December 15, 2024 – Advent 3C

“John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin 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.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.” Luke 3:7-18

This is the third Sunday in Advent – it is called “Gaudete” Sunday – “Rejoice” Sunday – “Joy” Sunday – “Pick Candle” Sunday.  Today we begin with Paul, because he proclaims “Rejoice in the Lord always – again I say Rejoice”.  This phrase begins and ends with the word Rejoice – and the Latin word for “Rejoice” is “Gaudete” – that is why it is called “Gaudete” Sunday.  Now, let me ask you, how hard is it to “Rejoice” always?  Not easy, right? And wait, it gets better, Paul then says “Do not worry about anything.” How hard is that?

We currently live in a society where the various churches trying to scare the “hell” out of people. For example, they preach a Gospel of right belief – right practice. You must believe within the right and wrong, black and white world of which they live in – and if your life is off the tracks, then it is because you have erred in your faith. This is why I am glad I am a Lutheran – because we believe in the grey areas of reality — that life is not defined by narrowly defined right and wrong. And so we preach about our only hope: relying on the Amazing Grace of Jesus Christ. Of course, in the season of Advent, the first two Sundays brought us just that message – “The Day of the Lord is doom and gloom” – it is a terrible day – there will be wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes, dogs sleeping with cats – it is a day of judgment not of rejoicing”.  And now, this third Sunday in Advent, the message shifts, dramatically – from fear and foreboding – to “Joy” and “Rejoicing”.  So, what is going on?

Have you ever noticed that there are churches in our midst who like to play on people’s fears. And if you do not believe as they do you are going straight to hell. These churches tell us that G-d is a vengeful G-d, yes filled with grace, mercy and love, and if your life is going great, then you are on the right track. But if you are suffering in this life, or if your life is doom and gloom, it is because you are not living right. Different proclamations – different ideas of G-d’s amazing Grace.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:4-5) According to Paul, we are to focus on Joy, not fear.  So, how do we turn our fear into joy?  Well, we proclaim that we have a G-d who loves us so much that we have a safety net – we have a backup plan – and that safety net is the fact that G-d has our back through the person of Jesus Christ.  So, even though we are sinful and unclean people, and even though we suffer or are in pain or cry now, when we get to the next life, the life that Christ has won for us, our suffering NOW will pale in comparrison to the Joy to come.  And my friends, this is a message that sells – NOT FEAR – but JOY.

Pastor Dave

December 14, 2024 – A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community

“[Jesus] had friends in low places too. That was the strategic beauty of his scandalously diverse guest list. By not being selective with his invitation, Jesus affirms the value of his disparate meal companions to them and to those watching from a distance. In a world where we so often are content to preach only to the choirs of those who agree with us, to wall ourselves off in a social-media echo chamber of our amen-ing cheerleaders, Jesus models a better way. He fully engages all sides and teaches them about one another in the process. For him, the table is a tool of connection. It transcends difference. It bridges disagreement. It declares the other welcomed and worthy of hearing. It recognizes the other and declares commonality with him or her. I don’t see very much of this in the modern Christian expression here in America. I don’t know if we’re really all that interested in proximity with those who differ from us. I’m not sure we care to follow Jesus all the way to the table with those we have contempt for from a distance, and yet this is the path of the disciple.” (Pavlovitz, John. A Bigger Table, Expanded Edition with Study Guide: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community (p. 80). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)

“In a world where we so often are content to preach only to the choirs of those who agree with us, to wall ourselves off in a social-media echo chamber of our amen-ing cheerleaders, Jesus models a better way.” Social Media and socially connecting apps have been a real boon for our world and our society. They may also be the single source of our demise as a society. It is amazing that we can talk with each other in real time when we are on opposite sides of the earth. It is amazing.

But it is also minimizing and scary. The longer we interact on these apps and find groups of like-minded thinkers, the smaller our world becomes, and the more limiting our ability to communicate with people who look differently, think differently, live differently, and love differently. The smaller our world of thinking and preaching becomes, the greater the chance for hate to grow instead of love.

Jesus models a better way. In Matthew 5:5-9, Jesus says that those wishing to reflect the character of G-d must be “meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, and makers of peace.” “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

At the center of this teaching was the idea of giving people access to wholeness, sustenance, justice, and joy – no matter their color, creed, or race. It was not merely some internal understanding – Jesus wanted it to be a visible response from the church whenever their individual value was disregarded.

Social Media apps may appear to be inclusive – but in reality they simply highlight the ability of our world to exclude, demean, and denigrate. This is not what Jesus taught – it is not.

Pastor Dave