Where’s Waldo?

For me, it’s hard to find Jesus in a crowd. For sure, he’s not the dorky-looking guy in a striped sweater. Lessons to be read this weekend are about knowing that the Redeemer will come–but where? And how? We pew-sitters are reminded that we’re to expect God to re-enter our lives (despite the tinsel) and also to look actively for the signs of the Holy in our midst.

ISIAIAH 11:1-10 tells us that “a root will spring forth from the stump of Jesse”. When I pastored in Montrose, there was a huge cotton-wood tree growing in the property kitty-corner from the Parsonage. It was a DIIRTY tree: every midsummer would find bushels of “cotton” pouring down in the neighborhood. Finally, to everyone’s relief, the owners decided to take it down. But the next Spring, lines of shoots appeared in our neighbors’ yards, sprung from the roots still remaining in the ground. Even though David’s house had fallen into disrepair, says the prophet, be of good cheer! He will judge justly, and “the nations shall inquire of him…”

ROMANS 15:4-13 tells us about God’s steadfast love and our response to it. Despite our differences–the lion and the lamb–we’re to accept one another with open arms, seeing here the face of God in Christ. The Advent message, then, is to begin again with others (and ourselves) even as we peer into the manger.

John the Baptizer is a strange dude. Here in MATTHEW 3:1-12 we meet him in the wilderness, Where the Wild Things Are. Where the Christmas lights are not. To me, his baptism ministry is secondary to his preachment that the Chosen of God is near, that “his winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary” and will burn the leftovers. It’s a warning to those who think their lives are righteous that God’s expectations demand both confession and renewal.

Thomas Merton has said, “The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all that is in us that is not of Christ”. In this Holy Season, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Every Tuesday in Advent and throughout the year, we meet here to be touched by God through scriptures to be heard on the upcoming weekend. Come join us!