December 4th, 2011:
Potsdam and WS
Text: Isaiah 40: 1-11
Read: Advent (201)
Closing: Mark 1: 1-8
The Preparation
Wouldn't you think that by the time someone turned 65,
he would know just about all he needed to know
and that nothing older than he is would surprise him?
Well, I am here today to testify that that is not the case
At least for this 65 year old - albeit, a very young 65 year old
Wouldn't you think that by the time a preacher was preaching during his 17th Advent season,
that he would know just about all he needed to know
and that nothing the season provided would surprise him?
Well, I am here today to testify that that is not the case
At least for this preacher preaching in his 17th Advent season
Wouldn't you think that such a preacher
would at least know all that he needed to know
about a scripture on which he preached five previous Advents and which was part of at least four Bible Studies he has taught?
Well, I am here today to testify that that is not the case
At least for this preacher and today's scripture from Isaiah.
A month ago, I spent three days at Raquette Lake preparing the services for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
As I did so, I examined the lectionary scriptures in the hope of
- and with the expectation of -
finding a theme, for the candles, the sermons, and the services.
For this six week/seven service season
I read those scriptures
I studied those scriptures
I prayed about those scriptures
But I also struggled with those scriptures
For although it was clear to me that the Isaiah scripture
For last week, the first Advent Sunday was a plea for help
I did not find my theme until I realized
that the scriptures for the remaining three Advent Sundays (today, next week, and the following week)
were God's responses to the pleading people of Isaiah's day
And the biggest obstacle to my reaching that realization
was this morning's text.
For, the text cried out with the concept of "preparation"
But I had always seen Advent "preparation"
As our "preparation."
But the limit I put on the word "preparation,"
By my single minded use of the possessive pronoun "our"
limited my concept of "preparation" to our actions
And thus, overlooked and ignored the fact
that "preparation" can also be God's "preparation" of us
and a part of God's response to our plea for help
I found that I had limited "preparation" to what we do
rather than what God does
But God also prepares
God's preparing us makes sense.
This makes sense
First, because the giver of the gift always has to do more preparation than the receiver
The thinking and the planning
Are done by the giver
This makes sense
Second, because we worship an active God,
not a God who sits back in a recliner
and expects us to do everything by ourselves.
And this makes sense
In a third way as well,
For we have long celebrated God's sending JTB
As an instrument to prepare us for Christ's ministry
Of course, God prepared us
Of course, God responded to our pleading by preparing us
God began that preparation with the words that we heard as we lit the second advent candle,
The first eleven verses of Isaiah's 40th chapter
But Isaiah spoke those words 27 centuries ago.
He spoke them in a different language
He spoke them with a different style and a different rhythm
Today, some find it difficult to listen comprehendingly to the words.
So let me take a stab at modernizing and "deformalizing" God's words as Isaiah spoke them,
"My people,
Relax, for you have
Served the term of your punishment
And you have fully paid the penalty for your transgressions.
Now we start again with tender, kind, and loving feelings.
We both know there are some obstacles in the path that is our relationship
We both know what they are"
[and here I briefly move from paraphrasing Isaiah's words
to share Jim Barnes' thoughts
by suggesting that these obstacles include:
money, power, status, selfishness and ego]
[return to what God said through Isaiah]
I want you to see the obstacles of commission as hills;
And I want you to see the obstacles of omission as valleys.
I want you to level the hills and fill in the valleys
As if you were building a flat and fast highway
Between us
So that we might interact unimpaired
And so that you and others - all people -
Might see my glory revealed.
I know you are not perfect
You are like grass - which withers
You are like flowers - which fade.
But please understand And please be confident
that my word stands and endures forever
Now I ask you to go to a place where you can be heard
And to tell all who can hear you
That I am with you, that your God is here
And I will come to you.
I will come to you with power and with might
But I will also come to you as a shepherd
And as a shepherd
I will feed my flock
And you are my flock
I will hold my lambs in my bosom
And you are my lambs
I will gently lead the mother sheep
And you are my mother sheep.
In summary,
(and I know Isaiah didn't summarize, but this part of his book goes on for another 15 chapters
I thought you might prefer the summary)
Therefore, in summary,
I am about to answer your pleas
By coming to you
With power and authority
And yet with the compassion of a shepherd.
As I prepare you for arrival, I need to have you do certain things
First, recognize that you have had your punishment and you and I are about to start over;
Second, get rid of the obstacles that make more difficult our being together and thereby create an unimpaired high speed connection between us;
And third, tell people I am coming and will be with you.
And by the way,
do this the entire year
not just during Advent.
[pause]
Advent is so much more enriching
When we recognize that God prepares us
Rather than limiting our thinking
To what we do in preparation.