Advent4C, St Martin’s Episcopal Church, December
23, 2018 by Annette Fricke
“I have an announcement
to make!” We have heard that statement
made several times in our lives and today is no different. We always have
announcements at the end of the service.
It is predictable. What isn’t
predictable is whether or not the announcement will be a joyful one, a sad one,
or something somewhere in between.
Announcements are made to inform what may have already happened as well
as something to come in the future.
Announcements are always considered to be important, if not to the
audience, certainly to the person either making the announcement or the one who
wants the announcement made. Sometimes
considering the source determines the importance of what is about to be
announced.
Today,
we have another kind of announcement.
The source is thought to be God or God’s messengers. Jesus and John the Baptist are in the wombs
of two women. God is announcing the
impending birth of the long-awaited Messiah and the Messiah’s forerunner. This is the climax of the waiting period
called Advent. Prophecy has once again been fulfilled, and in both cases. These are not ordinary births by any means or
rationale, if you believe that Jesus is God’s son and has the power to redeem
us. If you believe that Jesus is God’s son and has the power to redeem us. It’s a big jump to faith that some people have
totally discarded or still struggle to make sense of it all—this Jesus who is
God become human flesh. Few people have
seemed to embrace God’s direction and accepted his or her part with such purity
and unwavering faith. At least, that is the portrayal of Luke. By contrast, Luke says that Zechariah does
not believe that Elizabeth will conceive in her old age and therefore becomes
mute till the little JB is born.
What
does this all mean for those of us living in the 21st century? Who or what is our inspiration to continue to
spread the faith of the gospel, that faith that began even before the birth of
Jesus? There are many things that would
distract us and one of them is the constant barraging of the secular version of
Christmas. The emphasis of spending a lot of money on friends, family and
co-workers for items that, more times than not, they already have. Some take the no-nonsense approach and opt
out of particular activities in protest.
One opts out of the white elephant, fearing reception of an unwanted
gift and another does not participate in the Secret Santa due to the unevenness
of some spending way more than others.
It is not out of disrespect for co-workers as much as it is wanting to
focus rather on the treasured relationships that have developed over the years.
Many people in sub groups of communities have realized that it really isn’t
about the gifts as much as the relationships developed in that context. But it
goes beyond asking oneself—who can we count on to be a friend and who will
appreciate us?
In
our Intergenerational Advent Gathering, we have studied St. Nicholas and St.
Lucy for more than the reason that their feast days are between Sundays in
Advent. We have looked closely as to why
they were deemed saints by the Church, the Roman Catholic Church long ago and
later by other Christian groups. Both
St. Nicholas and St. Lucy are remembered for their generosity to others. St. Nicholas was kind to and helped children,
especially the children who lived in poverty.
St. Lucy helped bring food to her fellow believers. Both lived under the rule of the Roman
Emperor Diocletian who outlawed Christianity and demanded that everyone bow
down to the Roman gods. St. Nicholas
survived. St. Lucy did not.
When
we think of those who went before us, we realize that Christianity has
withstood some very difficult times. It
seems odd in our world to imagine being killed for being a Christian in Sicily,
yet surviving in what is now Turkey. Our
world has changed a great deal. The obstacles in the 200s and 300s AD are much
different. The question is once again
raised to us. How can we reach others
with that gospel message of love and acceptance? How can this announcement put a light into
other people’s hearts? How can we live
our lives so that God’s light shines through us?
The
contributions of John the Baptist and Jesus are significant. John tells us that
to prepare our hearts for Jesus, we must repent. Repent, move on and repeat. A humble attitude
towards others prepares the way for relationship, a relationship that
lasts. It’s not a magic formula;
relationships are rarely without disagreements and rough patches. Sometimes we figure out the fine art of
knowing when to speak and when to listen.
Once we connect with others, many unexpected things can happen, some of
them surprisingly good things.
“I
have an announcement to make!” Jesus is
ready to make entry into your life in a new way. Leave yesterday and all its troubles behind.
Make way for him, for his abundant grace that will lead you to be filled with
grace to overflowing. He’s at the door
right now. We are called to open that
door. Allow him to do his work in our lives as a community; the community
called St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Moses Lake, WA. Allow Jesus to mend our relationships to move
forward into the new year. Jesus has come to be with us, to walk beside us and
lead us. Rejoice, rejoice and let your
lights appear! Take the love of Jesus with you everywhere you go!
