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A new season of the Christian Year–a New Day?– begins this weekend with the First Day of Advent.  This mysterious season is often ignored because it’s a dark period of waiting for the light of Christmas.  The secular world has already proclaimed Christmas WITHOUT waiting:  homes in my neighborhood boast lights on their landscaping, and some have inflatable snowmen and plastic reindeer.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday attest to our basic faith that the Right Gift will ensure domestic tranquility for at least a few months…  As Santa sharpens his Claws, some of us will acknowledge a few weeks of darkness as we strain for the Light.

The writer of Isaiah 64:1-9 (prior to 515 BC) speaks of Israel’s disorientation upon returning from exile, and the attached loss of community awareness.  “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth…. There is no one who calls on your name…”  A remarkably contemporary commentary!  Out of this darkness comes a plea for forgiveness, and a reminder that “we are all [God’s] people”.  Yes, it is dark.

Paul opens his pungent Letter to the Corinthians with words of appreciation (I, 1:3-9).  He thanks God that they are “not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ”.  In our Darkness before the Dawn, it’s right to consider existing strengths.  The Church in Corinth expected the Ultimate Advent to occur any time now:  they saw their role as one of preparation for the great and glorious day, in order that they may be blameless.  As they waited, they put candles in their windows to guide the ChristChild and to dispel the social gloom surrounding. Yes, it is dark.

Mark’s Gospel (13:24-37) is cheerless.  As the Son of Man returns to earth, both sun and moon will be snuffed.  Sailors & others who depend on the stars for guidance (astrologers, too?) will find nothing to guide them.  So “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.”  Although centuries have elapsed, can we yet trust that there’s light beyond darkness?  Seers through the ensuing decades have announced the End of the World; although we laugh at them and their craziness, there’s a soul-shared anticipation that God is about to do a new thing.  One thing’s for sure:  yes, it is dark.

Pastor Michelle had an illuminating comment the other day:  we don’t light a candle if it’s not dark.  The Advent message then may be to acknowledge the Dark–and God’s Presence even though.

O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thy justice here;                  disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.         Rejoice!  Rejoice!  Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
God Bless Us, Every One                         Horace Brown King

My thoughts about scripture lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

Hey!  Anybody here?  Anyone in charge of this messy world, this mish-mash of humanity all trying to get the best of each other?  Only a narcissist, a poseur would want to try to run things in such an unpredictable place.  Pipeline spills and traffic jams are but symptoms of a tarnished culture based on materialism.  To whom shall I complain?  Is there anybody who actually cares?  Scripture lessons for this weekend help us to celebrate the Reign of Christ, and may resonate with those disillusioned because their Thanksgiving didn’t look like Norman Rockwell’s…

The Ezekiel reading (34:11-16, 20-24)  addresses those who long for the restoration of Israel and the Good Old Days.  Despite their scattering, God’s People will be personally gathered from the clouds and darkness, and brought to “their own land”.    Those who’ve gotten fat by pushing & shoving will go to The Sale, while those who’re respectful and sharing will live in pleasant pastures under the guidance of the Good Shepherd, a reincarnation of David.

St. Paul wasn’t a sheep guy, so you won’t find them mentioned in the Ephesian lesson (1:15-23).  You WILL find the affirmation that God has given control of All Things to Christ, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named”.   To me, this is good news, since I’m really fatigued with running my head into the wall by standing up for immigrant rights, Social Security and environmental protection.  No victory dance yet–but we do have permission and direction to live in mutual care and responsibility as we believe that God’s Kingdom is really happening.

Only Matthew includes the Judgment of Sheep and Goats (25:31-46) in the Gospel account.  His corner of the Church, mostly of the Jewish tradition, is well-steeped in the shepherd/sheep analogy.  But he takes it further to surprise both Sheep & Goats with an observation of their compassion:  “WHEN, Lord did we see you…?”  And the litmus test dealt with “the least of these” who were nourished, clothed and affirmed –or not.  The purpose then & now is not to terrorize the timid into avoiding eternal fire, but to remind all believers that we’re accountable to the needy of our society.  The day will come, evidently, when those who’ve talked the talk will be asked how they’ve walked the walk.

Words of Henri Nouwen bolster me for these worrisome seasons:  “What is new is that we no longer experience the many things, people, and events as endless causes for worry, but begin to experience them as the rich variety of ways in which God makes [God’s] presence known to us.”  (ALL THINGS NEW)  Rejoice and Be Thankful!

God Bless Us, Every One                           Horace Brown King

My wrestling with the lections for the upcoming weekend may be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

A bumper sticker told me, “Jesus is coming soon–and boy, is he mad!”  Do I really want to address Final Things this morning?  Perhaps we turn to the apocalypse as a hope for ultimate goodness (God) to prevail over the evil system/government/culture; these lessons MAY help articulate our angst.  Be careful:  we can easily blaspheme by ascribing human emotions and jealousies to God.  In back of all the wrath is an over-riding grace.

Zephaniah prophesied at the time of King Josiah (640-609 BC).  Unlike Amos of last week’s reading, this prophet doesn’t mention the poor and downtrodden, but rails against palace corruption and impure worship (1:12-18).  He saw the nation’s citizens as a Whole, condemning all who rest “on their dregs” (?) and who say in their hearts that God can’t hurt ME.  Soon will be the Dies irae, dies magna calamitatus et miserie.  Those who like to preach on social sins can expand this warning to today especially.  Lest you think that Zephaniah eliminates grace, read Chapter 3.  The entire oracle is only 3 chapters:  to prepare, why not read it all at one sitting, to get the flow?

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (I, 5:2).   The text is an admonition to stay on your toes, keeping awake and sober.  It implies that the Christian congregation should involve itself in acts of charity and compassion which demonstrate that God has all of daily history–even its final throes–well in hand.  The busy Thessalonians are also urged to keep an eye open as the Kingdom unfolds, in order not to be preoccupied by their worthy labors.  “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ”

Matthew’s story about the Distribution of the Talents/Treasure (25:14-30) could be a presentation about developing the gifts God has given.  I’ve done it.  But with these other two readings, it may be good to spin out what happens when the master returns and asks how things have developed.  There’s plenty of wrath when he finds out that Slave Number Three was so afraid that he hid his share without risk!    It flies against Divine Generosity and heavenly trust, and is rightly an offense.  Even though the master isn’t looking over our shoulder–don’t allegorize!–we’re still entrusted to nurture and possibly increase the gifts with which we’ve been blessed.

Lord knows that Hollywood has capitalized greatly on the idea of the destruction of the world!  Alas, too many other Christian groups have preached on the humanized wrath and vengeance of a jealous God.  My own first impulse is to shove all of this under the rug in order to celebrate only the seasonal harvests of farm ‘n’ field.  BUT these expressions of worry and fear are part of our Holy Writ, and should be addressed.  Be it known that the Day of the Lord is but one more Day of Creation, and should be seen as that which makes Perfect that which has already been called Good…

God Bless Us, Every One                           Horace Brown King

My fussing over scripture lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

Here in New York state, in the mid-1800’s, there was a great interest in the Second Coming of Christ.  Various leaders created imaginative charts, using numerology and astrological tables, to pinpoint the exact hour of this Second Advent.   Some believers gave away their property and quit their jobs.  Advent Societies sprang up across the state, and some remain to this day!  “Inquiring minds want to know” all about the Future and consult charts, oracles and (too often) the Bible for proof of their own safety when the earth implodes.  This weekend’s scriptures concern  themselves  with OUR concern about the Ultimate Advent.

Amos, the “non-prophet” from Tekoa  (the south), tries to speak daily reality to those awful northerners (5:18-24).  “Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!  Why do you want the day of the Lord?”  This would be the “Day of Terror, Day of Wrath” still part of the Mass.  This would be filled with evil powers chasing down the devout:  a lion from one direction, a bear from another–and even for those who pant against the doorframe of sanctuary,  a viper in the dark to offer the coup d’gras…  All these festivals, burnt offerings and anthems won’t help a bit, unless justice and righteousness prevail in abundance.  Our religiosity is so much fluff if our daily ethics are shallow.

Poor Paul unknowingly has added fuel to the Adventists worries (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).  He’s not trying to outline the mechanics of the Ultimate Coming (meeting the Lord in the air troubles my acrophobia) as he is to reassure those who’ve lost a loved one to death.  “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.”  Bottom line:  there IS Life beyond our physical death–and Jesus has our backs.

Matthew’s Gospel (the Wise & Foolish Maidens, 25:1-13) brings some sticky questions:  do we allegorize this to mean the ultimate coming?  and why didn’t the prepared maidens share some of their oil?  and what are the cell-phone numbers of the foolish girls??  This is another of those Stay Alert stories of which Jesus was fond:  we don’t know when God is going to begin a new phase of history–so be ready.  The foolish maidens are chided because they either didn’t think that the Bridegroom could be “detained” or else they didn’t believe that he’d show at all.

And so, dear Church, put away all the reluctant show of devotion and walk the walk of justice & righteousness.  Death is a reality, but Jesus has even this under control.  And keep watching for God at work:  come quickly, Lord Jesus!  While we wait, life goes on…

God Bless Us, Every One                             Horace Brown King

My thoughts about scripture readings for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com