people get depressed because of the lack of
light and warmth and growth. We come inside and huddle knowing that
the darkness is not good and must be overcome. But we are powerless to
overcome it. Think of how people must have felt before the electric
light only about 100 short years ago. We need light and lots of it in
order to thrive. But December is a bleak month, the darkest month of
the year. And it keeps getting darker and darker and darker until the
Winter Solstice comes and the light begins to return. That's when it
is time to start celebrating! Now, during these darker and darker days
of early and mid-December is a time to make ourselves aware of the
darkness, the bleakness, the emptiness of our lives without the light
of Christ. And yet even now we begin to light the candles (and turn on
the electric lights ) knowing even now that Christ is here, that
Christmas has come, that all is well. We know that there will be a
spring, will be a summer, will be more light, will be a time of
fullness, abundance, and delight. It is coming. We know it is. We
certainly hope it is. We have faith that it is. We will bear fruit.
The trees will bear fruit. Christ's rule of peace and prosperity will
come. We simply need to take time, Advent time, to figure out our part
in the coming fullness. We do this by getting empty, just like the
trees, allowing this time, Advent time, to be a time of rest just like
it is for the trees. Oh, how I wish it were so, but No, we can't stand
emptiness and rest and so we have created a fake fullness, a time of
too much artificial light and artificial life. I invite you to observe
Advent this year as a time of waiting, resting, emptying, being still.
jaw in cny
Bear fruit worthy of repentance (v. 8) - December is a bleak month.
The days get shorter. Many people get depressed because of the lack of
light and warmth and growth. We come inside and huddle knowing that
the darkness is not good and must be overcome. But we are powerless to
overcome it. Think of how people must have felt before the electric
light only about 100 short years ago. We need light and lots of it in
order to thrive. But December is a bleak month, the darkest month of
the year. And it keeps getting darker and darker and darker until the
Winter Solstice comes and the light begins to return. That's when it
is time to start celebrating! Now, during these darker and darker days
of early and mid-December is a time to make ourselves aware of the
darkness, the bleakness, the emptiness of our lives without the light
of Christ. And yet even now we begin to light the candles (and turn on
the electric lights ) knowing even now that Christ is here, that
Christmas has come, that all is well. We know that there will be a
spring, will be a summer, will be more light, will be a time of
fullness, abundance, and delight. It is coming. We know it is. We
certainly hope it is. We have faith that it is. We will bear fruit.
The trees will bear fruit. Christ's rule of peace and prosperity will
come. We simply need to take time, Advent time, to figure out our part
in the coming fullness. We do this by getting empty, just like the
trees, allowing this time, Advent time, to be a time of rest just like
it is for the trees. Oh, how I wish it were so, but No, we can't stand
emptiness and rest and so we have created a fake fullness, a time of
too much artificial light and artificial life. I invite you to observe
Advent this year as a time of waiting, resting, emptying, being still.
jaw in cny
Sorry for entering the same message twice. But, here's another one,
hopefully only entered once!
During Advent we focus on the In Between Times. In between what? In
between the age of the prophets and the age of the Messiah. With the
birth of Christ, we get to a new age of God’s glory under the rule of
the Messiah King but, guess what, only some have figured it out and
been willing to live under the rule of the Messiah King. This King is
different than other kings in that he doesn’t force anyone to accept
his rule. We can freely choose to live under the rule of other Kings.
These other Kings often appear to be more powerful than the Messiah
King. They appear to be more fun, too. So God waits and waits and
waits for us to finally see the light and accept the rule of the
Messiah King. What are we waiting for?
The wilderness in which the children of Israel wandered between their
slavery in Egypt and their entry into the Promised Land is the In
Between Time which we all must go through, wilderness time for
preparation to make ourselves ready to receive the rule of the Messiah
King.
jaw in cny
ONE MORE THOUGHT!! And I always find all your thoughts, coleagues,
interesting and helpful!
Did anyone watch JACK IN THE BEANSTALK: THE REAL STORY on CBS. I’m
sure the critics are saying: YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING! (Way too long!)
but I stayed with it to the bitter end. I think it is a strong
indictment of how we affluent first world folks have stolen the golden
goose and its eggs from the indigenous peoples. We need to give it
back. Repent! Also, we have stolen the harp which represents harmony
in the world. Repent! Also, we may not be telling the story of the
last 500 years accurately. Repent!
jaw in cny
I always pictured John coming into the picture a moment too late. It
looks like darkness has overtaken everything. Heads are low.
Hopelessness abounds. People are filing out, and he comes and yells
"WAIT A MINUTE - The ONE, The ONE is coming" Do you laugh? Do you just
keep on walking, since after all, it's over? Do you dare believe
again? Do you turn your head and look? Do you, dare I say, Hope?
JP in CO
I for one am greatly saddened and disturbed that Rick in VA's only
option was to stop sharing his thoughts. I did not always agree with
him, and sometimes his postings would even upset me a little, but I
will defend to the death his right to speak his opinion, regardless of
my feelings about it. I for one appreciated his comments, for their
conservative tendencies brought the tenor of the whole board back
toward the middle. Again, I am saddened by your departure, Rick, and I
hope you do keep fighting the good fight of faith. UMPREACH in AR
I can't comprehend in America a person being told his posts would be
edited. I shall miss Rick in Va simply because of the balance and the
depth he added to this site. I have recommended this site to many
simply because of the wide theological positions of the many
contributors. I am not upset by discussion and heated disscusion
sometimes. Where is our passion for our beliefs if not expressed in
passionate speech. I am enjoying the discussions on here and learning
alot. Often the question brought forth either from a perspective
posted or an outright question are ones my parishioners could and do
ask. I would appreciate duplicate posting being deleted! We all have a
bit of a problem there.
Our Christmas program is during this service, of course the kids are
telling the Christmas story. I want to preach a Word to the older
children of God. meaning the adults. I have about three minutes. I
want to talk a bit about repentance, the lion and the lamb. Does
anyone have a story or illustration about that? Thanks. Nancy-Wi
Someone asked about "Brood of Vipers:" My initial response is a novel
called "La Noed de Vipers," or "The Knot of Vipers" by Mauriac. I'm
sure there are English translations, but I'll give a brief synopsis of
what Mauriac might have considered (it's been 20 years since I minored
in French, so allow me some room for error) to be the knot, and who
the vipers were. The protagonist watches the love of his life
essentially get the life sucked out of her by a religion (in this
case, Mass) symbolized by an amethyst cross. All the while, Alyssa
(the protagonist's desired), considers her religion to give her life
meaning. She went from being a free youth with free hair to arranging
it into what I picture as a bun and really got into suffering (hence
the AMETHYST cross). She got caught up (knot) in the poisonous side of
religion (vipers) and became a very dour person.
Of course, one has to have irony: it's an amethyst CROSS - not a
crucifix.
Mauriac was not exactly a cheerleader for organized religion. Perhaps
John the Baptiser knew something about that, too.
For what it's worth ... (and I'm relying STRICTLY on 20-year-old
memory)
Sally in GA
I can't comprehend in America a person being told his posts would be
edited. I shall miss Rick in Va simply because of the balance and the
depth he added to this site. I have recommended this site to many
simply because of the wide theological positions of the many
contributors. I am not upset by discussion and heated disscusion
sometimes. Where is our passion for our beliefs if not expressed in
passionate speech. I am enjoying the discussions on here and learning
alot. Often the question brought forth either from a perspective
posted or an outright question are ones my parishioners could and do
ask. I would appreciate duplicate posting being deleted! We all have a
bit of a problem there.
Our Christmas program is during this service, of course the kids are
telling the Christmas story. I want to preach a Word to the older
children of God. meaning the adults. I have about three minutes. I
want to talk a bit about repentance, the lion and the lamb. Does
anyone have a story or illustration about that? Thanks. Nancy-Wi
The good news in John the Baptist is that he believed in the
possibility of change. He wasn't offering repentance to the people so
that they could sit around and feel bad about themselves. He was
hoping and preparing for a change.
Many different kinds of people went to the wilderness to repent and be
baptized. But John's hell fire and brimstone message was reserved for
the self-righteous Pharisees and Saducees, the hypocrites of the
religious establishement, who saw nothing wrong with their own lives
and had no thought of changing. For John the Baptist, change was the
point. He saw through their hypocrisy and called them to bear the
fruits worthy of repentance... show some visible sign that they were
ready to turn their lives around.
Richard Foster wrote in his book called "Prayer", "None of us will
keep up a life of prayer unless we are prepared to change. We will
either give (prayer) up, or turn it into a little system that
maintains the form of godliness but denies the power of it - which is
the same thing as giving it up."
Some of us like our lives the way they are, thank-you. It is hard to
repent (and even to pray) if we are comfortable with the way things
are and don't feel a need for change.
Others are longing for something different in their lives. For them,
John the Baptist is GOOD NEWS. DGinNYC
del in IA
I like your thoughts, but can we tone down the language? While it is
an 'appropriate' interpretation of what John would say today, I don't
think I can use those words in church. As a matter of fact, I KNOW I
can't! Any 'milder' expletives anyone would suggest?
Fr Sully . . . where do you minister? I'd like to pastor your
congregation. My people complain that I make them feel guilty. They
want me to preach about love and joy so they can feel good when they
go home. One person told me that if people only come to church on
Sunday morning and sit in the pew and do nothing else all week, that's
being a good Christian. This person is a leader in the church, and
well-respected by the people. I told him he was reading a different
Bible than I am.
Where are the warm fuzzies in John's message? Anyone?
RevJan
Someone asked about the meaning of making straight the pathway for
God. My guess is that it has something to do with the way people would
"line the road" and welcome home a victorious king. I think John is
saying that the King is coming soon, start lining up because He's
closer than you think.
I love how John brings an immediacy to his listeners. Do it NOW! says
John...sort of like the orchestra tuning up, the conductor walking out
on stage and the house light dimming, a pause and then the first note
sounds...and it begins.
Ready or not...here He comes.
John near Pitts.
What if we thought about the last few verses? Why do we need to
repent? The ax is laid at the root of our tree. The chaff (that which
is good for nothing) will burn with unquenchable fire. In contast, if
we repent then we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. This
fire though is different. This is the kind of fire that makes a piece
of pottery hard and useful. This kind of fire helps separate out
impurities in gold, so that it is pure and solid. This fire may
sometimes be painful, but it is to clean up our lives so that we can
be the people God wants us to be. This fire and the Holy Spirit
empower us for ministry. When I thought of unquenchable fire I thought
of several things. First, have you ever burned yourself on the oven?
At least for a while, even with the use of aloe, the pain seems to
continue. Second, I still see the pictures on TV of the twin towers
site. The smoke still seems to be rising. An unquenchable fire?
Perhaps! The temporary pain of being refined by the fire of the Lord
is much preferable to the unquenchable fire of hell. Repent! PH in OH
I am in agreement with you RevJan. My congregation has a history of
exact opposites - one controlling everything the other participatingn
in nothing. Now me, and I push them to action and the change that
comes is hard. I am constantly being inundated by rumors, inuendos and
general 'concerns' that I am not warm and fuzzy and just oh so nice
about everything. This is NOT a complaint just an observation of a
small town church in Advent. This Sunday I am going to use John's
words in a "warm and fuzzy" yet pressing way to help them move forward
even more. Continue to challenge. John's 'warm fuzzies' come in the
form of a challenge. The mere fact that he is warning people shows his
caring and his love for all of us. I'd rather have him enter my life
(even if it is scary and uncomfortable) than have someone gently say
oh by the way, it's probably a good idea if you could find it in your
heart to get ready..... It's far easier to complain regardless of who
is doing the Spirit led speaking then to face up to the challenges the
the Spirit gives us. Better to hear the Spirit and be guided by it and
get the people in the pew riled up (even at you) then to simply be
'warm and fuzzy and LIKABLE - 365 days a year. Enough! Malia
It has been a good moment in my week to read these postings. What a
discussion... it is nice to see such passion from the clergy! Whether
I agree with you or not, fire up and preach well sisters and brothers.
My thoughts this Sunday will be directed at the subversives of the
Christmas story. Consider: In our day, John would be locked up as
mentally ill, Mary would certainly be called an unfit mother for her
delisions (a young woman claiming God made her pregnant... call social
services and take that baby from her). I hate to think it, but Herod
would be considered a hero for his protection of the nation, strong
leadership and decisive action. And I don't think there are many
police forces that would allow a 'gang' to come out of the hills into
town and buy the story that angels told them to come looking for a
miracle.
John the Baptist, with his maddness, fire and anger is a perfect
representation of the power of God's subversion of society. God comes
in ways that we don't expect. God is revealed in both wild and
wonderous ways. Babies are born into poverty and God is revealed.
Teenage girls find themselves pregnant and God is revealed. Madmen
come screaming from the wilderness and God is present.
In our times, we take these hard stories and sugar coat them with
excesses, sappy songs and a gloss of warmth that really robs the truth
from the message. Mary was a radical (read the Magnificat). Jesus was
a child born in the streets (or back alley). John is insane. The
'good' people of our story- priests, lawyers, kings- are tossed into
the background by the rejects, goofs and fools. Top it all off with
astrologers claiming to be following a star that 'points' them to
where the real king is, and the picture is completed (yes, I know I am
mashing the various stories together).
Face it, the Gospels are taking everything we expect and, once again,
flipping it over and over until we can't tell what is up and what is
down, who is right and who is wrong. Even this discussion this week
has succeeded in that! And what is the result? God breaks through
using our confusion and misunderstanding to point out how little we
truely know about the glorious love and grace of God.
No wonder John was mad... God's awesome-ness can do that to a person.
For me... Sunday I will be insane... Just like my brother John the
Baptist and all of you out there who think we can somehow come close
to preaching the 'Word of God'.
Tom in MN
RevJan, I appreciate your concerns regarding the language, yet to
"tone" it down would be to violate the text and one might as well
preach on Romans. John was offensive to the religious leaders and he
is to us as well. We would probably arrange to have his head taken off
too (while paying him lip service of course and side stepping the
question of his authority). The Church is dying from "politeness" and
we have lost the earthy, honest, no-holds barred message of the
prophets and John and Jesus. If we are afraid of offending from the
pulpit then we better find another Book to preach from than the Holy
Scriptures of the Hebrews and the Christians. The question is: do we
preach a message that makes people feel good and provide "warm fuzzys"
or do we preach God's Word to us. The two do not always accomodate one
another. I just had my cat declawed and neuter and I think we have a
tendency to want to do that to the Word of God also. del in Ia
I think John's good news is that we still have time to repent. Things
can be different. It is not too late, we can still prepare for
something very special to happen in our world and lives. The message
has come to us and we can get ready to recieve the good news. Or will
we miss the Savior in the midst of all that is taking place in our
world. We need the madmen like John to wake us up some times so we do
not miss the simple and wonderful things that God is doing.
JB in MB
Good stuff, people, thanks! But I've always noticed and been reminded
that John, though a prophet and a speaker of God's Word, was also,
like you and me, human. He wasn't divine, he was human. Did Jesus
fulfill John's expectations? Not completely. John's preaching hellfire
and brimstone, and in walks this gentle kind of guy asking for
baptism. No wonder John asks next week, painfully, "Are you the One?
Or are we to look for another?" Because Jesus didn't come in anger and
judgment, as John expected, but with gentleness and mercy. Which is
not to say that there is no judgement-- Jesus holds us accountable,
for sure, but not as violently as John would prefer. Yes, he does get
ticked off at the Pharisees, too, and uses John's "brood of vipers"
phrase, but overall, Jesus does not come with the kind of power John
envisions, and might wish Jesus would. But it doesn't lessen his power
and the power of who He is and what he does when he comes. It makes me
wonder if John, like us, was making Jesus into his own image. How much
we would love to see "those people" pay and "burn"! I'm encouraged
that John the Baptist was used by God in this way, the forerunner of
Jesus, even though he may not have gotten it completely right, and
even though he was seemingly disappointed with the Jesus he got. Just
some thoughts, for what they're worth... PM in PA
Hi all.
Re: John B's caustic proclamation.
I was at a workshop a couple weeks ago, and the speaker told us
preacher-types that, if we haven't preached the six sermons which
would get us fired, we haven't been doing our jobs!
Ouch! Bang! Oof! Whack!
I've a feeling that John was "doing his job"!
Rick in Canada, eh?
