Just a second, I need to do this properly. It’s been a while since I’ve worn my bathrobe in church. It’s time again.
I love my bathrobe…. It makes me feel all warm – there is no pretense in a bathrobe. You’re just you. And most people don’t like your bathrobe… just you. It’s kind of private. I can be me in my bathrobe… I can sing out loud in my bathrobe… I can be crabby and angry in my bathrobe….. I can admire myself in my bathrobe…. I kinda think that I look like a prophet in my bathrobe. Tied at the waist, my hair all over the place…. I think I look like Isaiah might have looked…. At least Isaiah when speaks the words that we heard in the first lesson this morning. “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence, as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil….and make your name known to your adversaries so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”
Have you ever felt like that… “Oh God, I am so sick and tired of people picking on me, of my life being miserable - I just wish that you would shake things up - show those so-and-so’s, how wrong they are…the world stinks and it would be just great if you would just sort of smack some of the bad guys around - show them who’s boss!”
That’s how the prophet Isaiah felt, almost 3,000 years ago. It’s amazing how little has changed. He would have had a heyday here with us right now. as we argue about racial profiling and security at our borders, the sabers of war rattling around the planet. Reading the paper he would have been outraged. Sabres rattling, wars waging, people making money by exploiting the misery of others, children abandoned, victims ignored, child poverty on the rise, abuse of trust and authority everywhere (including in churches), Christmas decorations that exist only to sell us another X-Box, or a doll that burps or perfume that smells exactly like last years brand.
If only God would sort some of this out….shake the world up and make those crooks pay for their abuse…if only every abusive parent could feel the shame and sting that their children feel…if only every abusive husband could find himself with no where to go, to one to talk to, to choice but to pray to get through another night….if only every politician that lied to us could be revealed for the liars they are…..if every drug dealer could over-dose on their poison….if all the war-lords could be locked in a room to fight amongst themselves and the soldiers be allowed to get home in time for Christmas…and speaking of Christmas, God, could you just get rid of all the phony tinsel, tiny reindeer everywhere, people saying ‘Merry Christmas’ without really meaning it, and give us some warmth, kindness and love as we celebrate your breaking into our lives? Is it so much to ask?
Isaiah didn’t think so. It isn’t too much to ask God to do something - after all it’s all God’s fault. At least according to Isaiah, it’s all God’s fault. Did you notice that? Isaiah reminds God that we remember all the great things that God has done for us in the past and that God meets those who gladly do right, “But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like on who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth……There is no one who calls on our name or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.” To paraphrase, “God, sure we’ve sinned, but it’s really your fault, you hid from us so how could we do anything but go the wrong way!”
He makes a good case. All of the terrible things going on, wouldn’t be happening if only God were a little more present and not hiding God’s face from us. Probably true today, too. Christmas would sure be different if God were running it. Not so commercial. Not so frantic. We wouldn’t all be worrying about which invitation to answer, who’s family will come over when, there would be whispering about how dry the turkey is, or how rude those children seem to be (what kind of parents are they, after all?). There would be no family squabbles - no Government squabble either, for that matter…everyone would get fed, everyone would be warm…if only God would quit hiding.
Isaiah certainly believes it. “Because you hid yourself we transgressed.” He says. It could be so much better, but it’s not. It’s God’s fault. I wonder if, when Isaiah spoke these words, someone stood up and spoke up. I wonder if someone raised his hand and then arising said, “Excuse me, Isaiah? Mr. Prophet? About God hiding God’s face….when did God ever show God’s face? Didn’t Moses ask to see it and I’m pretty sure if you check the record, God said something like, ‘Nobody can see my face and live…it’s just too much for you!’ So really then, we’ve never seen God’s face and God is no less with us then with Moses.”
I don’t think Isaiah would know how to respond. Especially if the speaker continued, “So, if God is with us, just like always, and things are not so good - maybe it’s our fault, maybe we’re the ones who have handed ourselves over to iniquity. Maybe - now this may seem radical - Maybe we’re responsible?”
Now Isaiah was a great speaker and quick on his feet - so maybe his response would be forthcoming. Maybe his response would even have been the one in the text….the last line from our lesson in which he is speaking to God and says “Now consider, we are all your people.” Maybe he was not so much talking to God, by then, as speaking to us. “Now consider, we are all God’s people.”
Now this would be a great place to end the sermon. It’s all our fault. But we have yet to consider the Gospel. What wonderful warm words to we have from Jesus to begin our Advent season - our preparation for Christmas? “…in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” That certainly sounds cheery… actually it does seem pick up the theme of Isaiah’s rant. Shaking heavens, violent changes in our environment. Is there a connection?
Well, this is a reading about the second coming. Many would suggest that the signs are all around us- the end is near – horrific violence in the Holy Land, scandals in North American churches, soldiers ready for war in Iraq, volcanoes in Italy - the powers in the heavens are shaking and the skies are turning dark. Surely this is it?! ….. But I keep coming back to the line a little later in the Gospel, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven or the Son, but only the Father.”
So we don’t know when it ends….or really, even what that really means. So what is Jesus telling us? Keep awake!
Keep awake for what? For his coming? Are we supposed to do something different - put on some kind of show? Does it mean stay awake; do more; don’t sleep; work harder; keep your eyes peeled on the horizon; keep looking up? What does it mean?
What is that fig tree thing doing in the middle of Jesus talking about his coming? “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Pretty heady stuff.
Try this translation: You can tell the season by looking for the signs: Snow means winter, buds means spring. Look for signs of my presence - when you see the signs you know that I am here. Nothing happens without my being here. I promise to be with you, and no matter what happens, I will not break my promise.”
It’s almost an answer to Isaiah. Isaiah says, “God, we lost track because you hid from us, things are bad because your presence is not as obvious as it once was.”
Jesus replies, “I am always with you. Things get bad, I’m with you. All you have to do is look for the signs? I promised to be with you and I am - just look for the signs.”
There’s an Advent message for us: Sure, we can wait for the coming of the little baby in Bethlehem. Yes, we can wait for and anticipate the second coming of Jesus. But we’re missing the point. Jesus hasn’t come and gone - Jesus is right here, right now! If we were awake, we’d notice it! In the Holy Spirit; in the signs of God’s love all around us!
Yes, the world is not without its incredible problems. Hunger. War. People taking advantage of each other. But we are not battling them alone. And in the midst of our living - Jesus is right here (like a baby in a manger in the middle of smelly old stable). We have only to look for the signs to be re-assured.
Yes, the holiday season is full of commercialism, people using anything they can to sell us just one more thing we probably don’t really need….the hype has precious little to do with the birth of Jesus and God reaching into our lives…but don’t let it lull you to sleep. Keep awake!
When a child laughs, it’s a sign of something that can survive all the hype. When you watch the old movies and Clarence gets his wings, or Bing sings "Goin’ My Way", the tears you feel in the corner of your eyes are signs of something more. When someone says “Merry Christmas” and act as if they mean it, they often do. Keep awake, don’t miss the signs.
The smell of cinnamon and shortbread, the bright lights outside that show that people want to chase away the darkness, Christmas carols sung out loud by a whole group of people (each in his or her own key), Christmas songs sung alone in your car as you drive along - these are all signs. A whole bunch of farmers putting lights on the equipment and parading through town… what a wonder, what joy! The Christmas Pageant as children do their best to share a story that you already know - the laughter and applause that you share with them as you hear the story as if for the very first time. Signs. As it says in the Gospel, “When you see these things taking place, you know that he is near…”The warmth you feel, points to the warmth of the love of God. Keep awake.
It’s all the little things that make this time of year an inspiration for the rest of the year. You can spend the whole month complaining about the people who aren’t coming to Christmas dinner, or you can be thrilled about the ones who will make it. You can be offended when Aunt Martha makes another comment about the dinner - or you can just be glad that she’s here (I mean, you did invite her and you know what she’s like) Consider her to be a sign and proof that God works in mysterious ways.
It’s all the little things, but it’s also the big things. The Salvation Army out there ringing that bell or their wonderful brass bands. It’s people working together to feed the hungry. It’s folks doing with they can, so that others will have a good Christmas. It’s the little items that we are collecting for the Ark, or the animals that we are buying for our brothers and sisters in Africa. It’s the anonymous police officers watching over our streets trying to keep as safe; it’s doctors, nurses and technicians working long shifts in hospitals. It’s you and me trying to take care of each other - just because it’s important to take care of each other. Keep awake. See the signs and know that they point to something more - they point to the presence (not the coming) but the presence of God.
It’s Advent. It’s up to you. You can be like Isaiah and let God have it for all the things that aren’t right in the world or you can look for the signs, see what’s right with the world and be part of the growth. I personally plan to spend a little time watching Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on TV and then, if I’m lucky I plan to watch a Charlie Brown Christmas while a wrap a few gifts that I am lucky enough to be able to buy to give to my friends and family that I am blessed enough to have. And as I do it, I will find a way to look beyond the Christmas hype and see the signs of the presence of Jesus…. I don’t intend to wait, I’m looking for him right now. And be careful, I might be looking at you….maybe you’re a sign. Yes, even you sitting around in your bathrobe, feeling crabby, but lookin’ great!
God’s love is all around us - we have only to Keep awake and look, because the master doesn’t just come and go - the master is with us all - right now, forever. Thanks be to God, making a mistake; you risk the image of being in complete control, you risk the pain of rejection - but when the love is returned, when care and nurture is shared… that’s a life of faith…that’s a celebration greater than any wedding feast. That’s the prize.
What did Jesus mean when he told the parable of the foolish bridesmaids. Was he talking about himself? Maybe. Was he talking about us? Definitely. However you hear the story, Jesus is pointing us to a life when locked doors cannot keep us out, when we will always have enough oil for our lamps, and we will always be able to join in the celebration. When I read the parable - I believe he wants us to start preparing right here and right now. So take some advice - don’t wait, start living with others right now. Thanks be to God.
(Comments to Norm at norman.seli@sympatico.ca.)
Enniskillen & Tyrone United Churches, Ontario Canada