Have you read the whole Bible? I have. Ok, I might have skimmed through a few bits. But I’ve read pretty much all of it – a couple of times. Some of it lots of times. And let’s be honest-- there are some parts I would be happy just to skip right over. How about you?
Some other day, we’ll talk about Biblical interpretation, and the authority of scripture, and why we believe it’s ok here at the Village to give some parts of the Bible more authority than other parts of the Bible.
But today, I have another point to make. The whole Bible is our book as Christians. On some level, the whole thing belongs to us, and we have to deal the whole thing, in some way. So a long time ago, the church fathers (I’d like to say the mothers and the fathers, but it was probably just the fathers back then), the fathers created a three year plan for us to read through most of the Bible in worship, four scriptures a week, so that we would have some discipline about reading the WHOLE THING, and not just our favorite parts. The plan is called the Common Lectionary, and it’s used by the Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, United Methodists, United Church of Christ and several other denominations.
Now, actually, here at The Village we don’t follow all the church traditions all the time, so we don’t follow that three year plan for our worship all the time, but for the next few weeks we’re going to. You see, it’s important to be in community with the wider church, to connect our tradition, and to stretch ourselves to read some of those parts of the Bible that Pastor Cheri might not choose to preach on if someone else didn’t give me a little shove, to do so.
Being part of a larger church tradition also gives us seasons on what we call the Christian calendar. Now I’m sure we all know about the two big days on the Church calendar: Christmas and Easter. But there are lots of other days and seasons on the Christian Church calendar and it all starts today with Advent, the four weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus, which we call the four Sundays of Advent. (I already touched on this with the children earlier in the service when we talked about the tradition of the advent candles and the advent wreath.)
Advent is an amazing time of waiting, and watching, preparing and making room in our hearts and in our lives for the gift of God’s love born into our world. In some ways, Advent should be a busy time of cleaning house and getting our lives in order, ready to receive Jesus. But we have turned it into a busy time filled with lots of stuff that does not always resemble a celebration that honors the birth of God’s child. It seems more like a celebration of consumption and over-indulgence.
So, here at The Village our theme for these four weeks of Advent is to Rediscover Christmas, especially the CHRIST in Christmas – to remember that Christmas is about Jesus, not about Santa, (even though that can be fun), and not about buying or receiving the best gifts (even though that’s fun too). Christmas, at its center, is about God’s love bursting into the world.
And every Sunday in Advent, we are given a Bible passage, as a part of that three year plan, called the lectionary. And these Bible passages are meant to challenge us to think about the story of Jesus in a way we might never have thought of it before. This week’s scripture is the MOST challenging. It’s one of those scary texts that I, for one, would be just as happy to ignore. Honestly! I’ve never gone to one of those churches where they focus on the “Last Days” and the Second Coming of Jesus. Maybe some of you have. Maybe you should be up here preaching today. I say, I have enough to worry about, without worrying about when Jesus is going to come back to Earth.
BUT, this WHOLE Bible, belongs to us, my friends. And today, THIS is the scripture we are given to ponder. In today’s reading, Jesus is still here on Earth, with his disciples. It’s nearing the end of his life and ministry. And he starts to talk about what it will be like when he returns. He’s talking about his own “Second Coming.” And this is what he says:
36"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
37-39"The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.
39-44"The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. (Matthew 24)
What on Earth? That’s harsh isn’t it? That’s not the sweet gentle Jesus we usually talk about, is it? Well it’s right here in our Bible. Jesus was complex. I guess, like us, he had more than one side to his personality. Things were getting serious now. He needed to get their attention. He knew he would not be with them much longer.
WHY? Why would he resort to fear as a motivator? I’m not so sure he was using fear, as much as he was using URGENCY. NOW. NOW, my friends. Now is the time, Jesus was saying. I have been here with you for awhile. I have given you a glimpse of what it means to live in my Way, in God’s Way, in the Way of Love. Now is the time to make your choice. Are you going to live for God, or not? It’s a clear and simple choice.
Are we going to follow Jesus or not? That’s what these scary texts about the Second Coming of Jesus invite us to ask ourselves. Are we ready? Are we living our lives TODAY, the way God wants us to live them? And if not, what are we waiting for? Are we waiting for Jesus to come? Well, ok, in just 4 weeks, on Christmas we will celebrate the coming of the baby Jesus one more time. This season of Advent is our time to prepare ourselves. It’s time to clean the houses of our souls.
And so I want to close with a story and an invitation. It’s a story about urgency, and making a choice about how we are going to live our lives. A friend told me that he knew, in his heart that he was gay. But in his church tradition it was not ok to be gay, so he prayed he would be straight. During this time, his father, who was healthy, and not that old, died suddenly. At his father’s funeral, when my friend spoke, he talked about how we all never know how much time we have and we should make the most of our lives. From that moment, my friend, came to terms with being gay. He concluded that God must be ok with him being gay since God had not answered his prayer to make him straight. He talked to some trusted friends, and said, he had decided to be true to who God made him, and come out as a gay man. But he had to leave his church.
In time he found his way here to The Village church. He found a home where he could be gay and Christian, where he can be whole. He is able to be authentic in his life, honest in his relationships, AND serve God here at The Village. My friend has never felt so free. There is nothing more important than being free – and in being the person God created us to be, so we can serve God in the world, and make the world a better place for others.
That’s why God sent Jesus. To love us, and to set us free. Is there something in your life that you need to let go of? Something that is keeping you from being the person God put you on this earth to be? Something that is keeping you from living the wonderful life God wants you to live? Is there something that is keeping you from being ready to receive the gift of God’s love that we celebrate at Christmas? What is it?
I hope you will use these weeks of Advent as a time of listening to God, and a time of watching and waiting. Make room in your daily routine and in your home, for an advent prayer space. Listen and watch for the coming of God. Let’s get ready for Jesus.
One final note for those who are joining us via the internet. We are going to try to do something special this Christmas with your help. Federal and state resources for the medical needs and housing for those living with HIV/AIDS have been cut substantially. Now, only those with the most critical cases are able to get help for the cost of their very expensive medications. Services that were once provided by vouchers, like transportation to doctor's appointments and other living needs are not available to the folks who need them to help maintain their health. So, this Christmas, The Village and The AIDS Resource Center of Ohio (ARC) are teaming up to bring Christmas baskets to area men and women who are living with HIV/AIDS. There are several ways that you can be of service in this ministry:
1. Financial Donation: Our goal is to raise $3000 for ARC to help purchase food, toiletries, laundry and other cleaning supplies. Checks can be made out to the Village with ARC on the memo line. We will have a special offering box available to collect cash donations.
2. Help us make blankets for the baskets: We have the capability. We have the room. We have the music. We even have the popcorn machine. All we need is fleece, scissors, and many hands to tie the blankets together.
3. Donations: Regular sized household supplies, toiletries, blanket material, reusable (99 cent) grocery bags, time, love (ARC will be purchasing food from the Food Bank)
4. People to help pack the baskets: ARC will need hands and arms and backs to help put all of this together In the days before Christmas (time to be announced.)
This ministry is one that can involve the whole family and will bring comfort and joy a friend we don't even know yet.
Please be in touch with Leslie Eppler at 419-350-0242; or e mail Leslie at carlielion7@gmail.com
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