Mark 1:1-8
God is telling a story and we are the main characters. This Gospel reading is, as I said from the book of Mark. Over the course of the next year we will be reading primarily from the book of Mark. This is my favorite of the Gospels because the energy is so high. The writer of Mark tells the story of what happened when he was following Jesus. The portion I just read was the beginning of that story. He was setting the stage for all that he experienced when he was following Jesus.
When we look at this text we have a tenancy, for good reason, to look at the words of the prophet Isaiah and to try to understand the message of John the Baptist and what it means to prepare for the lord by making paths straight. But I like to take a step back and just listen to the voice of the story-teller. In this story he sounds so excited.
There is an urgency in the story as if he understands that this is something that needs to be said and something that people really need to hear. I think because he knows that it is God's story.
I read a story recently. A supposed Christmas story. The only thing “Christmas” about it was that Christmas was mentioned in it. I am going to step out of the pulpit to tell it to you because it's not the message for the day...
What did that story teach us? What values did that story convey? It lifts up being crafty, heartless, ruthless perhaps even being mean. Just because we put the label Christmas on it does not make it Christian.
year we hear the message: “Keep Christ in Christmas.” and I agree with the idea, its just that all the Christians I know...do. They all say “Merry Christmas.” They all know of the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. So to whom are we directing the message, Keep Christ in Christmas? To those who don't believe? Do we really want Macy's and Wal Mart being the ones who direct the message of Christmas? Do we want atheists and people who are opposed to the teachings of Jesus to be spokes persons for the holiday?
I say, if someone wants and prefers to say “Happy Holidays.” let em'. Because then we know where they stand. We can love them right where they are. We won't make any false assumptions about what they believe. We touched on this issue in the adult discussion group a couple weeks ago.
The theme of our discussions for the past several weeks has been on how do we give in a way that is in line with our faith. How can Christmas and the lessens we learn change our life? How can the story of Christmas change the world?
The event that we celebrate at Christmas certainly changed the world in the most profound way. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem divided time. The eternal God of all creation became human and offered salvation to anyone who would put their trust in in him. After the birth of Jesus every thing has been different. We have access to God. We have a way that leads to eternal life. The suffering and injustice of this world is not part of God's story for us. God wrote a different story for us but we messed it up. Humanity, in our freedom that God granted us, failed to follow the story line.
You see, we are all central characters in the story that God wrote.
Can you imagine reading a book where the main character didn't do what he was supposed to do? When you pick up a mystery novel and the detective in the story decides not to pursue the truth, would that be frustrating? If you have ever seen the movie No Country for Old Men you know what I am talking about. In that movie there is a very bad guy and the good guy is pursuing him, but in the end the good guy just retires. That's it. There is no justice. I found that ending to very jarring and frustrating.
That's how it is with us. God wrote the story of creation. He intends for all of us, every person living to be a part of his family. He gifts us with talents and abilities as well as spiritual gifts. God intends for us to use our gifts to make life better for all those around us. We tend to forget this though. The tendency is to think first of our own comfort and prosperity.
The question is: If someone were reading the story of our lives, would we be following the story line that God intended for us or are we off course? The answer is, of course, between you and God.
When we participate in the Holy Sacraments. Holy baptism and Holy Communion we become direct participants in the story of God. When we invite the Holy Spirit to bless us we are inviting God to change us. We are giving ourselves over to the Story that God is tellingl. John the Baptists part of the story of God was that of a messenger to all, that we need to prepare ourselves to receive God. But what does that mean? Does that mean that go shopping and sing Christmas carols? Well yes in our culture that is part of how we prepare. Those are cues to us that we are getting ready for this blessed season. Those are things that bring joy to people. That joy is a reflection of the joy that God promises to his children. Are shopping and parties supposed to be the source of our joy? No, of course not; Jesus is. And that is a story worth telling. So to all those who prefer to say “Happy holidays” you can give them the gift of telling them the story of Jesus through your life. When you follow God's story-line and your life is filled with joy, despite its difficulties, despite it's challenges people will be interested in hearing the story you have to tell.
This is the season of Advent. A time when we are preparing ourselves to be changed. Preparing ourselves to be a part of the story. How is it with you today? In this season of Advent? What part has God written for you? Would you pray with me?
No comments:
Post a Comment