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It’s the first day of Advent, the first weekend in a new Christian year: a time for anticipation, not just of Christmas or a COVID vaccine, but for a continued revelation of a God who breaks into our not-perfect systems of military power and the triage of those unfortunates who are just not gonna make it… Each generation has a domination system of its own, whether based on racial inequality or unfair economics or political selfishness. Those few who worship with us will get to experience for themselves the rush of recognizing a caring God who keeps coming back to break into the rat-race.

We first hear from Third Isaiah’ miscellaneous oracles lamenting the perceived separation of The People from God. Newly returned from exile, this remnant “have all become like one who is unclean, and all of our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.” (64:6) The People then just as now long for a heavenly intervention to overthrow the System which favors only a few, and that for but a brief time. Pastor Michelle usually opens prayer-time with the question, “Where have you seen God at work?” Donald Booz reminds us that “recognizing God’s presence may be a daily task….Watching with eyes to see is the call of Isaiah to the people of faith….Advent becomes a season of attentiveness to the presence of God already among us.” (FEASTING on the WORD, B 1:7)

Paul opens his First Letter to the Corinthians (1:3-9) by recognizing what’s already happening within this congregation: “in every way you have been enriched in [Christ] , in speech and knowledge of every kind…so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He skillfully begins to shift the hearer’s focus away from “worldly” standards toward the enduring marks of God’s Kingdom. They (and we) are to become a “peculiar people” within a culture of winning vs. losing through this active expectation of Jesus’ s leveling grace. Jesus exhorts the faithful to stay awake and alert, for the Kingdom is already knocking at the door!

Mark’s Gospel remembers words of Jesus about the Ultimate Day of the Lord, 13:24-37. At that time the universe will be turned inside-out, and nothing that was familiar shall endure. The Grace of Jesus will level the playing-field so that the poor and needy will be equal to rulers and all those who’ve gotten rich from instruments of oppression. So Jesus exhorts the Faithful to stay awake and alert: to keep watch for the signs of the Kingdom already manifesting themselves in the strangest of places…

Marcus Borg writes (READING the BIBLE AGAIN for the FIRST TIME), “In whatever historical form it takes, ancient or modern, empire is the opposite of the Kingdom of God as disclosed in Jesus….God is Lord; the kingdoms and cultures of this world are not.” And in Revelation 11, “the kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever!” Hallelujia!

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounters with the scriptures assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space in Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

This won’t have anything at all to do with Dvorak’s Symphony #9. It may have a LOT to do with a song recorded about 50 years ago by The Mamas & The Papas, “There’s a New World Coming (and it’s just around the bend).” Yep, we of the Age of Aquarius figured that love/peace/joy and other grace-filled wonders of Holy Life were already in place, that it was just a matter of time… Readings for the upcoming weekend are reinforcement for those of us who still gain a flash of optimism about a loving and generous God.

Ezekiel’s oracle of 34:11-16, 20-24 announces that God is going to show the inept shepherds of Israel how it’s done. V.23 tells us/them “I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David [the messiah] and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.” The Son of David is to be prince over the People and shall reign as Lord, being both immeasurably generous and calling the People to accountability–there will always be those who will consume more than they need.

The Epistle continues to speak of the exaltation of Christ: “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised (Jesus) from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,…above every name that is named, not only in this age but in the age to come.” (Ephesians 1:21) The writer believed that this has already happened, as do I and the Mamas & the Papas. Believers thus can endure the confusions of daily living and the surrounding unfairness; no longer do we cringe in the shadows, wondering what a hostile authority is gonna do today…

Matthew looks forward to End Times when Jesus will come again to sift out the “sheep & goats” (25:31-46). Many will be surprised: they had no idea that they were honoring Christ when they helped the least and neediest. Conversely, many who thought they were adhering to the Law of Being Good were shocked to know that they had ignored Jesus in these same poor. Here are terms of a renewed Eden as serious disciples attempt to affirm the worth of those created in the Image of God. It’s a matter of recognition, isn’t it? “When did we see you, Lord?” sounds shallow when we realize that the Lord is to be seen in the vulnerable and the weary. How much of ourselves can we give away? Jesus gave all he had; God has plenty to renew what we spend.

This last Sunday of the Christian Year is known as Reign of Christ, a moment when the Church can confront the powers of the world with a message that God has everything in place. It’s comfort for the Church; yet it’s also a challenge to be accountable to the King which we duly proclaim through our inclusion of those unlike us into an eternal community. We wait. We worry. But our eyes twinkle with a happy affirmation–“God reigns, let the earth be glad”.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

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

“There is little doubt that the present age pressures Christians to abandon their calling and forget that they are citizens of the age to come”–Mark B. Lee, in FEASTING on the WORD, A 4:305. It’s really easy to get caught up in the political campaigns of the moment, acquiring a large enough nest-egg to leave to your grandchildren, or fighting tooth-and-nail to protect the property that God gave in the first place. Those in the pews this weekend need to know that these diversions are not new, and that God’s word maintains from age to age.

Reading from the Hebrew Bible is from Judges 4:1-7, the story of how Deborah the Judge called one Barak (not Obama) to stand up to Caanan’s military might after twenty years of oppression. It seems that the Hebrews had blown it as they “forgot” to live in a Godly manner. Now Sisera, the Caananite general, had all sorts of state-of-the-art iron chariots; but he got trounced and had to run away on foot, thanks to God! (Read the rest of the chapter to see how a woman got the best of him: such a thing had never entered his head…) Did the Hebrews turn back to God? Nah…

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonian Christians, 5:1-11, is pretty wordy. What he’s saying is that no one knows when the Lord is “coming back”, so keep awake and be ready. “The day of the Lord” could be the Parousia/the end of time; or it could be a recognition of God’s ultimate power even in the cultural mix of each day. Whatever, it sneaks in and most folks will be surprised! How, then, shall we live? Prime is the encouragement of the rest of the community to be alert to the movement of God.

Matthew remembers the parable Jesus told about the rich fella who went a journey and gave “talents” of money to his three slaves: ten to one, five to another, and one to the third. You remember how the first two invested these and returned the master a handsome profit. Of course, the third slave merely buried the money out of fear, and had only the original to return to the master–minus inflation, I suppose. The risky ones were rewarded; the prudent one was thrown into outer darkness. (Don’t allegorize too much: our heavenly Master exhibits more grace than this…) But what treasure have each of us–or our faith community–been given to invest?

More ‘n’ more we’re considered foolish if we trust entirely on God and not the current wampum or woodpecker-scalps. But we’re not all by ourselves until Jesus comes: we yet can gather to hear the old stories and the truth they bear to our own journeys. Can we be ethical even though “everyone else is _____”? Mark Lee,again: “‘When is the end?’ is the wrong question. ‘What do we do in the meantime?’ is the important question.” (op.cit.:307)

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounter with Scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

“There’s a big universe out there,” says Yoda to young Luke Skywalker. Life is often a series of travels to unknown regions–and no matter who lives there, we still feel a tingle of knowing that WE’ve not been here before. Lessons for the upcoming weekend acknowledge that there’s some fear involved–yet offer hope that New Lands will have their own vistas of peace and joy. Moreover, God has been there before: we can count on finding God in new scenes.

Joshua 24:14-25 continues and finishes the Exodus story. Joshua, as a revered sage, has called the leaders of The People together for a final locker-room talk. He recounts the mighty deeds of God and admonishes them, “Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.” And the People said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” No matter how scary the Land of Promise may be, Yahweh has been at work there, preparing for God’s People.

The centrality of Paul’s writing to the Thessalonian Church (4:13-18) is to sustain them/us with hope. Afraid as most of us are in the Shadow of Death, it’s good to know that God has made arrangements for continued glory for the Church. Mark B. Lee writes in FEASTING on the WORD (A 4:283), “Far from being the end of the relationship, death is but an interlude to a fuller relationship that is grounded on mutual life in Christ.” And, “Together we will be with Christ, which means not only that death will not be the final word, but that neither will evil or injustice or suffering.” (John E. Cole, ibid., page 282)

In Jesus’ final days, according to Matthew 25:1-13, he told the parable of the unprepared bridesmaids who ran out of oil for their lamps as they waited. This was a clear slap at the complacent Jewish leaders of the day who had neglected to prepare for God’s own time for revealing the Messiah. Matthew’s point of remembering this saying was to remind his Jewish readers to live expectantly in the vital hope that God evidently isn’t through yet. Even in the harshness of daily realities we dare live confidently, assured that the Lord is closer that we originally thought.

Isaac Watts wrote, “There’s not a plant or flower below, that makes Thy glories known; and clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne. While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; and everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there.”

“Are we there yet?” “Almost.” Seems as though we’re often (always?) on the doorstep, poised to make an entrance. What will tomorrow bring? Even though we’ve been wandering, will God’s Plan continue to prevail? Will we ever get past wearing masks and keeping away from each other? Is there any progress to the human condition? Or–the flip side–will the powers of destruction continue to win? Are we chasing rainbows??

The Hebrew remembrance (Joshua 3:7-17) is significant because it recalls how God keeps being God, whether or not the cultic leader is here. Moses has died, but we THINK Joshua is his successor. On the doorstep to the Promised Land (at last!) we’ve paused; how can we get across this river? But even in the absence of Moses, God looked after The People: priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant stood still in the middle of the Jordan and the waters separated and we all got across with our feet dry! It’s not over yet, but for today we’ve passed THIS barrier…

I Thessalonians 2:9-13 is also about The People. Our faith-community is unique because it’s not limited by the tarnish of the rest of the world. That is, Paul encourages each member to nurture and make safe this land beyond society’s river. What does it mean to “lead a life worthy of God”? We have personal responsibility to respond to Grace extended daily; but it’s not something we can do on our own. We need a mentor to show us the twists and turns, someone who’s done this before. Just as our ancestors rejoiced as they entered the Promised Land, we also have joy in affirming that Someone Who Cares has been walking along with us.

Matthew 23:1-12 is more seasonal: Jesus addresses those who wear masks and pretend to be someone they’re not. “…do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” I’ve gotta admit, I often act as one of these: I like my long fringes on my fancy prayer-shawls, the best seats at dinner, being recognized as a Teacher in the marketplace. Allen Hilton writes, “The light of self-promotion is always on in (us) hypocrites, because people do not stop having opinions about us, and these opinions are utterly important to us….Lacking confidence in the divine ‘yes’, we hypocrites make masks or broadcast our piety in order to win a human ‘yes’…THE ANTIDOTE FOR HYPOCRISY IS GRACE. (FEASTING on the WORD, A 4:265)

Who, then, are/have been my mentors? As I grew up, there were several men & women in my congregation at Dalton, PA who were instrumental in guiding my early life. And through my ministry there have been other clergy and laity who’ve mentored me. Even now–especially now–there are those who’ve nurtured and sheltered me in a time of old age. You probably don’t know who you are–but thanks for guiding me safely across the river!

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

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

My two mentionable hobbies are stamp collecting and gardening. Part of the pleasure from these is that there are always more stamps to sift through, or there’re seasonal adjustments to be made to the plot each day. Things are never done, are they? The older I get, the more I realize that nothing–even life itself–is ever finished; and that’s good! There’s always another adventure, another horizon. This weekend’s scriptures address and hopefully celebrate the process of Life with God.

The Hebrew Bible concludes the Pentateuch/Moses story with Moses’ death (Deuteronomy 34:1-12). Some regret that Moses never entered the Promised Land, although he saw it from a distance. But there was no need to: his work was done! The five “Books of Moses” gathered the fire-side tales of Creation and the Patriarchs–with the Exodus–and made them into “Israel’s Primal Narrative” (Brueggeman/Borg). These stories, plus the tribulation of forty years in the wilderness, serve to unite Judaism and form the People from habiru/ desert wanderers into a vital Nation. Was the Story over? Just that part of it: there’s a new season at hand…

We continue our exploration of Paul’s Letters with more of the Thessalonian Epistle, 2:1-8. Here the Apostle lets his earlier travails behind at Philippi and tenderly embraces new Christian friends. There are sometimes blood-spatters on the path we’ve already walked–but that was then, this is now. Verse 4, “…just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts”, seems to be central to a holy process of new and ongoing creation. Daily ministry involves words and actions which celebrate God’s works today plus looking forward in hope to whatever holy happens tomorrow.

Matthew 22:34-46 recounts Jesus’ final week as the ending of his earthly journey and the beginning (?) of his assumption of the Christ-mantle. The Pharisaic question about the Greatest Law is really an attempt to connect the Past with the Present, a question of ethical propriety despite the parade of history. Given all that’s happened previously, what’s important today? These can be the ultimate teachings of Christ: there’s nothing more to say. “From that day did anyone dare to ask (Jesus) any more questions.”

Marcus Borg (page 106, READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME) closes it out: “Indeed, the theme of promise and fulfillment is strikingly relevant to people in ALL times. In spite of threats to the promise and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, when birth and rebirth seem impossible, when pharaohs and the powers of empires seem to rule the world, God’s faithfulness can be counted on.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounters with readings assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

There was a meme going around the ‘net that showed a little boy at Mt. Rushmore admiring the four US presidents there, and asking his parents if they could go around to the backside and see the rest of them… J.B. Phillips’ famous book asked, “Is Your God Too Small?” Many token worshipers today are quite content to own a deity safely made to their own ideas, and never to change! Scriptures for this weekend may tweak this satisfaction.

In Exodus 33:12-23, Moses is wheedling with the Lord to see his “glory”. YHWH tells him that he couldn’t bear it, since living persons “shall not see me and live”. (Does that mean that when we die, we’re eligible to see God’s glory?) So God covered Moses’ eyes when God passed by, thus enabling Moses to see God’s back without corrupting his sight. There’s a lot of incon-sistency to this section about “face to face” meetings and the terror of God’s face: don’t inhale, but deal with the metaphors they represent. I could personally spin off of verse 17b: “you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Some scholars say that the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians differs in style from the “Asian” letters. Was there already a significant difference between the Church in East and West? In his introduction, 1:1-10, Paul offers grace and peace, affirming that the Thessalonian Christians are beloved by God because God has chosen them. Their witness throughout the adjacent countryside has been marked even in distant lands, especially how they turned to a living God from idols. Today, our Church needs to reflect upon the current idols we keep on our shelves: self-centeredness, militarism and our own billfolds.

The Gospel continues in the same vein. Here is the story of Jesus being asked about paying taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). Paying taxes to “the Emperor” has always been a thorny problem: should I support the oft-misguided policies of disaster which the administration has embarked upon with my money? “Well, whose picture is on the coin?” “The Emperor’s” “Then give back to the Emperor things that are his–and to God, the things that are God’s.” Where does our citizenship lie? Can we pledge allegiance to the flag? Are there moral conflicts between the City of God and the City of Man? Some groups have tried to create isles of safety–monasteries, Utopias–while others sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…” Will Rodgers is reputed to have said, “Washington’s face has been on our dollars; now Washington’s HANDS are on them as well.”

These readings won’t answer any questions: the hearer has to decide for themself what level of involvement they have with both “sacred and secular”…or is God in everything, even government and community life?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounters with lessons chosen for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

From time to time, an organization which I support will send me a pack of assorted greeting cards. They’re usually very nice, with appropriate sentiments and perhaps a Bible verse. One sympathy card I didn’t use expressed sorrow and a statement of hope–and the Bible verse was, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!” A joyful Golden Thread running through this weekend’s scriptures describes the process of God’s People learning to “go on to perfection”.

Exodus 32:1-14 has two thrusts: the backsliding “formation” (?) of the People; and the perceived anger of God which was turned aside by Moses. This is the story of Aaron’s crafting of the Golden Calf, a symbol of fertility and power. Moses had been on Mt. Sinai for a loooong time, and most of the camp at the bottom figured he had died or scarpered off. Needing a focus for worship, they pooled their gold and melted it into an idol. God was plenty mad about this and was going to erase the lot of them; but Moses acted as priest and reminded YHWH of all their holy-history. “And God repented.”

Paul continues to instruct the Philippians (4:1-9)in living the Holy Life, a source of inner Joy. He tells them that they can be joyful even in the midst of calamity: “the Lord is near”. “Unaffected, childlike rejoicing in the Lord is the hallmark of the Christian life….Joy is a discipline of perfection, not an emotion dependent on circumstances….Christian joy is subversive; it overturns threatening situations and frustrates those with selfish plans.” (Nathan Eddy in SOJOURNERS, A 4:161-163) A gracious attitude seems to be a vital part of building God’s People.

Jesus’ story of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) is yet another one reminding the Jewish leaders–and now us?– of their original selection but ultimate exclusion due to their apathetic response to Incarnation/God become human. The invitation had been issued for many centuries; but now that the Messiah appeared, the leadership declined to show up. The parable continues with bringing in all those in the streets, good & bad alike: ah, there’s hope for me! (Has God really wrecked the leaders/Jews and cast at least one into outer darkness?? or is this part of another Matthean story…?) The Medical Mission Sisters once wrote, “Now God has written a lesson for the rest of mankind (sic), if you’re slow in responding, (God) may leave you behind; (God)’s preparing a table for that great and glorious day; when the Lord and Master calls you, be certain not to say–I cannot come…”

What do we do when our health fails, the economy swoons and our political leaders seem out of touch? “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about THESE things.” “Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My wrestling with Scripture passages assigned to the upcoming weekend may be observed every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com

Just when… Just when the People were getting used to their Egyptian overlords, God shows up. Just when their descendents were adjusting to being second-class disposable slaves, God shows up. Just when I’m thinking that I know a bit about ownership and lining my nest with Mammon, God shows up! Readings featured this coming week present a Holy Alternative to the daily dogfight of the surrounding culture, guaranteed to provoke discomfort in both the “sacred” and the “secular”.

We begin with the Ten Commandments, as found in Exodus 20. The recently enslaved Hebrews were exulting in their new freedom, and were living for their individual pleasure. But every society needs rules in order to adhere within a community. So God sent some basic words with Moses to govern their daily affairs: 4 to establish a relationship between YHWH and the People, 6 to provide an aura of trust and ethics within the new nation now forming. Each Commandment would be beneficial to study in detail; their purpose here is to present an alternative to the idolatry of self-direction which is endemic to those who’ve not yet grasped the Big Picture.

Paul’s Letter to the Church in Philippi lifts up this alternative system for those encumbered by the surrounding systems (3:4-14). Paul affirms that the encounter with the resurrected Jesus is “the central event forcing us to re-evaluate our lives”. (Nathan Eddy in SOJOURNERS, A 4:135) “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.” (vv.8b-9) Paul considered sin as a kind of addiction, and wrote to free his readers from being beholden to the “rubbish” which could threaten to bury them.

The “rulers” of the Jerusalem Temple considered Jesus a DANGEROUS alternative to their safe life as partners to the Roman Empire. Jesus spoke to them in the form of a parable (Matthews 21:33-46) about two sons needed to work in the Vineyard. The first–Sadducees and other law-readers–promised to work, but didn’t. The second–everyday “sinners”–at first declined, yet eventually came around.

“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces…” (vv.43-44) Now who’s tripping over God?

I like what Richard Rohr has to say in THE UNIVERSAL CHRIST: “The foundation of Jesus’ social program is what I will call non-idolatry, or the withdrawing of your enthrallment from all kingdoms except the Kingdom of God….Non-attachment (freedom from full or final loyalties to man-made domination systems) is the best way I know of protecting people from religious zealotry or any kind of antagonistic thinking or behavior….Just keep concentrating on the Big Thing!” (page 197)

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

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

“The world is too much with us…” writes Milton. Many of us — myself included — wonder where God is during times of crisis. Will God ever move to comfort those carrying COVID, or those frustrated by socio-economic developments? Scripture to be read this weekend contains passages of assurance of God’s Presence during challenging situations.

We continue the story of the formation of the People of Israel, as they put Egypt behind them (for the most part) and wandered in the Sinai peninsula. In Exodus 17:1-7, we hear of how the thirsty pilgrims doubted that God would take care of them, until Moses struck the base of the mountain with his staff–God showed him where–and good water streamed forth. Did this convince them? Probably not the Back to Egypt committee, the first but not the last to say, “We’ve never done it this way before”. (Interesting reference to Wells Fargo here, but don’t get sidetracked.)

Paul’s fatherly advice to the Philippians, 2:1-13, is delightfully full of reminders to be imitators of Christ. Be “in full accord and of one mind….the same mind in you that was in Christ Jesus.” The disciple is to think beyond her own ambitions, thus to participate in the life and pattern of the group/ church/nation. As Jesus engaged life even to a horrible death, and entered into God’s fullness (“the name that is above every name”), so we Philippians are to understand that God is doing something wonderful in our lives whether we’re aware of it or not! This process of emptying begins when we respond to the Christ-light despite “the slings and arrows of daily fortune”.

Matthew’s Gospel remembrance tells of the now-renegade Jesus at the Jerusalem Temple during Holy Week (21:23-32). The credentials board asks him about his authority–“Who gave you the right to do all these healings and teachings? And what about the money-changers??” Jesus turned the question back on them (in rabbinic style) by asking where John the Baptizer got HIS authority: from God or from human origins. Was this also an occasion of God being at work?

So here are three instances of God turning the world as we know it upside-down. Who would expect water from a hidden spring in the middle of a desert? Who would expect that an outside-the-box-of-Jewish Law reformer and iconoclast should be exalted in heaven as part of the Godhead? Who would expect this Jesus to lay his life on the line for the good of the world? The Church may yet be the surprising alternative to the business-as-usual of the rest of the world…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounter with lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com