Sunday, December 4, 2011

There are really two separate emphases or points being made in the readings, this weekend. As you can see from the bulletin scripture blurb I do, the first reading is about "gathering" the broken and the alienated and bringing them home. "Ingathering" is a major biblical theme. So often the people of Israel found themselves enslaved somewhere—Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Syria, Rome, and since the Roman conquest shortly after the time of Christ until 1948, when the modern State of Israel was established by the UN, Jews had wandered the globe, running from one persecution after another—chased through Russia, through Poland and Eastern Europe, forced out of Spain by Ferdinand and Isabella, and on the run everywhere, finally to be nearly obliterated in the ovens of Auschwitz. There remain only 8 million people of what was once one-tenth of the Roman Empire. What I want to say is that "sca ttering, fleeing, and persecution" have always been a part of the "Jewish story." Jewish comedians make jokes about it as a way to survive it—Jokes like: There are all sorts of famous Jewish violinists, flautists, conductors, but why aren't there many famous Jewish pianists or organists? Answer: It's hard to carry a piano on your back!" There's a veiled sadness in the humor—a recognition that no place is really safe, for no place is "home." Home is where safety is, or it should be. And the Bible is, in many ways, a long song of longing for home. The first reading sees the INGATHERING of the exiled as God's OWN holy action in the world.

Now, we are not Jews. The history of Israel is not our own history. But, in a sense, it IS archetypical. In other words, in some way, it is EVERYONE'S history, too. Think about how much of our life's energy is spent on "finding safety," – a job that's "safe" –where we aren't underpaid while overworked, where we aren't under constant threat of being let go, a job that gives us a sense of security and provides for our needs. We spend so much time worrying about our money—and will it be enough to make all the payments I have and save some for my old age, and will I ever have enough for old age?!? And, think of how much time we spend trying to be in a place of safety and security regarding our health—I don't know about you, but after 55, all sorts of medical issues just seemed to worm their way into my life, and all of a sudden, I have 15 doctors and dentists names in my address book. I remember when in was one doctor and one dentist! And think about how much energy we expend in having a home—even if it's not a free-standing house, but an apartment! We want a place that's not too dangerous, that is friendly to our kids, that allows us to be among friends, so we don't have to worry we'll be robbed each night. And "safe schools" for our kids is always a major concern—a school that actually educates! A school that isn't drug-ridden! A school that has enough activities to protect kids from gang-influence! All of a sudden, we see how we, too, like Israel of old, are always "on the run" looking for safety in a precarious world.

Isaiah's message says that this "fleeing" and the "finding of safety" are holy tasks. That God is found in them. It is God Who guides us to safety, for only HE can secure a life. That's a wonderful Advent message, for the Advent focus is on the coming of God in the form of Christ into a violent, ugly world that only valued material things, and chose to see "safety" and "security" only in what could be put in the bank. God entered that world, endured its suffering, died under its weight, all to Give us "the path" to a security that is beyond what this world can really offer. AND, the "security," the "safety" of the Christ, when lived, often leads to greater safety in this world, too. Why? Because potential enemies are made into friends.

The Gospel reading is about how to live "after" the Ingathering—how to live in spiritual security—how to make the potential enemy into friends. It's message comes from the words used by the prophet in the first reading, but it shifts the focus from ingathering to  "make straight the path." In other words, "put this 'path' into practice every day!" John the Baptist, the odd fellow from the desert (the desert is "the quintessential symbol" for a LACK of safety) had a message for the "folk from Jerusalem," (Jerusalem is "the quintessential symbol" for safety and security). He's saying if you want "security" to really stay with you: Repent of your materialistic, avaricious, and vicious ways, and learn the path of Torah, the path of peace.

And, of course, Christ chose to inaugurate His mission to humanity in the peaceful waters of John's baptism—which is why the reading focuses on John's statement, "'one is coming after me", in other words,  He is the One you should heed! Thus, the reading is the perfect reading to focus us on the meaning of Christmas. Christmas will celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace into a violent world. The violence of the world is there because our human focus is so often on "stuff"—toys, the house, the car,  the dog, the drapes, the basement full of rifles! We so rarely focus on the intangibles of life—meaning, purpose, love, commitment. The first focus—the focus on material things—will always lead to violence; the other focus, the focus on inner meaning, purpose in life, love, connection, commitmen t will always lead us to God and to peace. The Christ came to show us what life's focus ought to be.

So, isn't it interesting that to celebrate the "focus on the spiritual," which His life taught, we celebrate His birth with the most "material-consumer-driven" holiday of the year! It just points out how hard it is to keep the focus Christ wants—even when we love Him and want to serve Him!

So, in this coming week, as we begin the inevitable gift purchases that accompany this season, let's let our focus be on what will be spiritually helpful for our world, including those we are buying our gifts for. There is a way to do gift giving that isn't about 'money' and isn't about 'making ourselves look good,' but about truly loving another person—instead of saying, "O Lord, we have to get something for Aunt Fanny, let's get her a bauble from Bon Marché, you can take a moment to think of the "person" Aunt Fanny has been all her life—interests she's had, goals she's achieved—and spend the time to pick something that will be meaningful for her—then, it doesn't have to be expensive to impress—your "consideration" will have taken care of that! Remember, as the followers of Christ, and focusers on "the healing spirit of God", we want to use our lives and o ur time to become benedictions of goodness and peace. May we all become benedictions of goodness for someone this week. And may God bless you all. +