Advent 1A – 2010

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today is the First Sunday of Advent; and to begin my homily this morning, I would like to read a little poem that I wrote several years ago, in which I try to capture the essence of what this Advent Season and particularly this First Sunday of Advent are all about… it is entitled, “The Visit”

The Visit

Oh NO! Oh Dear!

It’s my greatest fear…

The house is a mess,

and the Preacher is here!

Just look at this place,

it’s a total wreck!

I wished he had called first…

I could just his neck!

No time for that now,

I’ve got to clean up,

Put on some clothes,

and pick up that junk!

Turn off that TV,

and clean up that trash;

Quick! Close the closet!

What was that crash?

Oh no, oh dear,

he’s out of his car!

He’s walking this way,

and it’s not very far!

Now you kids stop your fighting

and try to be nice,

Put on some coffee,

and break out some ice.

Hope he likes cookies,

‘cause that all I’ve got,

Quick, pull up the rug

to cover that spot.

Now, where in the world

could my Bible be?

It’ll have to be out

for the Preacher to see.

Oh no, oh dear,

he’s ringing the bell!

I’m just not ready,

and I’m hotter than … oh well.

Open a window!

No! Turn on the air,

Turn the lights on,

and find him chair!

Now, put on a smile,

and try to look calm,

Button my blouse…

wipe the sweat from my palm.

“Won’t you come in

to our humble domain,

I’m so happy to see you,

I’m so glad that you came.”

Whew, sure glad that’s over,

and he didn’t stay long;

I thought for a moment

he would sing us a song.

But he’s gone, and we’re none-

the-worse for the wear,

Now back to the business

of fixing my hair.

I wonder if that’s how

it will be on that day,

When Jesus comes back

to take us away?

How will he find us?

Will we be ready to go?

Or will our lives be a mess,

and He’ll have to say “NO!”

(Mark W. Leavell – Copyright 2001, All Rights Reserved)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Advent is probably the most enigmatic and anachronistic of all the Church Seasons. I say that because most of the folks in our society are ready to begin celebrating Christmas. Stores are packed, Folks already have their Christmas tree up, all the lights are up, and we see Santa Claus everywhere! As I said in my homily on Thanksgiving, the stores have been ready for us to buy our Christmas starting well before Halloween. By the time we get to Advent and to this Sunday, many folks come to Church with the expectation of singing Christmas carols… because, after all, we’re already hearing them in the stores and on the radio.

Then they come to Church, especially here at All Saints, and instead of Christmas Music, suddenly, they hear the words of the introit – “Watch ye, for ye do not know when the Master of the house cometh; at even, or at midnight, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping!”

And with that sudden and stern announcement to begin the Mass, folks are a startled and a little confused – they scurry to their seats, and suddenly get quiet because some were caught unaware that it was time to begin the Mass. Then, instead of “Away in the Manger” they get “Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending!” and instead of “Joy to the World” they get “The Lord Will Come!”, and instead of nice warm and fuzzy, make you feel-good Christmassy sermon, you get a solemn warning to cast off the works of darkness; you get words from the law; and a you get a severe warning about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ – No mangers, no angels, no wise men – not even a single shepherd!

And this lack of Christmas during Advent, and this focus on the Second Coming of Christ today makes folks a little uncomfortable and it shakes up their little world. But that is exactly what is supposed to happen! That’s because the world blindly and passively goes about its business of getting ready to celebrate Christmas - a holiday which for most has lost of its real significance and real connection to the events that we celebrate. Sure, we all want to see Santa Claus, and we all want to see Drummer Boys, and we all want to see Frosty and Rudolph; but how many of us really want to see Jesus? I don’t mean the Baby Jesus in the Manger… because he’s already done that gig! His next gig will be to come again, not as a baby in a manger, but as the great King of the Universe… not in poverty, but in majesty… not with Beatitudes but with Judgment. How many of us, and how many folks at Walmart this morning really want to see THAT Jesus… because, my friends, THAT is the next Jesus we will see!

And when He comes, it will be suddenly and without warning. The Gospel says, “…No one knows – not even the angels know – when He will come again.” And Jesus points out that it will be just like those ancient days just before the flood… when People were busy doing their own things without any regard for the warnings. They will be busy – just like us today – with their own lives, distracted by the all superficial and unimportant things – like our modern celebrations of Christmas. And when He comes, they will be startled and shaken and caught unaware and unprepared.

Many of us, as a society, and even as Christians, are more concerned with getting ready for Christmas than we are about getting ready to see this Jesus when he comes again. We ignore his laws; we are casual about his commandments; we are deaf to his call; we invent all kinds of excuses to justify ourselves; and we are sadly indifferent to his Sacrifice – which we observe each and every Sunday in the Eucharist.

We skip-out on Sunday School and Church; we do not read our Bibles or pray at home; we make excuses, and then we even make-up things and blame our indifference and lack of commitment to Christ and his Gospel on other people. And we are just too busy, just too tired, just too preoccupied with ourselves and all that we have to do – not only at this time of year as we prepare for Christmas – but sadly all year long. We go about our daily lives almost smug in the comfortable and self-deluded knowledge that “we’re already Christians”; to the extent that we take it all for granted and fail to see how even we – “the Christians” – will also stand before this same Jesus and will need to be ready, not with the sorry excuses we like to use with each other to justify ourselves, but we will need to be ready with the facts.

Not a very “Christmassy” thing to hear on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, is it?

But it is exactly the kind of thing we all us of need to hear from time to time to remind us that the whole purpose of Christmas was Easter – and the whole purpose of Easter was to get us ready for Judgment… to get us ready for what we are hearing today.

Jesus Christ – the Son of the Living God – came in human form, was born of the Virgin and placed in a manger – and everyone loves that! Then this same Jesus died on a Cross to save us from sin and from ourselves – and everyone loves that! We love Christmas and Easter – but only to the extent that it doesn’t require anything more of us than the casual observance and comfortable celebration. But my friends, this same Jesus who came at Christmas and died and rose again at Easter will come again as the one that each one of us will have to answer to… and hardly anyone loves that!

So in order to make the whole judgment thing work for us, and shift the focus a bit, we somehow have to dilute the significance and true meaning of Christmas and Easter. Sure, we say things like “keep Christ in Christmas” but we have also invented Santa Claus and Christmas Trees and Snowmen and Easter Bunnies and Baby Chicks…. Because if we can shift the focus of Christmas and Easter away from the central truth, then we can relegate Advent and the Second Coming of Christ to the scrap heap of our indifference. We can avoid the whole judgment thing, the whole commitment thing, the whole sacrifice and obedience thing because we make Christmas a warm and fuzzy Family Tradition, and we make Easter into a bright and sunny Spring festival. No God incarnate, no prophecies, no brutal sacrifices, no judgment, no responsibility, no change in attitudes or behaviors… only sunshine and flowers and lights and mistletoe and jingle bells and angels and babies lying in a manger.

And if we can just turn up the radio a bit, or even come to Church and sing Christmas carols, then we can completely avoid any of the true significance for WHY Jesus had to come at Christmas, WHY he had to die at Easter, and WHY we need to be ready. Yes… I agree with the idea of “Putting Christ back in Christmas” – but more importantly… we should be putting Christ back into Christian! If Christ is back in Christian, and Christ is the center of our lives, then we can live in wonderful anticipation and celebration of the events of Christmas and Easter 365 days a year! And in so doing, we will indeed be prepared for all that we hear during Advent!

And the message of Advent – particularly of this First Sunday of Advent is “Be Ready!” Cast off the works of darkness, walk in the light of Christ, put on the armor of light, obey the law of Love, and do the works of righteousness… awake from your slumber and indifference and distractions, and Watch… for we do know when He will come again. So watch and be ready… because just when you least expect it… Jesus will suddenly come again!

To make my point, let me re-phrase the opening words of that little poem I read at the start of my homily…

Oh NO! Oh Dear!

Its my greatest fear…

My life is a mess,

and JESUS is here!

Don’t be caught unprepared. Keep Christ in Christmas by keeping him as the center of your life… each and every day – all year long – and you’ll be ready.

A Thanksgiving Day Poem

By: Mark W. Leavell

Turkey and stuffing and gravy and peas;

Brussel sprouts, cranberries, yams and iced tea;

And pies for dessert –Both pumpkin and mince;

And we’ll eat so much, It will make us all wince.

Our family’s all here, and our friends are too;

And we’ll all settle back, for the game on the tube;

Then we’ll eat more turkey, or have some more pie;

And we’ll all be so stuffed,that we feel we may die.

Then we’ll sing the old songs by the fireplace bright,

And be happy that Thanksgiving turned out so right.

Then we’ll clean up the dishes, and put them away,

Until next time we need them, next Thanksgiving Day.

But just down the street, just a few blocks away;

The mood will be different on Thanksgiving Day;

He’s just lost his job, and the rent is past due,

The car needs repairs, and the light bill is due.

And mom’s doing her best with the little she’s got,

To make the day bright for the kids and the tots;

So instead of roast turkey, it will be turkey franks,

But they’ll still bow their heads, and give God the Thanks.

Cause despite this small feast of just hot dogs and beans,

At least they’re all healthy, and together it seems.

And work will turn up, and they’ll manage to get by,

They’re not quite sure how, But they know God will supply.

And so it’s Thanksgiving Day, celebrated two ways,

While one family feasts… the other one prays.

Just an unemployed father, and an overworked wife

Who give thanks to God for the blessings of life.

And we, who’ve been blessed with an abundance to spare,

Could all learn a lesson – Could take time to share;

And should we not stop to give thanks and to pray,

After all my dear friends… It’s Thanksgiving Day!

Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.

JUST SAY THE WORD

"Christ the King Sunday"

Proper 29C

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today is the last Sunday after Pentecost, and it is also the last Sunday of what is known as the Liturgical Church Year. It is historically known as Christ the King Sunday, or the Reign of Christ.

Throughout the year, starting in Advent last December and proceeding through today, we have taken a journey through the life of Christ. We started in Advent with the Old Testament prophecies concerning his birth; we celebrated his incarnation and birth at Christmas; we observed his baptism and manifestation to the world during Epiphany; we fasted and prayed during Lent as we contemplated his suffering and passion; then we rejoiced at his resurrection and victory over death at Easter. We observed the birth of His Church with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And during this season after Pentecost, commonly called Ordinary Time, we continued to look at his work in the world through the ministry of the Apostles and early Church fathers.

We listened to his sermons, read his teachings, and proclaimed the mystery of our faith… that Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

And today, we observe the last great event of this story concerning this Jesus… his exaltation as King of kings and Lord of Lords; and next Sunday, we will begin the cycle all over again as we start a new Church Year with the 1^st Sunday of Advent.

This Sunday is important, for it marks the end of the three-year cycle of lessons and psalms appointed for the Liturgical Church Year. Why is that important? Simply because, the cycle of lessons and psalms enable us to read almost the entire Bible in the course of 3 years. You may not have realized it, but throughout the course of the past 3 years, we as a congregation have read through most of the Bible together in worship; and one of the beauties of the Liturgy of the Mass is its heavy reliance on the Scriptures. We see this not only the in the three appointed lessons and psalm for each week, but in nearly everything we say and hear.

Most of the liturgy is directly quoted from the Holy Scriptures. This is important, and deliberate, since much of the liturgy we use, dates back thousands of years. It may be in modern English, but it remains very similar to the liturgy of the middle ages, to the liturgy used in those early days of the formation of the Church by the Apostles. They, and the other ancient Church Fathers, developed a formula for worship and celebration of the Eucharist which has been preserved and passed down to us today.

So you see, the real beauty of the Mass we celebrate is its focus is the Word of God…not the word of the preacher; and its power and energy come to us from its reliance on the work of God – as presented in the Sacraments – not the work of the preacher. The Liturgy, with all its colors, seasons, lessons, prayers, feasts, and fasts, enable us as the people of God to really experience God at a higher level…a deeper level… so that we may better understand our faith, and gain a deeper knowledge of Christ our Savior. Then with this knowledge and understanding, we may be empowered by the Word and Sacraments to live a life of faith and devotion, all in an environment free from the entertaining, emotional, pep-rally forms of worship which are so common today… and which surprisingly enough are beginning to show signs of wear and decline.

People are again returning to the liturgy because they want and need the mystery, the power, and the practicality that comes to us from the Mass. The Liturgy gives us a vehicle through which both young and old may build a true, strong, and enduring devotion to Christ… and an endearing, powerful, meaningful worship of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Just look at our Children. When new families come to us, they are naturally concerned about how their children will act and behave in Church. They worry about noise and crying and fidgeting and fussing. But instead of farming them off to a nursery or children’s church, where they never really see or participate in the Mass, here they are learning, and after a few weeks of consistent participation – both by parents and their kids, the Children begin to absorb the message of the Liturgy – which is the message of the Gospel; and begin to conduct themselves differently. They listen for the bell during the Canon of the Mass… they learn the responses when the Word of God is read. They watch and learn how to take the Blessed Sacrament; and in their own small, wonderful way, they are learning to worship and even love this Jesus. If kids can learn all kinds of things from watching TV at home – and that mostly alone, imagine how much more they can learn and internalize if from actually participating WITH the grown-ups in their lives at Church. So, if you have small children, please know this – they are more than welcome at All Saints. After all – Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Amen.

But despite our efforts to reach out and teach others, including Children about Jesus, and Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of Lords, not everyone understands that or embraces Christ as King. Not everyone embraces Jesus Christ as Lord. Not everyone understands the mystery of our faith – that Christ has died, Christ is risen, and that Christ will come again. Not everyone has experienced the life changing, soul saving, disciple-making, heaven-gaining, world changing power of God that comes through a personal relationship of Faith in Christ Jesus.

Many people roam the earth in search of God…. and they can’t find him. Many people who say they have experienced God no longer live in his power and peace. Many people go around wondering, “Where is God?”… and they ask the question… “If God is really God, then why doesn’t he do something about my situation?”

This is essentially the same question and the same frame of mind, that we see in today’s Gospel lesson. Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, came to earth, was born of the Virgin, lived a sinless and perfect life; and then gave that life in love as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. And in the Gospel, we see Jesus, having been beaten, spat upon, ridiculed, and reviled… now hanging in agony, on a Roman Cross. He hangs condemned… and his only crime… as listed on the placard placed above his suffering head, was that he was a King.

While hanging there, suffering, in pain and anguish, he endured the ridicule of the crowd, who laughed at his pain. They spat upon him. They threw rocks at him…and hit him with sticks… and hurled insult after insult at his bruised and battered head. They did not know who this Christ was… and even if they did, they refused to believe.

And there on either side of him, also hung on a two a criminal, each convicted of the capital crimes and sentenced to death… the same death on a cross. And one of those criminals, even while hanging in judgment begins to ridicule the Savior. And he asks the question – “If you are really the Christ… then why not save yourself and save us too.” He was looking for the easy out. He was looking for the easy solution. This thief, this common criminal, who received the justice of his day for his crimes, at the point of death still refuses to accept personal responsibility for his actions, and he is looking to Christ…not as his Savior…not as his King….not as God’s anointed Messiah… but as the one who can make all his trouble disappear…. Who could rescue him and reduce his suffering… that is of course, if he is really the Christ.

The attitude that this thief, this common criminal, displays, is identical to what we see and hear around us today. He asks the question that continues to be asked today… “If God is real, if God is God, then why doesn’t he really do something?” If God is God, then why doesn’t he stop all these wars….end world hunger… cure all the diseases…. put an end to natural disasters…. stop the violence that is hurting and killing innocent people? If God is God, and if Jesus is King, then why does he allow abuse, and vice, and violence, and hatred, and prejudice, and terrorist attacks, and all the other horrible and wicked and evil things that happen in the world around us? If God is God, then why doesn’t he just intervene and stop all these things?

And the result is that those who live their lives continuing to ask these questions…continue to torture themselves…by living lives that are empty of peace, empty of joy, and empty of hope. They refuse to embrace a God that would allow these things to happen; but in refusing, fail to see how God indeed has intervened to stop many of these things.

But this is the same attitude displayed by the thief who wanted Jesus to save him from justice and to spare him from having to accept responsibility for his own actions. He, like many today, refuse to acknowledge that the evils in this world are not God’s fault, but sadly, are our own.

God does not abuse anyone. God does not commit violent acts on anyone. God does not fly airplanes into buildings. God does not commit genocide, or homicide, or fratricide. He does not commit child abuse…he is not a drug addict or alcoholic who beats his wife and kids. God is not the agent responsible for the evils in the world….we are!

We are the abusers, and the haters, and the killers, and the murderers, and the war-mongers, and the cheaters, and the liars, and the addicts, and the bigots; and because WE are all these things, many of the bad things we see and hear about in the news come as a result of us.

We as human beings commit these acts…and we commit them against God and against each other. And then, after having killed, and maimed, and abused, and lied, and cheated, and hated, and beaten ourselves and each other senseless to have and get and satisfy ourselves, we then expect God to step in and save us from ourselves… just like this thief. And when he doesn’t swoop down and end wars, end prejudice, end ignorance, end terrorism, end crime, and end all the other bad things we experience… we then just blame him and reject him, and ridicule him… and write him off as not really being God….just like the thief on the cross. We refuse to accept the personal responsibility, and the consequences of our actions.

This extends even to our response to natural disasters… because while we may not be responsible for the hurricanes and earthquakes, we are responsible for how we respond afterwards. If more human beings acted like human beings, then we could reduce some of the suffering and devastation that comes even from those natural disasters.

Listen, God created mankind in absolute and complete perfection. No sin, no violence, no anger, no prejudice, no lust, no wickedness, no vice, and no evil. But mankind rejected that status, rejected God’s instructions, and rejected God’s authority… opting instead to plot our own course, and to be our own boss. Mankind was given a special gift….that none of the animals in the world have… the gift of Free Will - The power to make our own decisions and our own choices – good, bad, and otherwise.

But then, in having the freedom to make those decisions, we also have to be willing to accept the responsibility and the consequences of those choices.

And just like the thief, and sadly like so many in our world today, the refuse to see how God has indeed intervened in the world to put an end to much of this suffering and crime and hatred and sin. First was Noah… and the destruction of the world. Then God raised up Moses and gave us the Commandments, in order to teach us the errors of our ways. He then sent the prophets to proclaim God’s mercy and justice.

And then, in the ultimate act of intervention, God even sent his own Son - to accept the consequences of our sin and rebellion and disobedience when he died on that Cross. He raised him back to life to conquer even Death. And then he sent the Apostles and martyrs, the preachers and pastors, the missionary and mystics, all to proclaim this great intervention, and this great love of God, so that WE might experience this loving grace and perfect forgiveness – be saved from our sins, and saved from ourselves, and then go out and make a difference in our world to end hunger, hatred, prejudice, greed, violence, abuse, and all the other things that are destroying our world.

WE, my friends, are the intervention that God seeks to make in our world today. He is not going to swoop down and change the world… he expects US to do that, as the continuation and extension of Christ and His Kingdom in the world today.

My friends, God IS God! And Jesus Christ IS King; and God is indeed willing to save us from our sins and from ourselves, but we have to be willing to accept responsibility, and to embrace what he had done for us. We have the choice…. Just like the other thief, who was being crucified beside Jesus.

As the first thief railed and ridiculed, the 2^nd thief took his eyes off his own sorry self and situation. He understood that he alone was responsible for being on that cross. And when he looked at Jesus Christ… it was not with skeptical eyes, or cynical eyes, but with eyes of faith. He understood that mankind is wicked, and that we sadly deserve most of what comes our way. He understood that people make choices, and those choices affect others…. even innocent others. He understood that life is not fair… but that it can be fairer if one is willing to look to God, and try to do things God’s way.

And even on the Cross, this 2^nd thief called out to Christ, and asked him to remember him in his kingdom. That simple acknowledgment that Christ was indeed the Son of God and King of kings opened the doors of paradise to the thief; and today, that Thief is with Christ, and we will get the chance to meet him when WE get there too.

Does God have the power to stop all the bad things we see and experience in this life? Sure he does. With just one Word, God has the power to end wars… to end hunger… to end abuse…. to end violence… to end terrorism…. to end prejudice… to end injustice… and to end all the horrible things we see in life. And yes, this God who with one Word created the universe has the power with just one Word, to end all human suffering and madness… And God has already spoken that one WORD… it is the WORD made Flesh… Jesus!

"Jesus" is that one WORD that indeed could change the world, if we will allow that one WORD to Change US first. Jesus is that ONE Word, spoken by God who can intervene in the world and end wars and hunger and ignorance and indifference and hatred and bigotry and greed. Jesus IS that one WORD that the world waits to hear God speak... and it is OUR task to speak that WORD to the world that awaits.

And next Sunday, we begin the cycle of God’s Love and of this intervention – of this WORD that can and will change the world – all over again with the start of Advent. But on this last Sunday after Pentecost, when we celebrate the Kingdom of God and the Reign of Christ, let each of us determine to make this one WORD a reality in US; and then to share that One WORD from God in the world around us. Let us bow before this great King of kings and Lord of lords, and work to bring about His Kingdom right here and now!

Let us embrace this great salvation, and be empowered to be the ones – who by this one WORD - "Jesus" – can and will make a difference in the world where we live. And in so doing, God himself – through us – will be intervening in the world. Amen!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.