The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
Sisters and brothers in Christ, in light of the violence and tragedy on
Friday in Connecticut, we may find ourselves asking a similar question.
“What then should we do?” I don’t
know about you, but I’ve been feeling pretty numb and a little paralyzed, since
I started reading those headlines and watching the stories. My stomach was kind of upset all day
yesterday. I don’t know about you but I
can relate to these crowds in our gospel today wandering out to John in the
wilderness, searching for answers, just kind of standing there – numb,
paralyzed – with no idea what to do.
We are looking for a word, too: a
word of hope, a word of truth, a word of comfort and a word of peace.
What can the prophets of old say to us this late day?
Two weeks ago, we introduced this simple Advent theme here at SVLC:
“breathe”. And by that we mean be
mindful of your breathing. In the midst
of all the hectic-ness this season, breathe.
And we’ve countered this invitation to breathe more intentionally with a
different W-word each Sunday. First
week-WANT. Last week-WEARY. And this week-WORRY. We worry.
Boy, ain’t that the truth, after Friday?
We had the preschool staff Christmas party at our house last night, and
one of the staff members was telling me that she got a call here at the school
from a parent, who didn’t really even know why she was calling. She was just worried, thinking about her
baby. And that’s what she said. I imagine there were calls like that
happening all over the country. I can
certainly relate. All we want to do is
reach out and connect, in the midst of unspeakable horrors.
As we hold one another, in shock and fear, as we do our best to breathe,
through all this chaos and violence and running around, we also long to hear a
good word, a gospel word.
We hear a lot of words, but what does the prophet say, what does the
church say, what does God say?
“Trust in God. Live faithfully. Our salvation draws near.”
Even when the world comes crashing down around us (did you feel the earth
quake this week?), even when the earth shakes and the mountains crumble, even
when our schools…and shopping malls and movie theatres and homes are no longer
safe, even when we can worry ourselves to the point of paralyzation and
numbness, “Get up, trust in God, and live faithfully. Our salvation draws near,” cries the prophet
in the wilderness.
“What then are we to do?” the crowd
says. Breathe – inhale, “trust in God,”
exhale “live faithfully”, when the world comes crashing down around us. And today, John the Baptist helps us unpack
what “live faithfully” means.
It means share. If you have two
coats, give one to someone who doesn’t.
That’s the grand answer!
If you have enough food, give some to someone who doesn’t. That’s the prophet’s answer, as we wait for
our salvation to draw near, as we watch our world come crashing down. Share.
If you have access to clean water or good education or medical care or
mental health professionals, share that with someone who doesn’t, John the
Baptist says. In other words, don’t be
paralyzed by your fear or your sorrow, or your own stuff. Get up, get out there, breathe and keep on
sharing with those around you who are hurting too.
Sometimes we can get so wrapped up, bogged down, in our own suffering that
we can so easily forget that those around us might be suffering too, sometimes
even worse! We are being radically
reminded of that right now, as we watch and pray and send our condolences to
these poor families who mourn the loss of their 6 and 7 year olds this
week. But may our sorrow and our
compassion and our prayers move us to act.
May God help us live more faithfully, that is, may God help us to share
and act in ways that make for peace. May
God help us reach out. Notice the quiet
ones, notice the sick ones, notice the lonely ones. What action can we take as a community of
faith? What can we do for our children?
And God calls us individually this day.
Everyone is coming out to see John the Baptizer. Even tax collectors and soldiers. And to all of them, John says essentially, do
what you do, but do it well. Do it for
the good of the community, of the whole, do it for the good of the planet, for
the good of the children. Don’t rip
people off, even if you can get away with it.
Don’t cheat them, or intimidate them with your power, don’t speak ill of
others. The prophet really brings it
today…
And in this instructive finger-wagging from John, which meets us right
where we are today, we also hear a promise.
That the one who is to come, Jesus the Christ, the humble shepherd king,
will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, that’s what’s already happened to us. We have been baptized with the fire of
Christ, with the love of the Holy Spirit, and so all these challenges—to share,
to love others, to care for friends and enemies alike, to breathe—all these
challenges that John puts before us, are possible, on account of Christ. We are able to act of peace, because of
Christ who comes to grant us that peace.
Peace is our salvation, and it’s offered to us freely. We can take it or leave it, but this baby in
a manger, that we celebrate this season, offers us peace, that the world cannot
give. This baby in a manger, give us the
power, the strength and the trust, to reach out to others. In this manger that we approach in the next
two weeks, lies the hope of the world. A
different kind of hope, a different kind of power, a love and a grace that
surpasses our understanding, but a love and a grace in which we can rest
eternally. And that eternal peace starts
today anew as we gather around the altar, as we hold hands and sing, as we
continue to work and live and act and share in our daily lives.
May the peace of Christ, dwell in you richly, as you are being rooted and
grounded in the love of the one who comes to be among us this day and forever
more. AMEN.
Prayer of Intercession
For communities
and schools affected by violence, especially Sandy Hook Elementary School. As
they remember and as they grieve, hear their cries and wipe away their tears.
Assure them of your promised peace in the midst of suffering. Lord, in your
mercy, hear our prayer.
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