Rambling on Christmas 1 The Holy Family

Luke 2:41-52
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Merry Christmas!
Three years ago, when I preached on this text, I called it “Family Treatment.”
“Holy Family Sunday” bears an interesting text for us, doesn’t it?
It seems to me that this is often read as some sort of ideal family kind of moment, when in actuality, it is more a "Home Alone" sort of story that might well have the Social Service folks stopping by the house in the next week, "just to check on things."
Mary's line "Why have you treated us like this?" speaks volumes. As William Loader notes, the excuse that Jesus is "about his father’s business" would not wash with most parents of an almost-teenager. I have suggested that Luke's note that Jesus was "obedient to them" might go without saying, since Jesus was probably grounded to the kitchen for the next three months.
I suspect that this passage offers us opportunities to speak about family in ways that we rarely do anywhere in our culture. We can talk a bit about how families are not without their tensions and their times of losing one another. If there had been no family tensions, no tension between son and mother, would we really be able to say that Jesus had fully entered our humanity?
Further, we might take note that Jesus was one whose parents brought him to the Temple. They shaped his faith and therefore our faith.
There might well be plenty there for a whole sermon series, without waxing poetic about “the ideal family” or any of that sort of baloney.

Rambling on the Wonder

As we look ahead to Christmas Eve, we make a brief stop for 4 Advent and listen in on Mary.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant."

Luther, in his work on the Magnificat, LW 21, suggests that God’s high regard toward Mary, is rooted in nothing in herself, but, rather, in God’s grace alone. If anything of Mary is to be praised, it is her lowliness, a lowliness perhaps shared by us all in our seeming insignificance.
As Luther states it; “. . . not her humility but God’s regard is to be praised.” p. 314

As we prepare to proclaim the Gospel on this coming Sunday, will it be the magnificence of the Godhead entering our world, or the wonder of God’s condecension that will mostly truly conveigh the Good News of the incarnation, the true wonder of the Gospel?

I deeply appreciate the emphasis of a renowned Mill Creek theologian and practitioner of Celebratory Pietism who - when speaking of Christmas preaching - points primarily to the Kenosis named in Philippians 2:

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

As we venture forth in our preparations for Christmas proclamation, I wonder at this. That no matter how much stuff gets tacked on to Christmas, in the end, what shines through, is the utter humility of God entering our world in this way.
Peace to you this Christmas!

Do Less Harm

Gadzooks. Fear, paranoia run rampant. Where are the little red books? I've heard they are late. But this late? Am I the only one without one? Will the world end soon? Will time as we know it come to a halt? What kind of destabilizing conspiracy is this? arggggg.

Monday, December 11, 2006 Advent 3 C - - Ramblings on Luke 3: 7 - 18

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" 11In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

As we get closer to Christmas we tend to get more calls at the church from the needy asking for help. The welfare checks just do not seem to include enough money for the Christmas presents for the kids in the household. Luke's message clearly was one that has emphasis on including the poor and the marginalized. John the Baptist addresses groups of people (ie. crowds, soldiers, tax collectors, people, etc.) who ask, "What shall we do ?" He says, specific to their positions of influence & power, "bear good fruit !" Repentance means a new attitude and actions. So, is this passage only good news for the needy - - poor ? Can some of us pat ourselves on the back for being a bit more generous this time of year ? Episcopalian priest & writer, Tom Ehrich (On a Journey) writes: "John was proof that our call isn't to tell people what they want to hear, but to draw them closer to what God wants them to see."

Advent 2-- Ramblings on Luke 3: 1-6

1) In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3) He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4) as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6) and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.' "

Advent in my church is like. . . a mass exodus to the nearby big city so everyone can shop rather than worship.

This Sunday's gospel text is about John the Baptist. His function in Jesus' story is to "prepare the way of the Lord." He does this by challenging people to repent, receiving his baptism as a sign of this repentance. The forgiveness of their sins is dependent on this repentance.
Luke links John's work to Isaiah 40:3-5 which states that preparation of the Lord will happen like a highway is built. The preparer will raise, lower, smooth, and straighten so that the Lord's way will be straight and easy.

I struggle with the purpose of John the Baptist in the gospel. At times I think he's more of a crazy cousin who worms his way into the story than he is helpful to it. What is accomplished through him? How does he function in the story? What is the purpose of this character? Does the Lord need somebody to prepare his way? If all the sinners are going to get fixed before Jesus shows up, then why does Jesus need to show up?

I suppose one could take advantage of the preparation theme of this text. It does fit nicely with Advent. And one could hit hard on the theme of repentance. But is John the Baptist necessary for those themes?

Those are my suspicions. I want to focus on repentance (turning away from sin). It is helpful to link it with baptism. Luther wrote in the Small Catechism: Baptism signifies that daily the old person in us with all our sins and evil desires is to be drowned through sorrow for sin and repentance, and that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. I am intrigued by how closely linked baptism and repentance are and by how much they need each other. We give baptism priority since it is a sacrament; but where would baptism be without repentance? Repentance plays a huge role in shaping the baptized's day-to-day lives. Repentance is the big correcting work of the Spirit which helps to make us different from the world. It helps to give light to our souls so that they do shine before others. It helps the bearing of fruit. It allows us to love God and neighbor rather than just the self. In this way repentance is a gift and offers us hope that we won't always be such assholes.
Baptism without repentance is like those instances where some of our baptismal practices are a bit liberal. Have you ever had people in your churches ask you to baptism one of their relatives kids? They live in far off states and travel thousands of miles to have their kids baptized in our churches where neighbors won't see them. When they return home, who knows what life is lived. (Not that I've ever performed such a baptism. . . but. . .). I'd quote Bonhoeffer here by I loaned my Cost of Discipleship out; maybe one of you could.

If I preach on this I will need to get into an explanation of baptism for daily living as opposed to the typical discussion of baptism being adoption into God's family. Ramble away please. . .

advent 1 ramblings

the vicarofvice is in the house

Advent 1 Rambling on Luke 21

“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. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 “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, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 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.”

I’ve thought about this for some time:
It matters how we take leave from places and communities.
We’ve all experienced a number of times, when people leave poorly, there is often significant collateral damage. . .
How about entrances?
As we enter the new year, how do we want to proceed?
The Lectionary seems to point us to hopeful expectation...

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.

In his book Loving Jesus, Mark Allen Powell, says a most interesting thing. He wants to suggest that you and I should live in eager anticipation of Jesus’ return. He even speaks of “waiting for that day with breathless anticipation” and of looking to the sky when the liturgy has the congregation say “Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”
While that is a bit whacky, there is something there.

Here are a few quotes from Loving Jesus.

Recognizing the absence of Jesus arouses urgent anticipation of his return. The Bible encourages this, indeed, I think it encourages us to expect Jesus to return soon, within our own lifetimes. . . .

interesting. He concludes this paragraph

I think that death, if it comes, should take us by surprise. We do not expect to die - we expect Jesus to come for us. Such an expectation is not based on doctrine or intellectual speculation. It has nothing to do with prophecies being fulfilled over in Israel. It is more an expression of attitude or hope - a matter of the heart. pg. 61

Here is where this is kind of interesting for preaching:

Expecting Jesus to return soon is part of the poetry of faith. It is piety, not theology or doctrine. Poetry does no follow the rules of grammar, and piety does not always follow the rules of reason, but both make sense in ways that transcend such rules. Expecting Jesus to return soon is a matter of the heart, an expression of the poetic language of love that sustains our relationship with the one who is both present with us and absent from us. pg. 63-64

There is poetry to the season of Advent, and we enter the season with this word from the Gospel of Luke. . . How do we work the poetry of this text, and proclaim the promise that gives hope?
I wonder if one might well work with Powell’s emphasis that the absence of Jesus arouses anticipation. Anticipation of what? A Merry Christmas? Or, that God is at work in this world, and “your redemption is drawing near.”
The Underminer:
Whose intro line in The Incredibles is: “I live underneath you, but nothing is underneath me!”

DoLessHarm goes for Textweek Status

It seemed to me that we weren't really "blogging" on our blog.
I'd like to see us work at changing that.
SOOOOOOO
I've changed the template, to see what you might think of that, and starting with the new year, I'm hoping we could have a sort of virtual text study. . .
a bit of Rambling on the Gospel!
LET'S GET READY TO RAMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Church Sign

  

More Spiritual PJs

armorofgodpjs.com

Hymn 385

A minister was completing a Temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."
Sermon complete, he sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, nearly laughing, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn #385, "Shall We Gather at the River."

Is this Diplomacy Rambalalia?

Or just absolute idiocy. . .

Bush caught on tape swearing about Syria

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD. When the last scene of his life flashed before him he looked back, at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it: "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The LORD replied: "Beaches freak me out."

Consultants for the Lord

with self-congratulatory smiles and nods
they do fund-raising and call it
stewardship
movers and shakers, change agents
visionaries cast their dreams
before the unenlightened
kingdom builders glossy
packaging for the Lord amen
these are those who are in the know
self-congratulatory smiles and nods
of approval, knowing looks
exciting ideas to offer the
lesser duller ones
the backward facing, the uninspired
plans and techniques to get it done
incorrigible advice givers
build the kingdom

Book Titles Suggested by Other Books (or something)

I thought of a book title, a variation on JB Phillips' Your God Is Too Small.
That book would be titled: Your God Is Too Violent
This book would look at some of the many "pieties" that lead astray. . . not to mention our politics and the politics of any of the extremes out there.
On a day when military success is lauded, we might well wonder at what is accomplished through violence, and what role God might play in it all. . .
What other book titles come to mind in the face of our daily news?

Deadly Virtues

Deadly virtues are human qualities that are generally and widely regarded as right and good. But they bear with them certain harmful (and largely unseen) consequences or side effects. It is the vices that we think of as being deadly, as in the "seven deadly sins." But it occurs to me that virtues, too, can be deadly - can bring not life but deadness to the human enterprise. A virtue is something that most people would unquestionably think of as being positive, admirable, and worth striving for. Some are deadly.

What might some of these deadly virtues be?

Earnestness
Some of us have had conversations about this. We see this manifested in those who take themselves too seriously. They have come to believe that it really does depend on them. But such piety can be a drag for those around.

Perfectionism
The parent who expects no less than perfection, who constantly tucks in the shirt of a 3 yr old, for example, will create a high achiever who knows how to act happy, but isn't. Perfectionism may be the most readily understood deadly virtue.

Religiosity
To be religious seems good. Yet the prophets often rail against religion and it was the religious ones who decided to get Jesus crucified. Religion is a human enterprise, structures built to force and reinforce faith. Faith itself is another matter. I don't mean this as a defence for people who don't go to church or are "spiritual, not religious," although religion is never ultimate and is often more part of the problem than the solution.

Optimism
When we must compulsively 'look on the bright side' we teach ourselves to live in denial of reality. We refuse to face what is actually happening. This is not to be confused with hope - which can embrace the negative and utter a "nevertheless."

Righteousness
This is perhaps the hardest one to understand. What could be better than this? But Luther speaks of an alien righteousness - a righteousness we never manufacture ourselves or even feel, at least as much as we feel our sinfulness or unrighteousness. Righteousness as a virtue is self-righteousness. "The presumption of righteousness is the dregs of all the evils and the sin of all the sins of the world. For all other sins and vices can be corrected, or at least prohibited by the punishment of the magistrate. But this sin, each man's personal presumption of his own righteousness, peddles itself as the height of religion and sanctity, because it is impossible for the nonspiritual man to judge rightly about this issue. Therefore this disease is the highest and greatest empire of the devil in the whole universe, truly the head of the serpent and the snare by which the devil captures all men and holds them captive." (LW 26, p307, this is Luthers 1535 Commentary on the Galatians)

So, I'm sure there must be more of these deadly virtues. What might some more of them be?

In honor of wedding season

Loving the wrong person
by Brother Void

Let our scars fall in love.
--Galway Kinnell

We're all seeking that special person who is right for us. But if you've been through enough relationships, you begin to suspect there's no right person, just different flavors of wrong. Why is this? Because you yourself are wrong in some way, and you seek out partners who are wrong in some complementary way. But it takes a lot of living to grow fully into your own wrongness. And it isn't until you finally run up against your deepest demons, your unsolvable problems--the ones that make you truly who you are--that we're ready to find a lifelong mate. Only then do you finally know what you're looking for. You're looking for the wrong person. But not just any wrong person: the right wrong person--someone you lovingly gaze upon and think, "This is the problem I want to have."

I will find that special person who is wrong for me in just the right way.