Some time ago there was a cartoon of BC, who asked, “Lord, give me a sign”. You guessed it–a portable marquee blew off a hotel and crushed him! Believers and unbelievers alike look for–expect?–signs of a change in systems, changes to our otherwise bland lives. Scriptures for this last Sunday in Advent address this need, hoping against hope that an indulgent Creator will send a star-child to save us from ourselves.
ISAIAH of Jerusalem (7:10-16) lifts up the passage where King Ahaz, petrified by the warlike coalition of Kings Rezin & Pekah, stands by the Upper Pool in Jerusalem to check on the city’s water supply in case of battle. Here Isaiah finds him and offers a sign from God. Ahaz turns this down, but Isaiah gives him a sign anyway. Gospel evangelists try to make this a prophecy of JESUS, but this would be untimely: Isaiah merely says that “life goes on”, and that this child of Ahaz will inherit the throne of David. Are there signs which God continues to give which may remind us of the continuity of life? Advent people, travelers and tourists alike, are reminded by these signs that God is Near.
And so Paul begins his letter to the ROMANS with his statement of belief (1:1-6). This in itself is a sign, not only of the depth which he is about to unpack, but of the nearness of God in Christ. According to Paul, the only appropriate response to the Christ Child, born and matured, is one of Faith: a deep belief that God is still in charge. The audacious message of the Church on Christmas and throughout the year is that despite ugly headlines and brutal behavior God is still in charge.
The Gospel, MATTHEW 1:18-25, is the account of a troubled Joseph trying to decide whether or not to officially marry the pregnant Mary. Heartbroken, dream-shattered, Joseph concludes that it would be best to just “dismiss her quietly”. BUT, as you know, an angel spoke to him in a dream, saying, “Don’t be afraid! This Child will be important and will save the people.” Years ago, when I was in Seminary, Charles Schultz wrote a book called “Savior!? Who Needs a Savior?” The answer, of course, is that we ALL do, each generation and each individual. Perhaps this is the Advent task of the Church, to help our contemporaries see a sign of change. Have we saved ourselves? Or have we trusted that Immanuel is near to fulfill our empty days??
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
Come join me every Tuesday as the lessons for the upcoming weekend puncture our preconceptions–at horacebrownking.com
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