Second Sunday of Advent: Prepare the Way for the Real Jesus

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 11:1-10  (NRSV)

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,

the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the spirit of counsel and might,

the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

or decide by what his ears hear;

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,

and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

The wolf shall live with the lamb,

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

The cow and the bear shall graze,

their young shall lie down together;

and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,

and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.

They will not hurt or destroy

on all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD

as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm 72 (BCP., p.685)


Romans 15: 4-13 (NRSV)

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

"Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name";
and again he says,

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";
and again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him";

and again Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:1-12 (NRSV)

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 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.'"

Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

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? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 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. 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.

"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. 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."

Blog Reflection

There are many problems with the readings and the meaning of the 2nd Sunday of Advent. 

The problems come from interpreting the Hebrew Scriptures in such a way, that their meaning within the context of the Jewish Faith is to be dismissed because of Antisemitism on the one hand.  On the other hand, Jesus Himself throughout the Gospels identifies Himself with the prophesies in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

The other problem that cannot be too easily dismissed is that the figure of St. John the Baptist is all too often used to prepare for the coming of the judgmental and superficial Jesus who supposedly condemns abortion, same-gender marriages, wipes out entire areas by tsunami's and tornadoes because of a change from super conservative to progressive liberalism.

Another image that is also quite troubling as these Scriptures are interpreted comes from those of us who are progressive Christians, that might lead many of us to dismiss what Advent and Christmas are really about.   During Advent we recall the events that led up to that first coming of Christ at Christmas to help us remember and celebrate that Christ will come again, and in fact, is already here.  But, not yet.   Rev. Susan Russell likes to remind us this time of the year, that these seasons are a matter of both/and as opposed to either/or.  

The real Jesus who came as God's perfect revelation of Self, came to bring real change.   It was the difference that gave hope where all hope seemed lost.  He came at a time when God's people were in need of a revelation of God in a way that was not just written in the tablets of the Law, but became an imprint of God's footprints on the human soul.  Those who were considered as lost, would at last be shown the Way to friendship with God.  Where religious authority had become an excuse for excluding people, Jesus was God's reason why every person was already counted as God's own.   Where oppression and injustice caused people to question what God was really doing, Jesus came and told us to deny ourselves, pick up our Cross and follow Him to give our lives for the sake of the Gospel.  To live in humility, through being a servant to one another.

St. John the Baptist, the prophet that prepared the way for Christ is placed in each of the Gospels after Jesus had already been born.   St. John the Baptist lays out the path to the real Jesus.  The Jesus who changes the real lives of real people, by affirming God's unconditional love for all of us, without distinction.   If God can use a simple prophet who lived in the wilderness, ate locusts and drank honey, dressed in camel's hair to prepare the way for Jesus to change the history of the world as the Word made flesh; imagine how God can change the world through us.  Imagine how God can use us to prepare the way for the real Jesus here and now.

Yesterday, December 7th, 2013 was seventy two years since the disastrous attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.  It changed the United States at a profound moment in our Nation's history.  Many of the things that were taken for granted were shaken to their foundations.  Lives were lost, a sense of the security of the nation was completely devastated.  Yet, out of that tragedy, a new one began.  Instead of just responding with military action which was bad enough, the US began internment camps for Japanese Americans.   An entire race of people were targeted for discrimination and the worst kind of social and political violence.  How dare anyone celebrate the horrific attack and our nation's response by way of internment camps as being "heroic" or even "necessary." When racism is the response after a horrific act, the horror continues and we become part of the continuation of the horrific action.

This past week, we heard about the death of former President Nelson Mandela of South Africa.  A man who was already in the thick of apartheid, of prejudice and violence of horrific proportion.  Yet, he was willing to go to jail, and he did to speak and act against the discrimination.  At that time, Nelson Mandela was perceived by many here in the U.S. with amazing hate and denounced as a terrorist.   Yet, this amazing man in peaceful protest worked for a new order in South Africa, not only ending apartheid, but also the affects of homophobia so that marriage equality has been the law there for many years.   Nelson Mandela was a prophetic witness that prepared the way for the real Jesus in his corner of the world.

William Stringfellow in his writing entitled The Penitential Seasons in the book Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas wrote best what will be the conclusion of this blog post.

The depletion of a contemporary recognition of the radically and political character of Advent is in large a measure occasioned by the illiteracy of Church folk about the Second Advent and, in the mainline churches, the persistent quietism of pastors, preachers, and teachers about the Second Coming.  That topic has been allowed to be preempted and usurped by astrologers, sectarian quacks and multifarious hucksters   Yet it is impossible to apprehend either Advent except through the relationship of both Advents.  The pioneer Christians, beleaguered as they were because of their insight, knew that the message of both Advents is political.  The message is that in the coming of Jesus Christ, the nations and the principalities and the rulers of the world are judged in the Word of God.  In the lordship of Christ they are rendered accountable to human life and, indeed, to all created life.  Hence, the response of John the Baptist when he is pressed to show the meaning of repentance he preaches is, "Bear fruits that befit repentance" (p.105).

Amen.

Prayers

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.211).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Peaceful Protesters and Reformers are Good for the Church and Society

Scriptural Basis

John 15:1-11 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete."

Blog Reflection about Peaceful Protesters and Reformers

I think this commemoration falls this year on a terrific day.  The energy and passion that are pouring into the streets of Madison, Wisconsin to call for justice are incredible.  The numbers of students, teachers, firefighters, police officers, EMT's, nurses, public workers of all kinds have come out in huge numbers to protest Gov. Walker's plan to eliminate the funding and opportunity for workers to collectively bargain for living wages, health care and retirement benefits.   I cannot adequately write about how this entire thing has me so pumped today. 

What is even more exciting is how many people from all over the country are joining with the protesters in Wisconsin to show support and solidarity for working class Americans.

 Icons such as this one for solidarity with a fist showing over Wisconsin are not at all a sign of violence.  It is a sign that we all stand in solidarity together with those who are working to be able to feed their families, educate their children, support public health care workers, emergency and protection workers and the like.  

This is a peaceful protest and a reformation that is taking place.  Not much unlike what Martin Luther began when he nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg on the Eve of All Saints Day on October 31, 1517.

Martin Luther was calling the Church to take a look at it's abusive behaviors.  Luther challenged the Church and it's disconnection from what the Gospel was calling the Church to.  The leaders of the Church were misbehaving and misleading people.  Those who claimed to be representing truth, were using it to abuse the faith and lives of people who trusted in the Church to guide them into a deep awareness of how much God loves them.

This story is one that has been played over and over again throughout the history of the Christian Church.  God raises up women and men to be peaceful protesters and reformers.  The Holy Spirit inspires the hearts and consciences of individuals of every race, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, economic status, health status, culture, gender, language, immigration status and the like to challenge those who have often grown so stubborn in their intellects and wills.   Peaceful protesters and reformers from every corner of the globe move those who think they have it all together, to understand what Minnesota Sen.Paul Wellstone said.  "We all do better, when we all do better."

When we begin to understand that we must open the doors of our churches, homes, schools, cities, towns, municipalities, work places, countries etc to those who are marginalized and stigmatized, everyone is beginning to do better.  

When we allow ourselves to live with prejudice and ignorance of others who are different from ourselves, our whole society and Church is suffering with an illness that must receive treatment.

Our society and the Church are not doing better when our GOP US House of Representatives votes to take away health care from women, and then takes away funding for abortion services. 

Society and the Church are not doing better when South Dakota presents a bill to make it legal to murder doctors who perform abortions.

Society and the Church are not doing better when Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the "papers please" law for immigrants in Arizona.  

Society and the Church are not getting better when Gov. Jan Brewer signs a bill into law taking away Medicaid money from individuals in need of organ transplants.

Society and the Church are not doing better when Arizona is now considering an additional law that would require hospitals to check immigration status of patients who go through their emergency rooms.

Society and the Church are not doing better when Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin who is funded by the big dollars of the Koch Brothers, squanders Wisconsin's budget surplus and then proposes emergency legislation to take away the bargaining rights of public workers.

Society and the Church are not better off with Tea Party folks pushing racism and violence.

Society and the Church are not doing better when LGBTQ people are denied justice, inclusion and equality by individuals who use religion to abuse people who are different than themselves.

What Martin Luther realized and what we must know today is that society and the Church can be reformed when peaceful protesters act on behalf of the stigmatized. 

Reform and change are never easy.  They require us to get out of our comfortable and cozy couches and turn off the remote control.  Reform and change calls us to step outside of being liked and admired by those who do not share our opinions and passions.  We will make new enemies when we work for reform, even when we protest peacefully.

Most of the greatest peaceful protesters in history had their enemies. Many of them gave up their lives for the reform they were working for.  Martin Luther King, Jr. for example.  Harvey Milk.  St. Francis of Assisi.  St. Benedict. Jesus Christ himself was willing to give up his life for the change he practiced and believed.  Black Elk.  Enmagahbowh.  Cesar Chavez.  Stephen Biko.  Mohandas Gandhi.  Dietrich Bonjoeffer. Greg Mortenson. Sts. Sergius and Bacchus  Lily Ledbetter.  Bishop Gene Robinson.  Bishop Mary Glasspool.  Adele Starr.  Raymond Castro.  Rev. Irene Monroe.  Mother Jones.  David Kato.  All of these individuals and many more that I cannot name or list gave up the comforts of their reputation, prestige to be a peaceful protester and reformer for change in society and the Church.  Some of them are still with us today.  Others have passed from this life to the next.

Even today, especially today we are witnessing individuals who are willing to make peaceful protests and become reformers for change.  President Barack Obama for example.  President Obama is facing all of the horrible prejudice of the first African American President.  Despite his many challenges and foes, Obama is managing to keep working for the good of middle-class people.  He has achieved things for the LGBTQ community with as many victories as he has set backs. 

It was just announced today that President Obama has replaced the controversial "conscience" regulation for health care workers. 

President Obama has chosen to stand with the Union protesters in Wisconsin.

In Massachusetts, Gov. Deval Patrick has issued an executive order to protect transgender state workers.  

Progressive Christians and other people of good will can be peaceful protesters and reformers.  When we understand that our work is part of God's work of love and liberation for those who are captive to oppression and suppression, and we go forth trusting in Jesus who is vine while we are the branches, there is almost nothing we cannot do.  We can take our hurts and concerns for ourselves to God in prayer and graft ourselves in to Jesus and the Holy Spirit and believe that with God we can do amazing things for so many people. 

As we hear and respond to this Gospel and this commemoration from within our hearts, we can ask for that grace and peace that surpasses all understanding so that we can find our place in the work for justice, inclusion and equality for all people.

Not all of us can walk in that crowd of people in Madison.  Most of us will not nail a 95 theses to the door of our state capitol, cathedral or Archbishops office.  But each of us can do something to be an instrument of peaceful protest and be proactive in bringing about reform. 

I truly believe peaceful protest and reform is the work of LGBT Christians.  We have recognized that our faith as well as who we are is so important to our lives, that we have vowed to practice, celebrate and live that faith.   We have dedicated ourselves to our faith and life, in spite of those who still think we are dirty, sinful people.  We celebrate our moves forward and grieve our losses together.  We are uniting ourselves with all kinds of faith groups and cultural practices to show that different people can work together in solidarity with one another. 

As we continue on with our peaceful protesting and reforming, let us look to the lives of those who have gone before, as well as others who are still with us now for strength and courage.  May all of us reach out to God.  May we all understand that we are children of God, who are wonderfully made.  We are all God's beloved and with us, God is well-pleased.  Amen.


Prayers

O God, our refuge and our strength: You raised up your servant Martin Luther to reform and renew your Church in the light of your word. Defend and purify the Church in our own day and grant that, through faith, we may boldly proclaim the riches of your grace which you have made known in Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Collect for Martin Luther, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 231)

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Fridays, Book of Common Prayer, page 99).

Holy God, we remember before you those who suffer from want and anxiety from lack of work.  Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable employment, and receive a just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unemployed, Book of Common Prayer, page 824).

Look with pity, O Holy One, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, page 826).