He chose me to show the father (Christmas A2)

He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws.

God revealed himself to one nation, his own people for ages. The Word of Grace came through the House of Israel with a promise to be for all nations.

This week we see more fully the self-revelation of God. God reveals himself to Israel through Moses and the law. His covenant to his people was strong and binding. Even from punishment, he would bring a remnant back. His choice was sure and unrelenting. Israel would reveal God to the world through his interaction with them. The Word was with them.

The Word was in the beginning creating all things. Just as the law came through Moses, grace and truth come from the Word. The Word has not changed, but revelation of the supernatural to the natural eye is no easy thing and the world didn't recognize him. To those who caught the revelation, he gave the right to be called children of God, not thanks to Abrahamic lineage, but by supernatural birth.

In him we become the Elect, those to whom he reveals himself. He has again chosen. His choice is sure an unrelenting.

I can do no justice to the beautiful Christology of John and Paul. Ah, beautiful savior who has been in the beginning is now and will be forever, world without end, thank you for revealing yourself to me.

His story (Christmas A1)

When I was little my cousins gave me a story book of fairy tales. The odd thing about this book was that I was written into it, and my dog. I had to go with mother goose to find something I think. I'm pretty sure that book is on my daughter's shelf now. If I can find it I think I'll bring it to church on Sunday.

It strikes me how, with all his use of old testament prophesies, Matthew is showing how Jesus shares in the old stories. It is like he is the thread woven into every bit of history. Every event points to Immanuel, the king, the horn of Israel.

If he is written into the stories of old it is also true that he is written into the plot of our lives as well. He shares in our sufferings, our joys, our saddnesses. In a real way he has lived my life along with me.

Chuck told us today that the corpus on the Crucifix at Gethsemani Abbey held the face of a young man who died of AIDS. He said this while we sat around a Moravian Putz, an elaborate village of nativity sets and scenes from the birth story. We listened to the scripture readings that painted each scene and meditated on the images. It was powerful to set with God and other ministers pondering this old story. And then this Christ with the face of a man dying of AIDS. He is all of us in our troubles and suffering. He embodied all of it when he became flesh.

Maybe that old storybook of mine, as a child reads a page to the church will teach all of us that truth.

Sharing (Christmas A1)

Matthew evokes exodus imagery, when God takes his son Israel from the land of slavery. He identifies Jesus, the Son, with his Jewish audience in experience. This fits with the strain of shared suffering. Jesus shares in the suffering of the historic Israel, he escapes an infant massacre reminiscent of the time of Moses. He is called out of Egypt a Son of God like Israel of old. Isaiah picks up the refrain. "He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

Hebrews tells us that he learned suffering and can share in any trial we have. "Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people." This sharing is at the heart of the incarnation.

All the praise called for in Psalm 148 are because God has raised up a horn. Let us praise him for he has given us a big brother who has shared in our sufferings. Let us praise him, he became flesh and shared our form, our emotions, our pains. Let us praise him!

Isaiah Exegesis (Advent A4)

God's indictment against the house of David is an age old one. "Why do you try my patience?" Ahaz harkens back to the Stiff-necked in the wilderness demanding water from a rock. "I'm not going to test God like that…" But in not looking for the proof in God when he was invited to believe, his Stiff-necked lack of faith shows through. Or, by not testing God when he wants to be tested, Ahaz is testing God just like the Israelites tested God.

God's signs aren't what we look for. Israel wanted water from a rock to quench their thirst, God just shook his head at them. The sign that he gave Ahaz, the house of David, and us, makes us shake our heads in wonder.

"Look," he says, "by the time a baby can be born and eat soft food the two kings you are so worried about will be gone…. But look out, you're next." He has a way of bringing more questions in the wake of his answers. Good news and bad rolled into one.

God's ways were not what Ahaz expected. They are not what the House of David expected either. God promised them a dynasty that would last forever; soon they would be destroyed waiting for the King to come.

I realized while I was working on Isaiah exegesis today, that this was the last Sunday before Christmas, which means Christmas program. "Maybe I'm working to hard," I thought. "I've already committed to telling 'The Tale Of Three Trees'." It isn't my style to try to fit a sermon to an illustration, but lo-and-behold it works. The expectation of the trees is like that of Ahaz, Joseph, the line of David, and Israel. God works his plan out beautifully even though they can't see how or maybe even refuse to ask.

The big question is still, so what? What does this mean to us, what is the truth that will knock our socks off, whether we are children or fogies?

Milk and Honey eater? (Advent A4)

I am trying to get my head around Isaiah this week. It seems that this reading is somehow the linchpin for the rest of the week's readings.

The first thing that strikes me is the prominence of the house of David. The prophesy of Isaiah is directed to Ahaz along with the whole Davidic line he represents. By the time of the gospel the line of David is reduced to a poor, righteous, carpenter with a pregnant fiancé. Paul's Christology points to Jesus as a king in the line of David.

What did Immanuel mean to Isaiah and Ahaz? Was there an immediate meaning? If so, was it positive or negative? Syria and Israel would not be a threat by the time the boy could make a moral choice. By the time he was eating milk and honey they would have to worry about the king of Assyria. Was milk and honey a food of the prosperous Promised Land or the meager food the son of a carpenter might eat?

Does "God with us" mean punishment or salvation? I think it means both. As a fulfillment in Christ the line of David finally has it's righteous king. In him is all the nature of God, wrath and love, punishment and mercy, he holds all in his hand. The important and beautiful thing is that God is with us! That is what Ahaz missed. That is what we miss too… I will take it all! the transcendent Holy God, the intimate lover, and the fierce avenger. Be near us I pray!

The psalmist's prayer is a cry for Immanuel to be near when he seems distant.

But what does this mean to you David? How did you react to Asaph's song? How does your house long for the savior? What do you say to Isaiah's injunction that you weary men and God? I bang on your door with my forehead, for I need to understand what all this means together.

Thaumaturge and praise (Advent A3)

Jesus comes in power, the thaumaturge.

All creation responds. Streams break forth in the desert. Glory and beauty return to desolate places as they blossom in praise and rejoicing.

Eyes will open, the deaf shall hear, lame will leap and the mute will begin to sing all because the kingdom has come near. Praise is demanded!

How can we stand weak and weary in face of such power? Strengthen weak hands and feeble knees. We do not fear for our God has come near.

Isaiah's themes are carried on through the rest of this week's texts. Images of nature rejoicing, miracles and displays of power and a call to the people of God to strength and praise are everywhere.

In the Gospel, John, imprisoned and isolated, sends to know if what he prophesied is true. Is it because he was confused, that Jesus didn't act like he thought? Maybe, or perhaps in his isolation he was just hungry for news. I love the imagery in the old movie, "Salome" when John receives word of the power of the Christ bringing sight and hearing and hope, he leans against his cell wall with a look of pure worship on his face.

And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me. The word of the work of the kingdom of heaven near strengthened John. It should strengthen us, it should demand from us praise, miracles and works of the Spirit should follow as an expression of intense praise.

Inversion (Advent A2)

I think a good illustration for my sermon this week will be to turn somthing on its head, maybe a kid. It illustrates the act of repentance as well as apocolyptic inversion. I didn't see the connection until the image hit me.

This song would be a great puppet song this week if anyone could understand it.

[Listening to: The Messenjah - P.O.D. - Satellite (04:18)]