2nd Sunday in Advent, Wilderness Wonderings

A Thought or Two For the Second Sunday in Advent (Luke 3:1-6)


The opening words of our Gospel for Sunday give us on the one hand the authority of this world (vs 1: "Fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius") and on the other hand a new authority (vs 2: "the word of God came"). This new authority is one inaugurated in very real time and is measured by grace and not power. It is a time of renewed salvation history deeply linked to the past and intimately connected with readers, and our own, present.

Who cannot relate to the feeling of "wilderness." While we might know of John's possible connection to Qumran and other wilderness communities it is not this that connects us but rather the feeling of being followers of Jesus in a strange land with competing stories about the nature and values of culture. We relate to the ancient Hebrews in Israel, we relate to the occupied Israelites of Jesus' own time. We relate because we too struggle with a captivity which is hallmarked by consumerism and debt and recession; not to mention the stress and strains of family and relationships. The world is a wild place and we find our home in it as foreigners in a strange land, longing for the Kingdom of God present, and not yet fully realized. We long in that wilderness to hear the voice crying out.

We as Christians understand John the Baptist as the agent to fulfill the ancient prophesies: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5 (“Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes”).

Baptism we are shown in Luke's Gospel is at once seen as the ancient and present way of deliverance and entrance into the kingdom of grace with a prophet king named Jesus. To the Jews of the time and to Luke's reader John is proclaiming and acting out a preparation for the coming of Jesus. It s a proclamation being made to the whole world a proclamation we know as the Gospel.

I will be thinking this week of how the time and the season of Advent offer us a time to connect with the real world wilderness of the people in and outside of our congregations. How do we as people already baptized, already living within a kingdom without walls, take a Gospel of grace into the world around us, proclaiming Jesus and proclaiming the opportunity of hope and joy and transformation that awaits those who choose to follow him and work under his Lordship? What are the real world differences we as Christians can make?

Last night a friend reminded me of Jackson Browne's song Rebel Jesus. Find it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxDwy8JkFFI&feature=fvw That has me thinking of the challenge we face. It has me thinking of how the mission field can really challenge us to be better at our work as a church.

As Mary pondered these things, the season of Advent is a season of pondering. So, I am pondering and hope you will join me in that corporate work of prayer, discernment, preparation, and pondering.

The Deep Waiting of Advent

"By celebrating through the structure of the Church we actually are given the forms we need to become whole and we are given the formulas to make whole every human experience…Advent begins the Church year. And the first mystery we are asked to engage in is waiting. The Church cycle flows into the natural rhythm of the season and we enter the dormant, waiting time of winter. Nature seems asleep. The season is dark, and all that is becoming is hidden from our sight. The ancient combination of natural phenomenon with religious symbolism is still operational in our feast of Christmas. Nature and mystery join and invite us to recognize our hopeful longing for the return of the sun and the birth of the word made flesh."

Gerturd Mueller Nelson from To Dance With God

Advent is about a deep waiting on the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

When I was little my grandmother, "Honey," told me stories about growing up. Today I tell those stories to my children. One of the stories she told me was about how her parents made her wait for Christmas. Her family's tradition was to go to services on Christmas eve, then get her to sleep, decorate, so that she awoke on Christmas day to a transformed home. As a little boy I could not imagine the excruciating pain of waiting for Christmas. My parents did not put up the tree until after the last Sunday in Advent. And I remember the long wait to see the greening of the church. We lit Advent candles in my home and we said special advent prayers together at dinner.



There are many pressures on us that cause us to secularize our lives. Empty nesters no longer have children of fight over blowing out the candles and soon the advent season is missed all together. Widows and widowers in patterns of regularity feel awkward about saying prayers or lighting an advent wreath alone. Schedules for families with children in sports and activities, complicated by homework, and subtly worn away by the fact that Christmas decorations were up before Halloween mix together to create a sense that we must hurry to Christmas, no stopping or waiting allowed. To be sure the world naturally pulls at us, and pulls us away from traditions.



Yet how much comfort might a quiet house discover in the warmth of candles lit between two people? What light and joy can be brought to prayers offered before a meal alone, with the opportunity to discover in the quiet waiting that God is present? If after school busy-ness gave way to a meal with children taking turn reading and praying and lighting candles, what better way to center a family who is seeking centering in God?



I encourage you to join me and my family this Advent in a holy and deep waiting. Let us each night do what Episcopalians and Anglicans all over the world are doing, waiting, pondering, wondering. Gather with family, with friends, alone, or with strangers in ways that offer the discovery and embrace of our Lord's mysterious birth.



For it is in our waiting, together, that we discover that Jesus is born for us. It is also in the waiting that we discover we are born for one another and as a gift for one another.



Some resources:



Read Advent Story: Laura Jean Hopes For Christmas here:

http://www.theadventuresoflaurajean.blogspot.com/



Lists of everything Advent:

http://anglicansonline.org/special/advent.html



Advent wreath making

http://thehomespunheart.blogspot.com/2009/11/handcrafted-christmas-homespun-advent.html

http://www.craftideas.info/html/advent.html



Advent Calendar making

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/baby-sock-advent-calendarAdvent

http://www.marthastewart.com/good-thing/greeting-card-advent-calendar

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/m-is-for-matchbox-advent-calendar





Online Advent Blogs - Promising

http://theadventdoor.com/

http://www.marshill.org/adventblog/

http://advent.wordpress.com/

http://www.cartoonchurch.com/advent/

Advent Books

Advent And Christmas Wisdom From Henri J.m. Nouwen: Daily Scripture And Prayers Together With Nouwen's Own Words (Paperback)

Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas (Paperback)



Advent Podcasts

http://www.episcopalcampusministry.org/podcast.htm

Prayers for Neighbors in Killeen and at Fort Hood

Prayers from around the Diocese for our friends and loved ones in Killeen.




Janet Gilmore commented on your status: "my prayers are with the survivors, those that will pray with them, and those who have lost men and women who have served in the military and how this will resurrect old grief. may God's healing and abundant presence give moments of peace to bodies, minds and spirits."



Kendall Wallin commented on your status: "Prayers for all victims, family, friends, and surrounding communities. Was hoping to see any expression of compassion from official Episcopal Church FB page by now, though. Maybe, Bishop Andy, you could pass that on."



James Tengatenga commented on your status:



"Amen and amen to all the prayers and support for all at Ft Hood. I add my prayers to all of you who have to minister to them."



Martha Frances commented on your status:



"Been praying for them ever since I heard the first news report."



Ann Marie Holliday commented on your status:



"I am a former member of St. Christopher's and send my prayers to Father Paul and his congregation as well as the many friends I have in Killeen and at Ft. Hood. Please let them know we love them!"



Jerry Lyle commented on your status:



"With Veteran's Day coming shortly, this tragedy will have a new meaning."



Jane posted something on your Wall and wrote:



"To our friends at St. Christopher's - you can not imagine how many people are sending love and prayers your way. May you feel the spirit as you minister to those in need and work through this horrific experience. Jane Mumey (St. Francis, Houston)"



Nancy Denmark commented on your status:



"loving and praying them through it"



Good Shepherd commented on your status:



"We're sending our prayers and love from Good Shepherd, Friendswood."



Jeff posted something on your Wall and wrote:



"Rich & Paul - amazing that we were together at Clericus in Cop Cove, just a few miles away from Ft. Hood, while the tragedy was unfolding. Peace & prayers. Jeff"





Fr. Reid: Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints,

where sorrow and pain are no more,

neither sighing, but life everlasting.



Tamara Clothier commented on your status:

"Gracious Father, be with all those suffering. Give them solace as well as strength today and the days to come. Keep refreshed those who are giving of themselves to those who are hurting and let them not be overwhelmed. In your name I humbly ask. Amen. "

Jason Haddox commented on your status:

"Prayers from New Jersey as well."

Roberta Vallantyne commented on your status:

"Oh Lord, help us be strong. Give us the words to say. Remind us be to like Jesus in all that we do when helping others. Comfort those who are serving the people in this time and surround all the families and friends with your arms."

Lynda Nelson commented on your status:

"Praying for all of those families and friends who are affected by this meaningless tragedy. Our hearts go out to them. May God bless all those who are dedicated to helping them in every way. Let us find it in our hearts to forgive, also."

Add to the prayers by adding a comment:

December Calendar

2 10:00 a.m. Celebrate Feast of St. Andrew, St. Andrew’s School, Austin


6:30 p.m. Parish Meeting, St. James’, Austin

3 11:30 a.m. Eucharist and Lunch with East & West Harris Convocation Priests

4 4:00 p.m. Open House and Dedication, Austin Diocesan Center

6 11:00 a.m. Trinity, the Woodlands, CF

8-9 Executive Board, Camp Allen

9 7:00 p.m. Holy Apostles, Katy, CF

11 6:00 p.m. Clergy Christmas Party, Houston

12 2:00 p.m. St. Martin’s, Houston, CF

13 8:30 a.m. Christ Church, Temple, CF

18 10:00 a.m. Church Corporation, Diocesan Center

6:00 p.m. Diocesan Staff Christmas Party, Houston

20 10:30 a.m. St. James, La Grange, CF

24 11:00 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral, Houston

26 10:30 a.m. Boxing Day Celebration for Lord of the Streets, Houston

New Hitchhiker's Guide To Luke

Under construction: 

We are underway for year C!  I have begun the construction of the new Hitchhiker's Guide To Luke site, with lots of information and links to help "read, mark, and inwardly digest" the Gospel of Luke.  Click on  the link to be redirected to the new site.