December 1, 2024 – Advent 1C

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:25-36

One of my favorite movies of all time is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It’s one of the few Christmas traditions of my childhood that has never lost its magic.  If you have forgotten the show, or never seen it, Charlie Brown is upset because he has not received any Christmas Cards.  He wants to know why there has to be a holiday season that emphasizes the fact that no one likes him.  His friends seem to have lost the true meaning of Christmas.  His sister Sally only wants toys. She famously states, “I want what’s coming to me. All I want is my fair share.” Charlie Brown laments to his friend Lucy that he likes the different aspects of Christmas, sending cards, getting presents, but the season usually makes him feel depressed – feeling depressed is certainly a common lament during the holiday season. Lucy suggests that he direct the school Christmas pageant, a job which he accepts. But directing the school play proves to be a struggle as well. First Charlie Brown buys that famous Christmas tree – the little scrawny one that, when one ornament is hung on the tree, it bends down completely to the ground. Charlie’s friends make fun of his tree when he brings it to play practice, to which he shouts, “Isn’t there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?”

How many Charlie Browns are out there in the world wondering the same thing – as they drive themselves crazy in the vortex that is the material gift grab that many call Christmas? Is there anyone out there who can tell us what Christmas is all about? Perhaps we need to figure out what Advent is all about.  If you think about it, there are four themes to Advent. The themes include:

Preparation, Expectation, Proclamation, and Revelation. We prepare for the coming of Christ; We live expecting Christ to come any moment; We proclaim Christ’s coming; and we see Christ revealed in everyone. 

It is in this time and season of Advent that we await the arrival of the promised righteous branch, who comes bringing to us the meaning of life and reveals to us what Christmas is all about.

A few years back, the comic strip the Wizard of Id reminded us what the meaning, the purpose of Christmas was all about. The jailer heard a cutting sound coming from one of the jail cells. The jailer inquired about the noise, to which the inmate said that he was “Trimming the Tree.” The jailer retorted “very funny.” Then the jailer looked inside the cell. The inmate had indeed trimmed the Christmas Tree. Nothing was left but two sticks – one vertical the other horizontal. It was a cross. The jailer scolded… “Nice going, you’ve ruined the symbol of Christmas.”

Or Did he?

Pastor Dave

November 30, 2024 – Saint of the Day – Saint Andrew

He was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, a fisherman by trade, and a former disciple of John the Baptist. He was the one who introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, saying, “We have found the Messiah.”

“It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn’t lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, “If the people encounter war, they’ll change their minds and go back to Egypt.” So God led the people on the wilderness road, looping around to the Red Sea. The Israelites left Egypt in military formation.Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear to do it, saying, “God will surely hold you accountable, so make sure you bring my bones from here with you.” They moved on from Succoth and then camped at Etham at the edge of the wilderness. God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.” Exodus 13:17-22

 “The Third theme of the Exodus: God won a great victory over Pharoah and his people. This took the form of divine judgment, beginning with a sequence of plagues and reaching its decisive climax when the Red Sea, which had parted to let the Israelites through, rushed back and drowned the Egyptian army. This divine victory was celebrated in a great song: YHWH will reign forever and ever.” (“Re-Living the Exodus”,  Simply Jesus,  N. T. Wright, p. 64)

The divine victory that Moses achieved in his battle with Pharaoh is truly unique—at least as we understand epic battles between good and evil. The plagues are not just a random series of weird cosmic and ecological disturbances. They show Israel’s G-d marching into the home turf of the superpower of the day, and, basically, beating up their gods. Now, this may sound silly to us, but this is how the Israelites understood the supremacy of their G-d in an ancient polytheistic world. This supremacy is one reason why the Israelites declared Yahweh as worthy of worship. He redeemed them from Egypt by putting Pharaoh and the gods in their place. And this was to be a reminder to them not to follow the Canaanite gods once settled in the land.

Where do we see divine battles happening in our day? Let me suggest that you and I are on the frontlines of battle between good and evil every day. When we see injustices in the world, or in our community, we are called to act. When churches are desecrated, or our brothers and sisters in a synagogue are gunned down in cold blood, we are called to stand in solidarity against religious persecution. When we do, we tell the world that we also believe that YHWH will reign forever and ever.

Pastor Dave