Christmas: Decree

Christmas: Decreed

 

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

God with us 

 

2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

 

2:2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

 

2:3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

 

2:4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

 

2:5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

 

2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

 

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

 

2:8 Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

2:9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

 

2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

 

2:11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

 

2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

 

2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

 

2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

 

2:15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

 

2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger.

 

2:17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child,

 

2:18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them,

 

2:19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.

 

2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

 

[Note: This Christmas message will be my final one for 2025. My next retirement sermon will be for the weekend of January 4, 2026.]

 

What does it mean when something is “decreed”? Since this famous “Christmas” narrative from the second chapter of Luke begins with a “decree” from Caesar Augustus, I suppose we should know. A “decree” is some official order issued by a “legal” authority. We live in a day when all kinds of decrees are being made by people who believe they are “legal authorities,” with whether they are or not being the question of the day. Of course, we often use the word “decree” in a slightly less than formal way: “My wife decreed that we are going to spend our vacation with some of her family,” or “My son just decreed that we must knock before entering his room.” We may not use the word, “decree,” but none of us is immune from “laying down the law” about something in our own little fiefdoms or spheres of influence, are we? Most of us have those moments when we like to test the theory that “words have power.” We may too quickly find out that how MUCH power is more determined by whom is speaking them (or writing them) than by what may be inherent in the words, themselves. In this Christmas passage, the decree by Caesar Augustus gets people on the move to “be taxed” in their home areas, but a much larger “decree” is afoot.

 

It is true that we have turned Christmas into something huge, as human beings wielding our own “decreeing” power. All of it—the shopping epidemics, the brilliantly wrapped presents, the music, the candy and cookies, Santa and the elves, “Chris Kringle,” Der Belsnickel, office parties, decorated trees and houses, obnoxious sweaters—is manmade. Even the idea of Christ being born on “Christmas Day,” or December 25, is. “So what?”, I have always said. One can certainly argue that none of what we revel in during the “Christmas Season” is real, or “glorifying to God” in any way, but it IS a joyous phenomenon that people from the tiniest tots to the oldest of us geezers enjoy and look forward to. I honestly don’t think that God is in God’s heaven shouting down, “STOP THAT! This should be about my SON’S BIRTH, not your merriment and gift-giving!” I believe God gets a kick out of our Christmas celebrations, as long as they are not harmful, and as long as they aim us toward “peace on earth and goodwill towards our fellow human beings.” Ceasefires, gifts given in love, respecting one another’s religious traditions and spending a few moments being happy just because we get to witness someone ELSE being happy—like the children—are not bad things, at all. I’ve never been impressed by people who attempted to rain on our Christmas parade by “decreeing” what they believe the sole (or soul?) purpose of Christmas to be, or by others who have attempted to “Grinch” it away because they don’t believe in it. There is something very “Gospel,” after all, with the old libertarian expression, “Live and let live.” When it comes to decrees about Christmas, here are a few of my own, and may you feel free to make a list of a few of yours.

 

My negative Christmas decrees (let’s get them out of the way, first):

 

I decree that that song about “Last Christmas I gave you my heart, and the very next day you gave it away” should never again be played. It’s the most depressing song since “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” 

 

I decree that the paper and ribbon leavings from open gifts should be thrown away. If they are to be recycled at all, let it be in the blue bins, not folded to be reused. 

 

I decree that Christmas in the church should be celebrated as the birth of the Christ Child into the world; leave the crucifixion out of it. With this in mind, deep six that song about how “Mary’s child” will “soon be saving her.” Why is it that we so want to compress both our history and our theology into one, compact, neatly wrapped “gift”? Let the story unfold, people. Savor its depth and its “mythical” qualities, even if it’s not all “good Bible.”

 

I decree that it is OK to accept a gift without developing some kind of a anaphylactic reaction causing a “reciprocation” anxiety. Sometimes people just want to give a gift out of genuine love, or the joy of doing it. When they see it has evoked a false fear in us—“But I didn’t get YOU anything!”—it sucks the joy out of their experience. 

 

I decree that it is not against some kind of universal Christmas law to NOT make your children to have to “believe in Santa Claus.” We taught our children that the gifts they receive are from “people who love you very much.” The corollary to this is also true—don’t SPOIL it for children and their parents who DO perpetuate the Santa Claus legend. Remember the earlier “Gospel” of “Live and let live”?

 

Now, here are a few of my POSITIVE Christmas decrees:

 

I decree that Christmas is a wonderful time to patch up relationships that have sort of taken it on the chin during the year. Do with with apologies, words of affirmation, and with honest confession about your desire to “restart” the relationship. If you truly want to glorify God, here you go.

 

I decree that people should “plan for joy” in the Christmas Season. It’s a time to “stop shoulding all over yourself,” as someone has said, let loose, and have some fun! While having a few Christmas traditions may be meaningful for you, don’t let them become “decrees” of their own that MUST be carried out or “Christmas will be incomplete.” Traditions have a half-life, or at least should. Since the season’s central character is Jesus Christ, take a page out of his life. We have no record that Jesus sat down and prepared a daily agenda of what he “needed” to do. Instead, he encountered people, love them, accepted them, healed them when necessary, and just generally enjoyed being among them. Do thou likewise. And stop worrying about what “God’s plan” is. What Jesus did IS God’s plan. We best “incarnate” Jesus by taking people as they come and seeking to make their lives better via our encounter.

 

I decree that a Christmas Tree is a necessity, and not just because supposedly Martin Luther stuck candles on an evergreen to celebrate the “Light of the World,” which is a bad idea, anyway, according to the fire department. Put up a Christmas tree, of some sort, and celebrate the memories it invokes. If you have cherished ornaments, get them out, dust them off, and adorn your tree with them. If you have “aged out” of putting up a more formal tree, get one of those little ones, or have some friend who is into ceramics make you one of those little “Lite Brite” trees. If you like to trudge through the forest to cut your own sad-looking tree and drag it into your low-ceilinged living room, by all means, DO so! But have a tree. Since the Christmas Tree has become such a symbol of the season, don’t miss that all we do at Christmas IS symbolic, if not of God’s inbreaking, then of our beloved memories, or of the emerging wonder of our children or grandchildren. A Christmas Tree is central to any of this. 

 

I decree that attending a Christmas Eve worship service is essential, as well. Part of our Christmas transformation occurs when we gather with others in our faith community and are reminded as a “body” that we ARE the Body of Christ, thanks to what God did, has done, and is yet doing in our midst. Listen to the story of the shepherds, the young maid Mary, Joseph, the long-suffering “earthly” father of Jesus, and the “babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Sing the hymns of Christmas. If you’re a Methodist, don’t DARE eschew singing Charles Wesley’s masterpiece, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” And do all within your power to keep Christmas Eve church attendance from being a “should.” Go because it is the catalyst of your joy. Go because you can’t NOT sing the great hymns and light a candle to that “Silent Night.” Go, because Christ CAME, and is with us, still.

 

There is one decree that has brought us to this hour—“For God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” Makes Caesar Augustus’s decree look like a piker, doesn’t it? Because of this one, great, eternal decree, the angels could do a little “Paul Revere” about what was about to happen, and found the humble shepherds. Because of THIS decree, a great, Godly promise of “Peace on Earth, goodwill toward all people” was spoken into existence, and is headed toward ultimate fulfilment, some of which is left in our hands, by the way. Because God so LOVED the world, we can do everything within our power to joyously celebrate the season, be creative about spreading Christmas cheer across the globe, and do our best to help the universe hear this universal message. Oh, and keep an eye out for those around you who may struggle with the season because of the proximity of a difficult event to it, won’t you? It’s so hard to lose a loved one near December 25, but people do, and their “merrymaking” must be of a different variety, at least until the grief morphs into memory. They most need your understanding, your presence, and maybe an invite for a quiet night with a few close friends. Joy doesn’t have to be loud to touch hearts, after all.

 

I have one more decree for you: Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, you, your loved ones, your friends, and your church family! And may this be the year when God’s promise of “Peace on Earth, goodwill toward all people” takes a quantum leap forward! Amen. 

Advent IV: Belong

Advent Four: Belong

 

Romans 1:1-7

Paul's greeting to the church at Rome 

 

1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

 

1:2 which was promised beforehand through the prophets in the holy scriptures,

 

1:3 the gospel concerning God’s Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

 

1:4 and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

 

1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name,

 

1:6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

 

1:7 To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Years ago, I learned at one of those “how to grow your church” seminars, I heard the assessment that “people no longer belong to things.” Service clubs such as Rotary and the Lions, lodges such as the Masons and Eastern Star, and even some country clubs were hurting, as younger generations weren’t “joiners” like their parents or grandparents were. Churches, of course, had long been “membership” oriented organizations, wherein members—thanks to their commitment to a given local congregation—could be prevailed upon to financially support the church they “belonged to,” and could be counted on to volunteer for various leadership roles and mission programs. But now, folk just weren’t joining, even though they might attend regularly. “Independent” churches were flourishing, at least partly because they didn’t push “membership” as a requirement to be active in their church. The bottom line was that, due to this “new” development, stewardship efforts and financial campaigns had to become a serious “sales job” to be successful. No membership meant no commitment, beyond being convinced that a particular church was “worthy of my money and my time.” Public relations, slick annual stewardship campaign mailings, and personal stories about “why I give to my church” became the order of the day, if a church wanted to raise the financial support it needed to stay afloat. Those that didn’t market, started the long slide into oblivion. 

 

Even today, hardly a month goes by that I don’t hear of some time-honored organization “going out of business” because they just don’t attract “members” anymore. Recently, I heard of a Rotary Club chapter that held its last meeting, and this in a community were I had served a church, years ago. At that time, that Rotary chapter was a thriving club, with almost any community leader in town as dedicated members and attendees at its monthly dinner meeting. They supported the work of Rotary, offered a couple annual, local scholarships to outstanding high school students, and were highly visible in that community. Even when I was asked to speak to them, as a local religious leader (usually around Christmas or Easter), I could see the “seeds” of their undoing, as their membership was slowly “aging out.” Unfortunately, the whole community was pretty much of this same profile, with younger folk, upon graduating from high school or university, opting to take their life and careers elsewhere, mostly due to wanting a better school system for their future children, and/or desiring a younger pot of folk as clientele for their services. “Rustbelt” towns, as they are known, certainly proliferated throughout Western Pennsylvania, and service clubs, volunteer fire departments, lodges, and most certainly churches in these communities suffered. Many are now gone, totally. 

 

Why did we move away from “belonging” to things? Was it just not “sold” well by the organizations in question? Was it that, in our increasingly “libertarian” views, we chose to keep arms-length from organizations so they couldn’t “buttonhole” us for support? Were we uncomfortable with a level of commitment that would mean we should pony up financial and volunteer support? One phenomenon to this seeming lack of commitment was that, even when folk said they WOULD attend something or show up to help with a project, they wanted to keep their options open “in case something better came along.” Humans have probably always had these “self” motivated kinds of thoughts, but a sense of responsibility and commitment kept them coming, and kept the necessary dollars flowing. This newfound independence meant that they just might opt for something else, even at the last minute, and less and less were they even afraid to say, “Something better came along, and we decided to do that, instead.” The shame of reneging on a “commitment” faded into history, at least for many.

 

 

I remember hearing one church leadership speaker first telling a group of clergy: “People are beginning to church-shop, looking for the best ‘deal,’ the best youth programs for their children, and the best music in worship that whets their appetite.” And while this observation made sense, I can still remember the first time—less than a year after hearing this—that a visiting young couple came through the line after one of our services, and actually TOLD me, “Pastor, we’re new in the area, and we’re CHURCH SHOPPING.” I was dumbfounded. I remember thinking, “May I show you something with a nice Gospel message, highlighted by kick-ass praise music, and a side of low expectations?” 

 

I must say that, throughout my 37 years in ministry, I was able to find “success” in selling the idea of the importance of “belonging” to enough folk to grow a few churches. It took a serious effort, though, and a focus on “quality” of what these churches DID offer folk. Like it or not, the diehard message of “shoulds” and “oughts” has long ceased to motivate folk to attend or support any of our churches, and this even holds true for those “high-commitment,” evangelical and independent congregations we hear so much about. If people today don’t like the rap, they will just vote with their feet, and likewise, if they don’t feel like they. Are getting “fed,” whatever that means. I’m trying not to be too cynical here, and stay focused on the reality of what the church is facing, but I DO wonder if that “I’m not getting fed” line is more of an excuse for lots of other stuff that sends folk packing? OR, does “not being fed” have to do more with “not hearing what I want to hear,” or “hearing something contrary to what I WANT to believe”? 

 

In each church I served, I would often touch on the human need to “belong” in my sermons, and each church offered some kind of “new member class” or orientation program as a prerequisite to joining that congregation. I found that helping people see that “belonging” could be a highly affirming, “anchoring” thing in a time when more and more people are feeling “rootless,” and that making commitments and sticking with them was part of the natural maturing process, as well as a confidence-builder for the individual who was willing to say, emphatically, “YES, I want to belong!” And while we celebrated and honored our new members in worship, we did require them to make their membership vows in front of the congregation, and the congregations were required to reciprocate by reaffirming their vows, as well. By helping new attendees move from “church shopping” to joining the congregation, and then helping them “find their niche” in the church, I was privileged to welcome several hundred new members into the United Methodist Church during my ministry. But the key was always helping them find a sense of “belonging” in a world that was moving rapidly away from the “need” to do so. 

 

I confess that things are much harder for churches now, especially the ones in the major denominations, most of which have been divided or suffered schisms along the same “liberal” and “conservative” fault lines as we see in the society at large. These divisions have made the already timid “seekers” shy away from the mainline churches, as many do not want to land in one or the other “camp.” This may be one big reason the church is failing. In the schism (or “disaffiliation” as it is known) in United Methodism, the conservative Global Methodist Church may be the potential “biggest loser,” as it has cast its die on the conservative crowd, and believes its views of “biblical authority” and “scriptural interpretation” will continue to attract enough people to prosper their organization and accomplish the mission. There are already some serious holes being poked in this theory, as the Global Methodists still have a youth problem AND a great number of the members who joined them in exiting the United Methodist Church are also senior citizens, meaning they are far from immune to the “aging out” process. Those of us in the remnant United Methodist Church are hoping that our emphasis on a broad welcome and an affirmation that God’s love and grace are available to ALL, might be a more attractive message to younger folk for the future, but right now, we are just reeling from the vacuum created by the schism. I also honestly believe the remnant United Methodist leadership is trying to do more to PRESERVE what we are and have than to see the tremendous opportunity we have to REFORM the church. “Territorial” disputes between judicatories and agencies may topple us, if we are not careful. Bishops need to “bish” and not gloat in their power, and agencies must be willing to think WAY outside the box, because the “box” is going to be much, much smaller. Can we build a church again that highlights the joys and benefits of belonging? Only if we stop the pissing contests and hear what the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us in this Romans 1 passage!

 

When my wife and I attend some function and I field the question, “Are you married?”, my answer is to point to Dara across the room and say, “I belong to her.” I don’t say it as a nod to “possession,” but as a statement that I AM married, and for me, this means being fully invested in this most precious relationship. I am also extremely proud to be committed to such an incredible person, Christian, and stimulating personality as Dara is. That she was willing to make this same commitment to me is almost beyond my understanding, but she DID, and I am forever using my best “resell” techniques on her to keep her convinced she didn’t make a big mistake! Am I worthy of the life-long commitment she made to me? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Am I grateful for it? Beyond reason. And am I willing to do all in my power to keep our relationship mutually fulfilling, successful, exciting, and growing? YES! I offer this as my “formula” for what Paul is suggesting when he states in verse 6 that we are “called to BELONG to Christ.” It’s not about possession, it’s about passion. It’s not about “doctrinal purity,” it’s about receiving grace and SPREADING grace. It’s not about “love” as some element of biblical interpretation, but about actually LOVING and BEING loved. We and Jesus want to do both. And while we aren’t “worthy” of Christ’s love, WE HAVE IT, and he sealed this relationship with his life, death, and resurrection. I learned years ago that to “belong” to something you truly believe in means that you have to commit your life to it, at least in some serious measure, “die” to those “better things that might come along,” and help put life back into the vision of the organization or relationship, especially when it is being endangered by apathy or change. So it is with our faith in Christ Jesus, so it is with our other significant relationships, and so it is with Christ’s body, the church. Now is not the time to bail out, it is the time to start bailing! Belonging to Christ means selling out whatever parts of ourselves that get in the way of being willing to commit, show up, and DO. 

 

There are so many parallels between my “belonging” to Jesus and my “belonging” to my spouse. Both of these commitments have overwhelmed the greatest majority of my 71 years on earth. When it comes to Dara, I love her, respect her, adore her, long to spend time with her doing about anything, and want to do all of the things that make her life meaningful and joyous. These are exactly the same things that energize my faith in God through Christ my Lord. “Lord” for me means “one who is worthy of my full attention.” It is NOT a mark of neither possession on God’s part, nor duty, on mine. That “Jesus is my Lord” means the same thing to me as “Dara is my wife.” Love, respect, adoration, mutuality of presence, and service are the operating words for both of these precious relationships. I have often said that a great metaphor for how God loves us is to look at how those of us who have been privileged to be parents love our children. And yet, the Bible tells us we are the “bride” of Christ and the “body” of Christ, which is far more of a “commitment” than is indicated by parentage. After all, good parents WANT their kids to “move on” and find their own life. God never wants that for us, and God forbid that WE ever believe we have “outgrown” what it means to belong to Christ! It is with this kind of passion and commitment that Paul says that we are CALLED to belong to Christ. Even in this, God is not an autocrat demanding our allegiance, but a lover, wooing us with grace. Friends, may we CELEBRATE what it means to BELONG in this Advent season! Shalom!

 

 

Advent III: Magnify

 

Advent III: Magnify

 

Luke 1:46b-55

My spirit rejoices in God 

 

1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, 

 

1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

 

1:48 for God has looked with favor on the lowly state of God’s servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

 

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name;

 

1:50 indeed, God’s mercy is for those who fear the Lord from generation to generation.

 

1:51 God has shown strength with God’s arm; the Lord has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

 

1:52 God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly;

 

1:53 God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

 

1:54 God has come to the aid of God’s child Israel, in remembrance of the divine mercy,

 

1:55 according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

 

 

The Magnificat of Mary doesn’t need a lot of amplification from this retired preacher, but when it made its annual appearance in the lectionary for Advent, what first caught my attention was a word in the opening strain: “Magnifies.”

 

Lots of things go through my mind with this word, including how we kids used to commandeer my dad’s magnifying glass to focus the Sun’s rays on things to set them on fire on a bright Summer’s day (no, we were more scientists than sadists, so no ants were harmed in this memory). I also harken back to the three or four telescopes and the two microscopes I owned as a youth, which I used to magnify the inner world of protozoa or delve closer to the celestial worlds of the Sun, Moon, planets, and far away star clusters and nebula. Everything was about magnification, of some sort. As I was also an avid photographer with my own darkroom though most of those years, I can remember asking my parents for a “long tom” lens for my single lens reflex camera for Christmas, one year. Hoping they had gotten my appeal, I remember sneaking into the secret “Santa’s hiding place” in the back of my parent’s walk-in closet one day when they were out. Sure enough, there it was. I skillfully opened the box, removed the lens, coupled it to my camera, and tested it out, peering out the bedroom window, and being amazed at how “close up” it magnified things. Of course, I just as skillfully replace it just as I found it, and brushed up on looking surprised for the Christmas morning performance.

 

As any of you know who read my Facebook posts or labor through a few of these weekly sermons, in retirement, I have again picked up my love of studying and imaging the heavens. I first purchased a small Meade telescope, and started charting the heavens around our light-polluted neighborhood of Seven Fields. The little scope did magnify enough of the heavens to re-whet my appetite for MORE magnifying power, which I recently began to satiate though the purchase of a giant, vintage Celestron Schmidt/Cassegrain telescope with an 8” mirror. It was always my “dream scope,” and thanks to a young man selling one he inherited from his uncle, I got it for a song, and have been about the process of restoring it. Now all I need is for a warm, clear night to give it a go, but I’m guessing this won’t happen until next April? Oh well…

 

Most of the photos I’ve been posting on Facebook are from another cosmic purchase I made. A few years ago, I read about something called a “smart telescope” being offered by the Interstellar company. Once turned loose, the “smart scope” would be steered by an app on your phone or an iPad. The app would use the sophisticated electronics in the telescope to ascertain where it was, and what celestial objects could be viewed at that time of night. After selecting a galaxy, star cluster, or nebula from its learned list, the scope would automatically slew to the object, lock in on it, and using its computer and GPS signal, track it, endlessly. Meanwhile, its sensitive internal camera would begin taking images of the object every 10 seconds, for as long as the observer would let it. These electronic images would be registered and stacked one on top of the other, allowing this compact device to produce an eye-popping, bright image of something long ago in a galaxy far away—one that “naked eye” viewing through a conventional telescope could never see. This radical device was FAR out of my price range, unfortunately, but I remained intrigued by its concept. Fast forward a couple of years, and a Chinese company—ZWO—that was famous for sensors used in high-tech astrophotography set the amateur astronomy world ablaze by introducing their version of the smart telescope. Called the “SeeStar,” it had so many automated systems it was hard to count, was very compact, so one could take on walkabout, AND was in my retired price range! The thing even has built in filtering to cope with Cranberry area’s prodigious light pollution! I put my name on the waiting list to get one, and as they say, the rest is history. Check out my Facebook feed to rifle through the myriad photos I have posted. The image I used with last week’s sermon was taken by the SeeStar from the deck of our townhouse. 

 

So, what does this science fair lesson have to do with the Magnificat of Mary? Back to that word, “Magnify.” My telescopes—smart or otherwise—don’t alter the majesty of God’s cosmic lightshow. They simply magnify it, so I and others can stand amazed. Even as the scriptures tell us that “the heavens declare the glory of God,” so do these “local” tools give us a closeup view of it by simply magnifying it. When Mary declares that her “soul magnifies the Lord,” she is not boasting one iota. In an act of personal and praiseworthy volition, Mary is focusing her soul on the reality of something wonderful God is about to do, shining its light for all the world to see. Her soul is “smart scoping” the glory of God that will be the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. In this simple phrase, Mary is confessing that she fully realizes that she will not be the key player in this unfolding salvific drama, but that her existence now will be slewed in on lifting up her Lord and the Lord’s Christ. Mary’s soul will act like one of those great telescopes perched on Mount Palomar, or like the Hubble, floating out in space, high above the pollution of this world that obfuscates the beauty and majesty of God’s redeeming act. But HER “magnification” is but the first act of a continuing drama.

 

Every believer who has been touched by Christ has an opportunity to make our own “soul image” of God’s heavenly glory and stack it with all the others produced by their Christian lives as well. Like how the SeeStar is able to stack its images of distant “glories” so as to magnify their light, their countenance, and their colors so we can see them here on earth, so the church and the “images” its people produce through witness, acts of mercy and kindness, and loving God and neighbor, are stacked up as a testimony to the world that has not yet seen the glory. One more interesting “technical” fact: If the smart telescope just piled its recorded images on top of each other, they wouldn’t properly “register,” one with the next, and a blurred, unrecognizable final image would result. This is due to the passage of time and the rotation of the earth, as the scope records its “every 10 second” images. SO, the smart telescope digitally “plate solves” them, using all of this data, and adjusts them so they stack perfectly, providing a crystal clear image of the object in question. In this metaphor of how we in the church magnify what God is up to by stacking our “images,” it is the role of the Holy Spirit to “plate solve” them, making sure that the final “picture” we produce doesn’t distort or blur how it translates God to the world. At least this is what we PRAY will happen!

 

As we read through the rest of this famous Lukan passage, we see that what God is up to is quite a tall order, and that all our souls are being called upon to magnify and transmit this glory parallels just what Mary is proclaiming for her own soul. Mary is doing what I do each time I peer at the heavens with my telescope or gaze upon the final image from the smart telescope of a piece of God’s handiwork. Believe me, I don’t do anything but WONDER at what I see. I never think, “Boy am I GREAT that I can make this equipment see this stuff,” or in any way can I take credit for the miracle that unfolds when the light of God’s glory hits my eye or is relayed to my screen from the SeeStar’s sensor. That Mary was chosen to “magnify the Lord” through birthing the Savior into the world did not give her grounds to boast on anything SHE was doing, but instead, she was to be the means to for all of us to see it. Her soul was the lens, even as our souls AND the church is to be our world’s “lens” to see what God is up to right now. 

 

I will forever be amazed how most of the objects I view through my telescopes may not even exist anymore, but because they are so far away, their light may continue to arrive here on earth millions of years after they are gone. Robert Fulghum, the author of the popular book, Everything I Need to know, I learned in Kindergarten, would later write that he hopes that his life and its witness would be like these cosmic objects—that its “light” would continue to shine long after its “source” (him) was gone. May our witness for the majesty and glory of Christ our Lord likewise continue to shine after WE’RE gone! May we, like Mary and my telescopes, MAGNIFY the glory of God for all the world to see! Amen.

Advent II: Roots and Shoots

 

Isaiah 11:1-10

A ruler brings justice and peace 

 

11:1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

 

11:2 The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

 

11:3 His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear,

 

11:4 but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

 

11:5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

 

11:6 The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them.

 

11:7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

 

11:8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.

 

11:9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

 

11:10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

 

 

I know you really don’t want to say that word, “shoot,” much these days, as with the overwhelming amount of gun violence we are experiencing as the “Nation of Guns,” that‘s the first thing people think of when they hear “shoot.” However, this passage in Isaiah is talking about the kind of shoot that plant puts forth, as it’s growing up from its roots. I guess it’s safe to go there?

 

Now, I have to qualify the rule I’m about to break: we learned in seminary that we should not just “steal” passages from the Hebrew Bible and say they are talking about Jesus. The Hebrew Bible—the Old Testament to Christians—does not fully “belong” to us, as for thousands of years, it has been part holy writ for our Jewish siblings. But, with apologies to my good friend and Professor of Hebrew Bible, Dr. Steven Tuell, I will hold this passage up alongside the “promise” of a messiah, and for Christians, that messiah IS Jesus. Now, I’ll hedge my bets by saying that I’m not going to say this lectionary passage is talking about Jesus, but it sure sounds like it could describe what we have come to know about our Jesus. This reminds me of a story:

 

An brilliant, young elementary school teacher was asked by her pastor to give the children’s sermon on a given Sunday. As she gathered the children around her at the front of the chancel, being a good teacher, she wanted to get their attention and draw them into the story she was to tell. She started by saying, “I’m thinking of something that is furry, gray, lives in trees, and collects nuts for the Winter. What am I thinking about?” Several of the youngsters started waving hands, and she called on an excited boy in the front row, who responded, “Well…I KNOW it’s supposed to be JESUS, but it sure sounds like a SQUIRREL to ME!”

 

In our case with the Isaiah 11(Proto-Isaiah) passage, “I KNOW it’s supposed to be the future hope of God’s people Israel who were “cruisin’ for a bruisin’” before being exiled to Babylon, but it sure sounds like JESUS to ME!” We’ll leave it at that.

 

Roots are important to anything that grows. They take nourishment from the earth and funnel it, as needed, to the fledgling plant. Roots are unseen, but vital to the survival of the organism. The pastor in me wants to immediately point to the myriad leaders in our local churches who “fly under the radar,” but who are vital to the organism we call the church. These are indeed people who nourish and anchor the church, as roots do most plants. Like teachers, these local church leaders have always been my personal heroes. I can tell you stories about them for days. Here are just a few.

 

In my first church, there were people like Jim and Julie. Jim was a “blue collar “fellow who headed our trustees. He was one of the most genuine and committed human beings I have ever met. He would do anything to help the church and its mission. Interestingly, while a welder in his daily work, he was a visionary in his spirituality. If Jim was convinced something was a good idea, he had the “street cred” to sell it to the rest of the congregation. Early on, he decided that the “young spark” I brought to his church was what it needed, and he became my most important “get it done” leader. Indeed, I could tell you “Jim” stories all day long, too, as his spirit is what gave my pastoral leadership power in that church. Together, we helped that church recover from nearly closing, to become a vital, growing body, a state that lasted well beyond my ministry there, and one that bucked the tide of what was happening in that community, economically.

 

Julie was the Mom of our second-youngest family in the church. She had a love for God, people, and Christian Education. She had tried for years before I arrived to “revive” the children’s ministry of that church, but I would say that the church was in such a depressed state that her efforts were often met with more apathy than would fuel her energy, and very little took root. I came along as a “wet behind the ears” seminarian and student pastor, and discovered her passion for not just children’s ministry, but congregational ministry, as well. We made a good team, and soon, aided by the enthusiasm of the only other young family in that congregation at the time, built an effective program ministry that sent shoots out into the community. Julie even feed energy and ideas into the youth ministry that I so passionately wanted to launch, and her three “kids” became the roots of that, as well. The Jims and Julies, Clints and Bonnies, and the praying Velmas not only got me through seminary, while I served as their pastor, but they provided the incredible “nuclear force” that gave that church great hope, and turned it around to be a force of love in that community for many more years. These stories are far from unusual. In fact these “root” stories are typical for every successful pastor I know. Just ask them! They will start giving you names and tales of resourceful, loving, committed people—people brilliant beyond their formal status—whose faith, compassion, and energy boosted revival like the first stage of a rocket. If I we pastors would claim any “genius” or “Holy Spirit prompting” in their saga, it would be that we FOUND them and turned them loose! I’ve often thought about writing a book about these “roots” people in my church life, but haven’t, for fear it would be boring to the readers, but would keep me crying non-ceasing tears of joy and gratitude, in their remembrance. I do that without a book. In my occasional sleepless moments, I think about the Jims, and the Julies, the Faiths and the Brians, the Brents and the Johns, and the Barbaras and the Georges. And not to forget the Bobs and the Davids, and the Garys and the…well, you get the picture.

 

Roots and shoots. These are still the stuff of what that old hymn says, “How FIRM a Foundation…” That hymn reminds us that Jesus is truly the “foundation” of what the church will be, and he BECAME because of the deep, deep historical and spiritual roots that gave him life. HE became the shoot that launched His church. Do you see how easy it is to put Jesus into the description of the Hero of Israel described in Isaiah 11? The SPIRIT will rest on him…a spirt of WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING? Of COUNSEL and MIGHT? “He shall judge with righteousness” and work for equity for the poor and the oppressed. This WOKE hero…sorry, I just can’t resist using this APPROPRIATE term that has been so disparaged by modern political “leaders”…this humble Savior who will both teach us how to love our neighbor AND God, and will demonstrate ultimate compassion through his own personal sacrifice. This miraculous Jesus who will not let death actually kill things, most especially God’s vision for God’s people.  Do you see why this is an important Advent passage offering the currently hurting church HOPE for a future yet to unfold? The true good news is that we don’t have to GET it to GET it! God’s salvation, re-visioning of the world, and the reconciling of all of God’s people TO God are going to happen, and the lion WILL lie down with the Lamb, and hurt and destruction WILL come to an end, whether we “get” it, or not, as God is the agent of this transformation, and Jesus is the hero of the story. HE is the shoot coming forth from the ROOT of Jesse, ultimately from the very ROOT of God, Godself. This is big, friends, and the whole thing is STILL unfolding. We’re not talking just heilsgeschichte (salvation history) here, but the future that is coming. Isn’t this really the focus of Advent? 

 

I keep thinking about all those “dormant” folk in some of the churches I served, who were trying to get something done to advance their congregations, but who just needed a spark from the pulpit and a “HEAR! HEAR!” in church meetings from their pastor to send up a new shoot. Today, because of schisms and financial challenges, changes in the spiritual mores and practices (or lack thereof) in the culture, the church has slipped into a bit of a dormant “root” organization. This wonderful Isaiah passage gives us SO MUCH hope, reminding us that, not only has God not abandoned us, but that the Holy Spirit of God is waking up the “root stock” of the church, and inspiring a new generation of pastoral leaders to feed, inspire, turn them loose, and then get out of the way of the “shooters” who will make God’s dream a reality. I know that this all sounds so far-fetched, especially for those of you in churches hurt so severely by the evils of the “disaffiliation,” or whatever other schism your denomination has endured, but Isaiah LIVES to encourage us and to turn US loose to preach this Good News. Roots run deep, and they hold us together until the shoots can launch upward.

 

And what is the lesson for the individual in this text? First of all don’t be afraid to ask your “tough questions” of God. The text promises that God will allow our inquiries, and the greatest spiritual advancements I have ever witnessed have come from asking good questions, without expecting pat-answers. When Jesus said “Ask, and it shall be given you,” I’m convinced this wasn’t a promise about “stuff,” but answers. “Nations shall inquire of him” is a wonderful prophecy, and as we are living in a time when nations don’t seem to know what to do to actually BE great, it seems like as good a time as any for them to “inquire” of a Higher Power for some answers. For each of us, this is surely just as true! Form your questions to interrogate the Almighty, for it is in forming good questions that roots get “rooted” and shoots may begin to grow. Only in challenging God can we gain the courage, wisdom, and understanding to form for ourselves a purpose beyond the paycheck and a faith that is fervent, not frivolous. Roots and shoots are a much better launch pad for your future than chance and blind hope. And the text is right, that a “little child shall lead them,” for who has more vision than a child, and energy to match?

 

Your assignment for Advent Two is to read this passage over several times, ponder who the “root people” have been in your spiritual journey, and then to figure out how to recover the “childlike” spirit within yourself. And finally, think about what shoot you will send forth in the community of faith you call “home.” Shalom, Dear Ones!