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The house in which I grew up was about a mile from “town”–the drugstore, post office, church & school; and since my folks had no car, I usually walked to Scouts, Youth Groups and gathering with friends. Although there were several houses scattered along the road, it was pretty dark! But every 300 yards or so, there were borough street-lights which gave a meager sanctuary from the Things That Go Bump in the Night. Did I tell you about the cemetery? And the grove of Norway Spruce that groaned and creaked in the wind? I learned to be a really fast walker, sometimes almost sprinting between the small glimmers of light…

We’re about to celebrate Epiphany, a whole season of light! “Epiphany” is Greek for “a revelation”, a sudden enlightenment. Readings for Sunday and six weeks following will tell of God’s Glory being manifest within a dark world. Starting with Isaiah, we’re urged to “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (60:1) Yes, the earth seems drowned in darkness; but, People of God, “his glory will appear over YOU. Nations shall come to your light, and kings (three?) to the brightness of your dawn.” (v.2) “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.” (v.6)

Paul’s enthusiasm is more subtle, yet he speaks to the Ephesian Church about “the mystery of Christ”. “Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things…” (3:1-12) Lessons for Epiphany center on the “Go, Tell” concept; Paul sees an Apostle’s duty as showing the places where Divine Understanding shines through.

Matthew’s Gospel tells the Three Kings story, without which Christmas would be lacking. For these were Gentiles, probably unaware of Messianic hopes and predictions. And because they were Gentiles, we too obtain credentials to peer into the manger! Many images can nourish us: a majestic star; kneeling in reverence before the Holy Family; offering of sacred gifts; and, no means least, returning home “by another way”.

Star-chasers all, we make journeys to holy sites where God has dwelt among us. The pilgrimage itself is a form of commitment, as is the selection of meaningful treasure. Having glimpsed Divine Glory, we can no longer travel in the same way, for we’ve changed and must take a new road. As this New Year unfolds, I wish you an exhilarating journey to and with God! May you be constantly changed by the Baby in the Manger!

God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King

I’ve always liked the Twelve Days of Christmas; not just the song about a bird nut, but the actual days. Glassy-eyed, we put away assorted toys and trace down scraps of tissue and tinsel where the cat has chased them under the couch. These are days to sit deep in the early evening under the tree-lights, days to replay the zest of children of all ages who’ve visited during the last several days… Sunday’s readings exult in the ultimate Presence of the Holy after the Rush is over.

Don’t disdain Third Isaiah (chapters 56-66) just because we know so little about this author (or authors). These happy chapters overflow with tidings of comfort and joy, and remind God’s People then & now that a holy dawn comes to even those who dwell in deep darkness. Let the presenter not just read this passage (61:10-62:3), but DECLAIM it: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.” (62:1) The entire world will marvel at our new apparel, and the renewed flame which burns within us, which we wear as a crown of beauty!

The Galatians, people of what’s now central Turkey, knew little about Jewish life and tradition. So Paul needed to write to them about Jesus coming in “the fullness of time.” (4:4) This is but a small shard of a much greater concept of the Birth of Jesus for the Whole World, Jews & Gentiles alike. It’s a message of renewal, of freedom for the captives and light for the lost. Christmas is a message of what God has already done, would that we Galatians know this burning torch of rescue.

Every congregation has a Simeon and an Anna, and thanks to Luke for pointing this out! (2:22-40) Where would we be without the ancient saints who show up as soon as the doors are open–maybe having their own key–who know the traditions and where the bodies are buried, who can show us where the light switches are? More, the Simeons & Annas embody devotion, prayer and loyalty: they are the Pillars of the Church. The “original” Simeon longed to see Messiah; two alternatives spring out of the story. He “would not see death” (v.26), but now has “seen your salvation.” (v.30) These days of Christmas tell the Returned Exiles, the alien Galatians, and the saints long gone and yet to come that God’s salvation blazes in the darkness like a burning torch!

May your Christmas be blessed with the warmth of God’s People, and be filled with cheer and hope and merriment!

God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King

Here we are, finally, at the Last Sunday in Advent! Like Lent, Advent is supposed to be an up ‘n’ down experience of spiritual joys face-to-face with yearning for Something More. In venerating the Little Town of Bethlehem, Phillips Brooks nicely referred to “the hopes and fears of all the years” met there at the Manger of the Incarnation. Closer and closer we creep, rising on tiptoe to glimpse the glory.

Lessons for this week speak to an audacious Hope that God is yet in charge. In II Samuel we meet King David’s angst about living in a fine palace while Yahweh “lives” in a wooden chest in a tent. (7:1-11) “You can’t make a house to contain me,” says the Lord. “Rather, I will make for YOU a ‘house’: a great name, and a place for my people, and a rest from your enemies.” We often worry about how our children’s children will cope with the surrounding attitudes of greed and anger. Yet God gives us a trans-history message: “your throne shall be established forever.” (v.16)

Instead of a Psalm, The Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55) may be read. This is Mary’s song after Gabriel announced her pregnancy with Jesus. This shouldn’t be read sweetly, but as a radical foreshadowing of how the world will be overturned! The coming Christ will vanquish injustice and oppression…

Paul’s concluding sentence of his message to the Roman Church–take a long breath–is an Advent-like surrender of himself to the ongoing divinity of The Christ, “according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages.” (16:25-27) He says that it has been, and is also yet unfolding.

Luke’s Gospel account is that of the conversation between the Angel and Mary. It could be a Call to Worship: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (1:28) As before, the hearer is invited to become David, to become Mary, to transcend the historical in order to know how God is involving each member of the faith-community in every Season of Advent.

The signs are all about us — in the desperate faces of single mothers at the laundromat; the glossy catalogues of toys for all ages, offered at obscene prices; the bell-ringers at Walmart, greeting people shopping in their pajamas; wreathes made of gift packages at Penny’s; parents of toddlers standing in line to scare their children with a close encounter with an Old Bearded Guy. For what do we yearn? “O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today.”

God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King

What is a prophet? Back in Seminary Days–the last century–we learned that a prophet was someone who spoke for God, someone who announced what God was about to do…or had already begun. This Third Weekend of Advent we’re to meet three prophetic voices who speak to the community of the People of God. More than interesting history, they have much to say to this People today: about justice, about hope, about God’s not giving up on us.

The first prophet we meet will be Isaiah, or someone in his tradition, speaking encouragement to the renewed Jerusalem being built back after the Exile. He announces that a New Age is at hand: “He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners…” (61:1) Here is a systemic change and transformation: can it be that an in-breaking God could realign our community? “…I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendents shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples….”(v.8,9)

The second prophet is the Apostle Paul, here writing to the Thessalonians. “So do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (I, 5:19-21) This new community which God is building is to anticipate an ongoing reprise of the angelic song of the night all Heaven broke loose! “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely….The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” (vv.23-24)

Our third prophet is John the Baptizer who “was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.” (John 1:8) “Who are you?”, the world asked. “What do you say about yourself?” Fair questions for Advent; would that they’d be asked of US! John replied to the world that he was the Announcer for Someone Great, who exceeded all of their expectations, “one whom you do not know.” (1:26) Does our reply deal with bringing Good News to the oppressed?

Donna Schaper gives us a prayer for today– O God, we know that salvation is at hand, and yet we walk as a people in danger, a people unconvinced that your time is nearly here, that it has in some ways already arrived. We walk as though there is a hand at our back, pushing us downward, keeping us from a steady march through this Advent season. Shelter us from fear. Console us. Help us understand what it is that we worry about, and then place us back on your path. Send us straight to Bethlehem. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God Bless Us, Every One… Horace Brown King

Sometimes I think I’m speaking Martian. If the conversation turns to ethics or moral behavior, I’m met with blank stares. Saying things about Advent in the midst of nostalgic sparkle and commercial glitz draws the same stares. There was a bell-ringer at the exit of Walmart, this afternoon, and I wished him a hearty “Merry Christmas!”–to which he replied, “Yeah. Right.”

It’s the Second Week of Advent, and we yearn for a Voice of Reason (?) to cry out Peace and Love in the Wilderness. Over-saturated already with images of greed provided merrily by some imposter of an ancient saint known for his generosity, we compensate by imitating Ol’ Ebenezer Scrooge. Isaiah of Babylon begins his message of release to the despairing captives, “A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'” (40:3)

When St. Peter mentioned Black Friday, he was thinking about the Crucifixion and Redemption; how would he have dealt with Cyber Monday? To him, Advent was this time between the Old Order and the New, an acknowledgement of the Daily Crunch AND a hopeful affirmation that God was On the Way. “In accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish…” (II Peter 3:13-14) Will this Voice be heard in the Wilderness?

The Gospel Reading comes from Mark’s concise account of Jesus’ ministry, centering upon John the Baptizer. Mark affirms that the Voice of Alternate Values is that of John: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” The Straight Path here proclaimed is one of Truth & Justice, of Love and Respect: it’s our Advent vision-statement, and the rest of the world seems to expect us to unpack it every year and decorate it. Your voice in the wilderness?

One of the ladies at last week’s book-study talked about the Voices of straight living (conscience?) which often filled her head. In an amazing flash of insight, I replied that my challenge was to separate the Voices from the Vices! (How clever!) So my personal Advent discipline is one of discernment, to listen for the authentic Voice within the vale of guilt and greed which often has highjacked Christmas…

God Bless Us, Every One! Horace Brown King