Preparing in anticipation of ‘Christmas’, or Christ?

Some notes this week to guide preaching and discussions  about the first of Advent.

Advent videos to consider (for comparison -n- contrast):

1. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church re: 2012 Advent

2. "Advent in 2 minutes" from bustedhalo.com (a ministry of Paulist Fathers)

OPENING PRAYER:  “God of unveiled truth, faithful flame in times of darkened sun and waning moon: lift up our unknowing hearts, and waken our sleeping love to announce the coming dawn of unexpected peace; through Jesus Christ, the one who is to come. Amen.”
(from Prayers for an Inclusive Churchby Steven Shakespeare)

CONTEXT:

• Rush/hurry, pointed toward Christmas; but are we oriented toward Christ
• We’re reminded in the media of the countdown… we don’t want to miss out?
• Countdown to what?  What do we not want to miss… really?

• “Advent” (Latin “adventus” = coming; Greek “parousia” = 2^nd coming)
• Coming of Christ our King to reign in glory
• 1000 years ago / Middle Ages – still literal 2^nd coming expectation
• More traditionally a time of restraint, preparation, and penitence
• Coming of Christ to dwell in our hearts
• Contemporary focus on anticipation of the birth of Jesus (Dec 25)
• 9mos after March 25 (date of crucifixion… and conception?; ref: 14^th day of Nisan equivalent in Roman calendar)
• 4^th C. references (perhaps Roman and Germanic/Norse winter solstice fesitvals) (Roman) Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) – celebrated on Dec 25; Yule – darkest day of the year (ref: Odin / Thor’s father)


• Similar kairos time as Lent – reflection and preparation
• We’re look back at a beginning, but we’re looking forward to [imminent] future
• “already/not yet… Already Jesus has established the means through which we are drawn into relationship with God, but not yet do we live in complete communication with God.  Already the realm of God is evident, but not yet is that realm fully established” (Martin B. Copenhaver, Sr. Pastor, Wellesley Congregational Church, Wellesley, MA)
• Color is hue of blue, representing hopefulness (and sometimes associated with Mary)


• Arch of the messages of these four Sundays leading us to Christmas
• [Mark] there will be a 2^nd coming; don’t know when; remain awake & prepared
• [Mark] Repentance and preparation (John the Baptist)
• [year B / John] John the Baptist explains that he’s preparing for the Messiah
• [year B / Luke] the Annunciation – the call-n-response of Mary re: conceiving


• God has been faithful, loving and generous towards his people, but his people have continually turned-away and neglected the relationship
• In God’s apparent absence, we struggle and suffer and seek God to return to help (like a child crying on a playground, having lost perspective of parent, now in need)
• Creator God lovingly humbles himself and is born among us in a feeding trough (manger) on a cold dark night to rural folk
• Comes to meet us in a blessed mess (‘holy’ but probably not very ‘silent’ night)
• Expectant, but not passive waiting (ref: pregnancy and plants during winter)
• Nothing will ever be the same after this in-breaking / birth / bridge is established

LESSONS for Advent 1 - Year B:

Isaiah 64:1-9

• God has been faithful, his people have not.
• In the midst of unfaithfulness and problems, a longing for God to return
• Has God forgotten them (us)?  If he would just show his face to them again, they might believe anew.
• The prophet prays for God to come again to/among the people, but also fears what this might bring (harsh judgment vs. merciful justice)
• “tear open the heavens and come down“ (break through the distance between God and creation)
• a preamble, if you will, to our understanding of God’s coming again as Jesus

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

• another prayer of longing/yearning that God, the shepherd of Israel, will not send divine anger, but help for restoration
• 16 Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, * the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
• 17 And so will we never turn away from you; * give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
• 18 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

• this is an excerpt from a letter in which Paul is pretty critical of the church in Corinth – divisions and controversies, perhaps rooted in their misuse of spiritual gifts (their gifts of “speech and knowledge” that he acknowledges in our reading this morning)
• he is reassuring them that God is faithfully with them in their waiting for Christ’s return
• he’s telling them that in the meantime, they need to return to the wellspring of their gifts for direction and reconciliation

Mark 13:24-37

• we’ve switched from Matthew to Mark
• earlier writing; Gentile audience; ‘messianic secret’ veiled/unrecognized
• like our recent readings in Matthew, near the end of the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry (between his teachings in chapters 12 and his passion in chapters 14-16)
• Jesus speaks to them about signs, lessons, and warnings (cosmic disruptions, false prophets, emergence of hope, impending persecution)
• He will come to them again an unknown time (perhaps very soon) and will gather his elect
• Apocalyptic images drawn from Isaiah (13:10, 34:4), Joel (2:10, 3:4, 4:15), Ezekiel (32:7-8), and Daniel (7:13) in which the Son of Man comes back through the clouds after trials and persecution
• remain awake, alert, and vigilant in your watch
• apostolic mission
• even nature itself will be transformed at the end of this age (ref: fig tree, an example of which elsewhere is condemned by Jesus for not bearing it’s fruit appropriate)

SOME CLOSING REFLECTIONS:

• amid the commercial crush, the bright noisy stories, the rush and stress...
• where is God?  What are we really preparing for?
• When you see the lights and the crèches, take a moment to really stop and go deeper with God this season.  There’s a tiny little light penetrating the dark.  Something profound has found us in our mess – amid a smelly, cramped feeding trough and a couple of country folk whose lives are about to be turned upside down
• Expectant, but not passive waiting (ref: pregnancy and plants during winter)

• Season of new beginnings
• Take the time to consider the bigger picture
• Reflect on who we really are and what we really yearn for 

• Repentence
• Hebrew = to return, to feel regret/sorrow
• Greek = metanoia = after/larger mind; after thought, bigger perspective
• Change course /  set new direction
• Prepare for new life in / with / through Christ 

• While we’re taking these actions, let us not forget…
• God seeks us even more (and more often) that we seek God
• God comes to us as both as a dependent child and a prince of peace
• God remains with us through the Spirit of a prophetic messiah
• God comes to us / is with us / now and forever

BLESSING:  “May the God who brings heaven close to earth give truth to our judgment and flame [light] to our longing that our hearts might be read to be born again in love; and the blessing of God…” (from Prayersfor an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare)