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.