The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" 5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. 12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever." 15 Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." He said, "Here I am." 17 Eli said, "What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, "It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him." 19 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD. (1 Samuel 3 NRSV)
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1 NRSV)
“CALLED AWAY”
Communication has changed. There is a two-day workshop I’m hoping to attend soon and registered for it. I got confirmation for the event. They sent GPS coordinates. It will be at N 43 56.016' W 089 34.507'. Those are precise. Remember when they used to send a map? Those funny little pieces of paper with lines? Directions? Those words which tell you where to go? On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, I remember stopping once, years ago, and asking for directions on the way to preach in Henrytown. I asked an Amish man. He was very nice but not that helpful. He said I should turn at the old Miller place. I didn’t know where the Millers live now, let alone where they used to live. Other forms of communication have changed as well. A few months ago I was watching a “Columbo” episode. Remember him? He was the detective, played by Peter Falk, who kept coming back to ask questions (“Just one more thing.”) until he caught the murderer? Well, in this one, he stopped at a pay phone and called the precinct, saying that he was not able to get to the phone until then. “Not able to get to a phone.” It almost sounds quaint. Most people now are never away from a phone, as they carry theirs with them at all times.
There are many changes, many genuine improvements. I remember party lines, and when phones were on the wall and only came in black, and when you had to rent the phone from the phone company, and when there was only one phone company. What were they telling us, “Reach out and touch someone?” Now there are so many ways to communicate it is almost baffling. We do not even need to talk on the phone; people can send pictures, even send words, across the miles. Communication has changed much over the years. Even how much we talk has changed.
The passages from Scripture for this morning are about God calling. God does not always use the phone. The first is the familiar story of Samuel. Since he was a gift from God to parents who were childless for a long time, his parents, Elkanah and Hannah, gave the boy to God in service at the Temple. Samuel was in the Temple and heard someone call his name. He assumed it was the old priest Eli and he went and asked him what he wanted. He had not called him. Then it happened again and again, and, no, Eli still had not called him. Eli finally figures out that the voice that is calling Samuel might be the Lord’s and instructs him how to answer. The voice calls again and Samuel answers, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And he becomes God’s prophet as God tells him the word that he is tell others for God.
The Gospel reading is of how some of the first of Jesus’ disciples were called. Jesus told Philip to follow him and when Philip saw Nathanael, he told him that they found the Messiah, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Nathanael has doubts. He figures the Messiah should come from a place with a better reputation. He is not impressed by Nazareth. When Jesus meets him he already knows him. He knows that he is outspoken and knows that Philip spoke to him. He is impressed by this, but Jesus tells him that this is nothing. He will see greater things than this. He might even see heaven opened and angels coming and going.
Both of these incidents give us a picture of how God calls people to service. What they have in common is that they heard God’s voice and obeyed. God starts all this. Also, their service included giving others the message they have received from God. And their messages will do tremendous things. Samuel will give a message that will make all the ears in Israel tingle. Also the disciples of Jesus will see things they have never seen before, will see heaven come to earth. And God knows both Samuel and Nathanael. This message is to them. Both Samuel and the disciples would be speaking for God, sharing the good news of the gospel. This call will change the direction of their lives. God begins by giving it to us. It is God’s plan that we share it, like Philip shared it with Nathanael.
While how we have communicated has changed over the years, we still do it for many of the reasons people long ago did. It still needs to help us in some way. Much of it is routine, sometimes important, sometimes not, Where are you, pick up this or that from the store, when should we be there? How do I get there? What should I do? My grandmother didn’t talk on the phone if it was long distance. I don’t know if she thought it was special, or expensive, or associated it with bad news. But it is how we get news, especially news from far away, and it is someone telling us something.
Phyllis Hobe talks about a dilemma she encountered when a florist mistakenly delivered five azalea plants. She wanted to keep them, but reluctantly she set about the task of figuring out how to share them. A friend suggested that she share them with a local nursing home. When she brought them in she found that some of the residents wanted to plant them in the courtyard and take care of them. She also found joy in sharing. It is God’s plan that we share the goodness we have found, or the goodness that has found us, with others.
There is something, for me, that texting, sending words over the phone, will never replace, as important as that can be at times. It is the voice. Behind the voice is a person. Behind the text is a person, of course, but it is so much clearer with a voice. Samuel and the disciples were called by a person, God, not an organization or a set of principles or rules, or sense of duty. They began their ministry because God wanted them to do something. This is not impersonal; this is deeply personal. It is that God who created us wants to continue to guide and shape our lives. It is not that we just want to hear about Jesus; it is that we want Jesus to know us. It is that God wants to touch us, and we want to touch God, as Mary Lou Carney was babysitting for three-year-old Michael, the son of a neighbor. He sat in her lap, reading a Christmas picture book together. He asked her if she could find the baby Jesus. She nodded. Then he asked the question more loudly. She said “Yes.” He grabbed her index finger in his little hand and put it down on the picture of Jesus in the manger. “See,” he said, making me actually touch the tiny likeness of the baby Jesus. “You found Him.”
Much has changed in our world, including how we communicate with others. But God still calls women and men to serve God. That has not changed. God still has a message for the world. It is that the Savior of the world has come. That has not changed. It is that God knows us and cares for each of us deeply. The calling is to share that message. That calling started the disciples into a ministry which changed the world. It is a calling which will change our lives. Amen.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Baptism of the Lord
1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1 NRSV)
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1 NRSV)
“CREATING A FAMILY”
Among my friends are some younger folks who have recently started families. When I have been in contact with them, they often have stories of the things their children have done and said. Some are touching and some are hilarious. One friend and his wife had a son and then they adopted a girl from a part of the world the offers little to orphaned children. It is a brave thing to bring children into the world. It is also very brave to make children who need parents your own. The song by John McCutcheon, “Happy Adoption Day”, captures some of this feeling:
No matter the name and no matter the age
No matter how you came to be
No matter the skin, we are all of us kin
We are all of us one family.
Adoption, like birth, makes real families. Adoption makes real families with all their quirks and joy, struggles and love. Adoption sets lives on a new path.
The reading from Genesis is of the beginning of creation. God spoke and the world came into being, starting with light. It is how everything starts, is placed into motion, including eventually, our lives. Present at this was the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. The Spirit is the agent behind creation. The light was good and that ended the first day. It is the birth of the world.
That same spirit was present at Jesus’ baptism. It, too, is a beginning. It is the first thing in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus does. And it is unusual. He goes out to John’s baptism which called people to repent from their sins. Only Jesus has not sinned. He does not need to repent, we do. John said that the one was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit, and now he is here, only first he stops to be baptized. This is not because he needs it, but to show us something. He receives what we need. It is a way of saying that Jesus, the Son of God, became human and lived as we do. And something happens that points out what baptism is about. The Spirit descends on Jesus and a voice proclaims that he is God’s beloved Son. Once he hears those words, then his ministry can begin. Whatever else happens, he can begin with these words.
We also see something from this event. We join Jesus in God’s family in baptism. We receive the Spirit in the waters of the sacrament. We are adopted into God’s family. Jesus is the Son of God; we become God’s children by adoption. We become like him. We can hear those words about us when God claims us, by God’s promise and Spirit in the sacrament. God makes us into a family in which each person is special, loved, and finds what he or she needs.
Scott Walker is a pastor in Texas who tells this story of what it means to be in a family. He mentioned a young man who was not athletic enough to play football so went out for the marching band where he played the trombone. It was his way of supporting the team. His parents supported the son. They never missed a single football game when he marched with the band or a band concert, either. They parents, it turns out, are deaf from birth. The young man concludes: They’ve never heard my voice. They’ve never heard a single note from my trombone. But they’ve always been there for me.” We become part of a family in which we are valued.
We not only become part of a loving family, we hear words spoken about us, over us. Those words can inspire us. Those words draw us together.
Those words from heaven are important because they tell us who we are: We belong to God and to each other. We are a family, when things go well or when they don’t go well. We are on the journey, like any family, together. In all the circumstances of our lives we remember the words.
Jesus was baptized to show us that he is with us in our lives. And we are baptized to share in the life that he has. We can hear God’s words to him as words to us because we share that life. It creates a family. May this blessing, the Prayer of St. Teresa, remain with you as you continue to find your place in God’s family:
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. Amen.
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1 NRSV)
“CREATING A FAMILY”
Among my friends are some younger folks who have recently started families. When I have been in contact with them, they often have stories of the things their children have done and said. Some are touching and some are hilarious. One friend and his wife had a son and then they adopted a girl from a part of the world the offers little to orphaned children. It is a brave thing to bring children into the world. It is also very brave to make children who need parents your own. The song by John McCutcheon, “Happy Adoption Day”, captures some of this feeling:
No matter the name and no matter the age
No matter how you came to be
No matter the skin, we are all of us kin
We are all of us one family.
Adoption, like birth, makes real families. Adoption makes real families with all their quirks and joy, struggles and love. Adoption sets lives on a new path.
The reading from Genesis is of the beginning of creation. God spoke and the world came into being, starting with light. It is how everything starts, is placed into motion, including eventually, our lives. Present at this was the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. The Spirit is the agent behind creation. The light was good and that ended the first day. It is the birth of the world.
That same spirit was present at Jesus’ baptism. It, too, is a beginning. It is the first thing in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus does. And it is unusual. He goes out to John’s baptism which called people to repent from their sins. Only Jesus has not sinned. He does not need to repent, we do. John said that the one was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit, and now he is here, only first he stops to be baptized. This is not because he needs it, but to show us something. He receives what we need. It is a way of saying that Jesus, the Son of God, became human and lived as we do. And something happens that points out what baptism is about. The Spirit descends on Jesus and a voice proclaims that he is God’s beloved Son. Once he hears those words, then his ministry can begin. Whatever else happens, he can begin with these words.
We also see something from this event. We join Jesus in God’s family in baptism. We receive the Spirit in the waters of the sacrament. We are adopted into God’s family. Jesus is the Son of God; we become God’s children by adoption. We become like him. We can hear those words about us when God claims us, by God’s promise and Spirit in the sacrament. God makes us into a family in which each person is special, loved, and finds what he or she needs.
Scott Walker is a pastor in Texas who tells this story of what it means to be in a family. He mentioned a young man who was not athletic enough to play football so went out for the marching band where he played the trombone. It was his way of supporting the team. His parents supported the son. They never missed a single football game when he marched with the band or a band concert, either. They parents, it turns out, are deaf from birth. The young man concludes: They’ve never heard my voice. They’ve never heard a single note from my trombone. But they’ve always been there for me.” We become part of a family in which we are valued.
We not only become part of a loving family, we hear words spoken about us, over us. Those words can inspire us. Those words draw us together.
Those words from heaven are important because they tell us who we are: We belong to God and to each other. We are a family, when things go well or when they don’t go well. We are on the journey, like any family, together. In all the circumstances of our lives we remember the words.
Jesus was baptized to show us that he is with us in our lives. And we are baptized to share in the life that he has. We can hear God’s words to him as words to us because we share that life. It creates a family. May this blessing, the Prayer of St. Teresa, remain with you as you continue to find your place in God’s family:
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. Amen.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
First Sunday after Christmas, Year B
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. ( Isaiah 61, NRSV)
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too." 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2 NRSV)
“LOOKING THE PART”
There are certain things about Christmas that look right or not. The ground without snow on Christmas Eve this year just didn’t look right to some of us. The TV commercial the other week with Santa in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts just doesn’t look right. We expect Santa to look a certain way. Imagine the three kings without their crowns. Those who have a certain role in things need to look like what they are supposed to be. We might say that they need to “look the part”. It helps when our doctors look like they are living healthy lifestyles. Especially when it comes time for them to give us advice. I ran across an interesting illustration of this. A young man in the funeral home business was doing relatively well but did much better one year. His secret? Because people tend to see distinguished public figures as more trustworthy, he added some gray to his hair with hair coloring. Artificially, he made himself look more like a funeral director.
The reading from the prophet Isaiah tells us about the appropriate clothing and appearance for redemption, which is also fitting for the Christmas season. It is in the garments of salvation. It is joyous, like the attire for a wedding. It is a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord. All this is the righteousness the Lord is causing to spring up, like green shoots from the ground.
The Gospel reading is of the time the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple to be presented. The firstborn male was considered to belong to God, but could be “bought back”, so to speak, with an offering. Joseph and Mary were there to make that offering. A man at the Temple saw Jesus and proclaimed that he could now depart this life in peace for he had seen the Messiah. How could he have seen that? What did Jesus look like? Only the Holy Spirit could have told him. Seeing Jesus took the eyes of faith and he said that once he had seen him he had seen the salvation prepared for the nations. And there was a woman, a prophet, named Anna. And when she saw Jesus, she, too, saw how God was bringing salvation to the world in him. What most people saw was a baby, but what these people saw was God’s representative on earth, sent to show God’s love and bring salvation.
As we begin this new year, we look forward with hope. We also think about the past one. This year has been one of numerous loud controversies. There have been ones about debt ceilings and candidates and unions and the new stadium for the Vikings, but one of the more unusual ones is about a football quarterback named Tim Tebow. He plays for the Denver Broncos and has led the team to a year that was beyond all expectations. A few people were even calling it miraculous for a while. He is noted for often dropping to one knee to pray during games. This has caused controversy among those who think it is too flashy or too religious. The critics do not discourage him. By all accounts, though, Tebow is a nice guy, sincere in his faith. He has helped his father with missionary work and, in an era of professional athletes constantly in the news for trouble with the law and vulgarity, Tebow behaves with decency and modesty and integrity. What he professes, he lives. He wants to share with others how important his faith is to him. He is not silent about it. I do not doubt that he has a sincere faith. To many he is the picture of faith. One concern I have is whether people can see the faith. Many can see his actions, even imitate his actions, the outward visible behavior, but there is more to life than that. Faith is also an inner quality. That is the reason for Tebow’s actions. It is both, not just the outward appearance. Do those who imitate him also share his faith? Another concern is that much of the excitement is focused on football. Maybe the role of faith is bigger than sports. Faith has to do with all of life. It is not a game.
What does faith look like? It looks the part. It lives according to the values it claims. Faith, like that of Anna and Simeon, looks at signs of good things to come. It brings confidence to those who have it. It sees what God is doing around us. It looks like hope, which we consider at the start of this new year. We do not know how it will turn out, whether it will be a great one or a disastrous one. Elizabeth Sherrill tells the story of when her grandmother gave her a set of linen towels with tiny seahorses embroidered on them for her “hope chest”. She did not know what that meant and asked her what one was. For her grandmother hers was a source of hope in rural South Dakota as she was growing up. She could look into it when the land was covered with snow or afflicted by drought. It spoke to her of a better day to come. Elizabeth never had one like that for furnishing a house but wants one for furnishing the soul, making hope something inside us, instead of inside a trunk in an attic, to give hope in moments when we need it the most. Faith is a way of seeing life. It is one that looks at the gifts God has given us and considers how they can enrich our lives. It looks forward to God being present with us in the future, whatever that future holds. It looks beyond what is superficial.
Faith also perseveres. It continues on against difficulty. It is not accidental but is a deliberate way of life. It is not only when our team is winning or things are going our way, but is present in all of life’s conditions. Fay Angus tells how she saw this one day while serving as a volunteer at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. She was serving hot chocolate and doughnuts to some of the many high-schoolers from all over the country who participate in the parade in their marching bands. One of the great fears of the parade organizers is rain. As drizzle started she asked one young man from Alabama what he would do if it started to rain. He answered that he would get wet and keep on marching. It was a lesson to her on how to live when our plans do not always go the way we want them to.
What does faith look like? It looks like a baby if that baby is Christ. He brings hope of salvation and joy. Salvation and joy that we can wrap ourselves in. That tells us that God is with us. Faith looks like hope, confidence in God’s goodness and plan for us. It looks like perseverance, watching until it comes. It has deep roots that will sustain us in the new year and will keep us moving forward. As we go into the new year, let us do so with hope. Let it be around us like our clothing. So we can pray Marie Barton’s prayer:
While bells are ringing midnight-clear,
Three gifts I ask for this New Year:
Faith is the pilgrim staff I crave
To keep me strong, to keep me brave.
Hope is the candle’s pinpoint star
To lead me on the path afar.
Love is the mantle I would wear—
Heart-warming garments lined with prayer.
Father God, with these priceless three
Enrich the days Thou sendest me!
Amen.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. ( Isaiah 61, NRSV)
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too." 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2 NRSV)
“LOOKING THE PART”
There are certain things about Christmas that look right or not. The ground without snow on Christmas Eve this year just didn’t look right to some of us. The TV commercial the other week with Santa in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts just doesn’t look right. We expect Santa to look a certain way. Imagine the three kings without their crowns. Those who have a certain role in things need to look like what they are supposed to be. We might say that they need to “look the part”. It helps when our doctors look like they are living healthy lifestyles. Especially when it comes time for them to give us advice. I ran across an interesting illustration of this. A young man in the funeral home business was doing relatively well but did much better one year. His secret? Because people tend to see distinguished public figures as more trustworthy, he added some gray to his hair with hair coloring. Artificially, he made himself look more like a funeral director.
The reading from the prophet Isaiah tells us about the appropriate clothing and appearance for redemption, which is also fitting for the Christmas season. It is in the garments of salvation. It is joyous, like the attire for a wedding. It is a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord. All this is the righteousness the Lord is causing to spring up, like green shoots from the ground.
The Gospel reading is of the time the infant Jesus was brought to the Temple to be presented. The firstborn male was considered to belong to God, but could be “bought back”, so to speak, with an offering. Joseph and Mary were there to make that offering. A man at the Temple saw Jesus and proclaimed that he could now depart this life in peace for he had seen the Messiah. How could he have seen that? What did Jesus look like? Only the Holy Spirit could have told him. Seeing Jesus took the eyes of faith and he said that once he had seen him he had seen the salvation prepared for the nations. And there was a woman, a prophet, named Anna. And when she saw Jesus, she, too, saw how God was bringing salvation to the world in him. What most people saw was a baby, but what these people saw was God’s representative on earth, sent to show God’s love and bring salvation.
As we begin this new year, we look forward with hope. We also think about the past one. This year has been one of numerous loud controversies. There have been ones about debt ceilings and candidates and unions and the new stadium for the Vikings, but one of the more unusual ones is about a football quarterback named Tim Tebow. He plays for the Denver Broncos and has led the team to a year that was beyond all expectations. A few people were even calling it miraculous for a while. He is noted for often dropping to one knee to pray during games. This has caused controversy among those who think it is too flashy or too religious. The critics do not discourage him. By all accounts, though, Tebow is a nice guy, sincere in his faith. He has helped his father with missionary work and, in an era of professional athletes constantly in the news for trouble with the law and vulgarity, Tebow behaves with decency and modesty and integrity. What he professes, he lives. He wants to share with others how important his faith is to him. He is not silent about it. I do not doubt that he has a sincere faith. To many he is the picture of faith. One concern I have is whether people can see the faith. Many can see his actions, even imitate his actions, the outward visible behavior, but there is more to life than that. Faith is also an inner quality. That is the reason for Tebow’s actions. It is both, not just the outward appearance. Do those who imitate him also share his faith? Another concern is that much of the excitement is focused on football. Maybe the role of faith is bigger than sports. Faith has to do with all of life. It is not a game.
What does faith look like? It looks the part. It lives according to the values it claims. Faith, like that of Anna and Simeon, looks at signs of good things to come. It brings confidence to those who have it. It sees what God is doing around us. It looks like hope, which we consider at the start of this new year. We do not know how it will turn out, whether it will be a great one or a disastrous one. Elizabeth Sherrill tells the story of when her grandmother gave her a set of linen towels with tiny seahorses embroidered on them for her “hope chest”. She did not know what that meant and asked her what one was. For her grandmother hers was a source of hope in rural South Dakota as she was growing up. She could look into it when the land was covered with snow or afflicted by drought. It spoke to her of a better day to come. Elizabeth never had one like that for furnishing a house but wants one for furnishing the soul, making hope something inside us, instead of inside a trunk in an attic, to give hope in moments when we need it the most. Faith is a way of seeing life. It is one that looks at the gifts God has given us and considers how they can enrich our lives. It looks forward to God being present with us in the future, whatever that future holds. It looks beyond what is superficial.
Faith also perseveres. It continues on against difficulty. It is not accidental but is a deliberate way of life. It is not only when our team is winning or things are going our way, but is present in all of life’s conditions. Fay Angus tells how she saw this one day while serving as a volunteer at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. She was serving hot chocolate and doughnuts to some of the many high-schoolers from all over the country who participate in the parade in their marching bands. One of the great fears of the parade organizers is rain. As drizzle started she asked one young man from Alabama what he would do if it started to rain. He answered that he would get wet and keep on marching. It was a lesson to her on how to live when our plans do not always go the way we want them to.
What does faith look like? It looks like a baby if that baby is Christ. He brings hope of salvation and joy. Salvation and joy that we can wrap ourselves in. That tells us that God is with us. Faith looks like hope, confidence in God’s goodness and plan for us. It looks like perseverance, watching until it comes. It has deep roots that will sustain us in the new year and will keep us moving forward. As we go into the new year, let us do so with hope. Let it be around us like our clothing. So we can pray Marie Barton’s prayer:
While bells are ringing midnight-clear,
Three gifts I ask for this New Year:
Faith is the pilgrim staff I crave
To keep me strong, to keep me brave.
Hope is the candle’s pinpoint star
To lead me on the path afar.
Love is the mantle I would wear—
Heart-warming garments lined with prayer.
Father God, with these priceless three
Enrich the days Thou sendest me!
Amen.
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