The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to tell you about a woman who was harassed at her job. TO bring good news to the oppressed...
MARIA is quite beautiful. Her family had come to the US from Mexico about 30 years ago, just after she was born. No one really knows that story. But Maria grew up and went to school here in California. It was never easy. Money was always tight. She recently took a job both bussing and waiting tables at a small diner over in El Cajon. It was fine at first. She’s friendly and efficient. But her manager seems to sense how desperate she is for income and uses that against her. Recently he’s been making lewd comments and even touching her -- rubbing her shoulders and grabbing her arm in ways that are not at all comfortable. If she could leave this job, she would in a second. She’s starting to hate it there, but she’s got a little one at home, cared for during they day by her aging mother. She has to have income, and is scared to say anything to anyone for fear of her boss hurting any chances at another job. She grits her teeth, smiles and bears it. But the burden is starting to feel overwhelming...
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to bring good news to the oppressed.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to tell you about an older white man who is really cruel. He’s in his 70’s and had a father long, long ago, who he never talks about, but who beat him quite often when he was growing up. (It was OK back then.) His father was very critical even in Bill’s successes as a young man, and never showed much affection. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to bind up the brokenhearted
Bill lives in Santee now. There’s actually a sensitive side to him, but you’d never know it, because -- truth be told -- it was practically beaten out of him. His dad would often yell at young Bill when he cried out in pain about how he needs to suck it up and be a “real man”. Bill’s been pretty much living out of that pain ever since…although it’s hardened and comes out now as anger, racism, cynicism and atheism. Yeah, Bill doesn’t believe in God. Why would he? He never had a positive experience of church. God to him was a lot like his father, so frankly religion -- beneath his rants -- gives him the creeps. Bill’s not all that kind to his wife, and he drinks.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to bind up the brokenhearted.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to tell you about Georgina, a 12-year-old on the run with her family from the horrors of the civil war in her home country of Syria. Stories like hers get lost, because there are so many of them…but she is captive to both her own situation and to the suspicion and fear that others around the world have of her...especially when people look at her father, who has risked everything to protect Georgina and her little sister. But she is captive.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim liberty to the captives.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim release to the prisoners TO TELL YOU ABOUT A YOUNG BLACK MAN, named Joe, WHO GREW UP SOUTH OF the 94. AND WHEN HE GOT TO LINCOLN HS, HE LOST ALL HOPE…Poverty is a no place to grow up. His mother fought addiction, and wasn’t always dependable. Joe had to fend for himself, and unfortunately got caught up in the wrong crowd.
Even though he didn’t actually commit the crime, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, mouthed off to the wrong officer, and found himself behind bars before he knew it. Only 17 years old. It started with only one false accusation, but the anger inside Joe boiled and turned him into a tough, even militant, young black man. Locked up.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME TO proclaim release to the prisoners.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. TO TELL YOU ABOUT A WHITE WOMAN name Jamie. She’s in her late 30‘s, gotten herself a good job and rents a place over by Grossmont. Everything looks fine on the surface, but the truth is: Jamie lives paycheck to paycheck. Jamie’s barely making it, but in denial about how bad the debt has gotten. From her college loans, to credit card debt, that accumulates exponentially with soaring interest rates, an outstanding medical bill from a short hospitalization, and a little shopping splurge she likes to indulge in a little too often. Jamie is swamped. She didn’t have parents who taught her how to manage money, and now she’s feeling deeper and deeper in trouble. She looks fine on the surface. But she’s had some recent abdominal pain that her friend thinks has to be related to stress.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, forgiveness of debt.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME TO comfort all who mourn.
Finally, I have to tell you about John, a gay college student at SDSU. John is Korean, and frightened. His friend was literally kicked to the curb the other night coming out of a bar over by campus. John’s certainly been harassed himself, but he’s really having a hard time with this now, because it’s the first time a hate crime with physical violence has gotten this close to him. John’s in a pit of grief right now about the loss of his sense of safety and progress when it comes to equality and LGBT rights. And he hurts for his friend.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me to comfort all who mourn.
Everyone I just described, sisters and brothers in Christ, is based on someone in our community, even in our congregation. I’m not making this up. And they have all known ashes. They all wear ashes, walk around with a faint spirit. Maybe you can relate to them...
But God, through the prophet Isaiah has a word for them and for us. God promises Maria, Joe, Jamie, Bill, Georgina and John…and you and me...a garland instead of ashes. A garland! GREEN BRANCHES, AROMATIC, FRESH, BEAUTIFUL...instead of ashes!
God, through the prophet Isaiah, has a word for them and for us. God promises the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. What must that look like? A new friend, A PURPOSE AGAIN, AN APPRECIATION FOR BEAUTY, a knowing of deep peace, a repaired heart for Bill, dignity for Maria, a safe place for John and Georgina, freedom for Joe, forgiveness for Jamie, comfort and companionship for all who sorrow.
This God whose arrival we celebrate this time of year is not just sweet and benign. This God comes to repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations, RECOVERY FROM TRAUMA, ADDICTION AND VIOLENCE...
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines = THERE IS A PLACE HERE FOR EVERYONE, WORK HERE FOR EVERYONE, PURPOSE HERE FOR EVERYONE, help for and help from everyone...in Isaiah’s vision.
And you shall be called priests of the Lord -- all of us -- shall be named ministers of God = ALL ARE PROCLAIMERS OF THIS GOSPEL through our words and even more importantly through our actions.
Something is happening these days, sisters and brothers in Christ! Can you sense the earth moving under our feet. We are being summoned by the tender mercies of our God. We are being moved to action through God’s incarnation and compassion. We are being stirred by Isaiah’s vision this morning...where all, all, all have a place at the table. All are gathered and warmed by the love of God. Wrapped in bands and lying in a manger, this one Jesus comes to set us free, to comfort us in our mourning and pain, and to open our eyes and repair our broken hearts.
This one Jesus arrives even now. And we are set free….to go in peace and serve in joy. AMEN.
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Lighting of the Advent Wreath: Week 3
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, ruler of the universe.
Your prophets spoke of a day prisoners were released, the mourners comforted, the debt-ridden forgiven, and the broken-hearted healed.
Bless us as we light the candles on this wreath.
And strengthen our hearts
as we prepare for the coming of the Lord.
May he give freedom to all our captivity,
for he is our light and our salvation.
Blessed be God forever.
Amen.
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