The 1st Sunday of Advent; November 29, 2009
Park Avenue Presbyterian Church; Des Moines, Iowa
Texts: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 *
Psalm 25: 1-10
1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
Luke 21: 25-36 *
“An ‘offshoot’… and getting to Nazareth”
--} Most of us by this time of year begin to believe “our story” begins somewhere around Bethlehem—and sometime in the days before Jesus is born. It does not. The part of the “Christmas Story” that we often miss entirely is the fact that Mary and Joseph are both from Nazareth—and few bother to ask, “how’d they get there?” “Why Nazareth of all places? Nazareth is no “nifty” place. John’s gospel reminds us of the early first-century view in the voice of one of the eventual disciples, “did anything good ever come out of Nazareth?”
But Nazareth is where the Gospel of Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph were living—before Joseph is called away to Bethlehem for the registration. It’s also according to Luke that Nazareth becomes the place where the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary. And if ever you get to Nazareth, you’ll discover it’s known for “two possibilities.” One part of the tradition holds that Gabriel appeared to Mary at the well in Nazareth—the place everyone would have gone to gather water. The other part of the tradition holds that Gabriel appeared to Mary at her house, a cave on what would have been the outskirts of town. Presumably, there is but one correct story and one location where the angel would have appeared; but short of some kind of angelic evidence, the possibility of two places lingers on; and both places have a church and faithful followers who believe that was the spot.
In truth, OUR story begins LONG before Luke’s.
As we are normally busy with our Christmas-time preparations, Advent is not often a time that we remember our Old Testament history. Few of us keep in focus the great kingdom and lineage of the Hebrew Bible’s greatest King—David, and his successor—Solomon. This is not the time that we recall that the greatness of the united kingdom of David and Solomon that they not only united and then expanded; it is not the time that we remember that their kingdom and their reign lasts only a few years. The unified and expanded kingdoms of David and Solomon do not have long lives among their successors; and eventually the united kingdom runs a shambles. And while there’s a long list of “Kings” for the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, tragedy eventually befalls both.
Of the original 12 Israelite tribes, 10 of them comprised the “Northern Kingdom,” while the remaining 2 comprised the Southern Kingdom of Judah. And six whole centuries—600 years BEFORE JESUS, the Assyrian Empire rolls into the northern kingdom of Israel and the 10 tribes of Israel are wrecked. Simply put, Israel is “cut off.” But this is why that history is important to OUR story.
Nazareth is a word that describes an “offshoot;” a description of what happens when a plant has been “cut off.” A good example is an olive tree—indigenous in Galilee. Olive trees are well known for their long lives; they live for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And while the tree will grow and grow until the trunk outgrows itself and has to be “cut off,” the roots continue to grow, and “offshoots” of the roots form new trunks and the tree lives on. The word, “Nazareth” implies this kind of phenomena—where what is “cut off” can have new or renewed life.
And so the tradition goes that when the 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel are “cut off,” people in the Southern Kingdom wait until it might be safe, again, and send folks to what becomes known as “Nazareth” to re-establish a kind of faithful “offshoot”—so that the blessing of God’s people and the way of God’s life can be “re-established” in that place. So that Nazareth’s history in part, is a reminder about some of the less than glorious past history of God’s people; but it’s also about the bright possibilities of the future. And in light of OUR story, what a powerful story for us to remember!
The story of Nazareth is one of faithfulness; a reminder that God is never “cut off” from God’s people. Even in an unknown place, a nearly forgotten corner, the light of the promise of God’s prosperity still shines.
What IF—OUR Advent celebration had the character of “Nazareth”—a reminder about some of our less-glorious past, but with the bright possibilities of a new future? What IF we could be more intentional about “re-establishing” the practices that are faithful to God’s way of life that leads to God’s blessing for ourselves and those around us? What IF—we saw not just in a Christmas story with a familiar plot and well-known characters, but we believed in a God who promises new or renewed life prevails even when there has been all but death?
Luke’s Jesus offers us another possibility with the parable of the fig tree:
Jesus is reminding us that with the signs and promises of the seasons, that we are not left to wait and “guess” about what things are occurring or that will be, but that we are given the present hope for what is being made real for us. Like the trees that sprout leaves in time for summer, we know the promises of God’s kingdom being among us: a righteous branch—where the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, because God has anointed him [and us] to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. And Jesus, who tells John’s disciples when they ask if Jesus is the one or if they are to wait for another,
So OURS is not just the story of Christ being born on earth among us, but the story of the reminder of God’s signs and God’s presence with us; the promise that God is here with us, now, even as we believe God is coming again.
So here are some of the Advent questions I’m asking: Have we noticed the signs of God’s promised future? Have you seen the things taking place that indicate the Kingdom of God is near? What if Advent is our opportunity to “re-establish” the ways of living that indicate God’s promised reign among us? And if Advent weren’t just about the “signs” that we’re used to—like Christmas decorations, or the familiar run-up to the holiday; what would the other signs be?
What “IF” we weren’t just looking for a Christ-child, but for all the signs of God’s promised kingdom? What if we were looking and listening for God’s presence among us, always seeking to bring life out of death? What if we were watching and waiting, not just for one special birth, or the news of that birth, but for the in-breaking of God’s long-held intentions—the good news that Jesus comes to proclaim: that God is love and that we belong to God, always and forever.
Now that, would be some kind of Advent, wouldn’t it?
So where are the moments that we might re-establish God’s reign among us? Where are the places where we hear God speaking to us? Where are the opportunities where we pause to wait and hope for the Word of the Lord? Not just in the familiar rituals, but in the promise of each and every day—a true preparation for the time when Christ is alive and well among us; and an opportunity to share that news, not only with us, but with others. That would be a worthy Advent, wouldn’t it?
--+ AMEN.
Park Avenue Presbyterian Church; Des Moines, Iowa
Texts: Jeremiah 33: 14-16 *
Psalm 25: 1-10
1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
Luke 21: 25-36 *
“An ‘offshoot’… and getting to Nazareth”
--} Most of us by this time of year begin to believe “our story” begins somewhere around Bethlehem—and sometime in the days before Jesus is born. It does not. The part of the “Christmas Story” that we often miss entirely is the fact that Mary and Joseph are both from Nazareth—and few bother to ask, “how’d they get there?” “Why Nazareth of all places? Nazareth is no “nifty” place. John’s gospel reminds us of the early first-century view in the voice of one of the eventual disciples, “did anything good ever come out of Nazareth?”
But Nazareth is where the Gospel of Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph were living—before Joseph is called away to Bethlehem for the registration. It’s also according to Luke that Nazareth becomes the place where the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary. And if ever you get to Nazareth, you’ll discover it’s known for “two possibilities.” One part of the tradition holds that Gabriel appeared to Mary at the well in Nazareth—the place everyone would have gone to gather water. The other part of the tradition holds that Gabriel appeared to Mary at her house, a cave on what would have been the outskirts of town. Presumably, there is but one correct story and one location where the angel would have appeared; but short of some kind of angelic evidence, the possibility of two places lingers on; and both places have a church and faithful followers who believe that was the spot.
In truth, OUR story begins LONG before Luke’s.
As we are normally busy with our Christmas-time preparations, Advent is not often a time that we remember our Old Testament history. Few of us keep in focus the great kingdom and lineage of the Hebrew Bible’s greatest King—David, and his successor—Solomon. This is not the time that we recall that the greatness of the united kingdom of David and Solomon that they not only united and then expanded; it is not the time that we remember that their kingdom and their reign lasts only a few years. The unified and expanded kingdoms of David and Solomon do not have long lives among their successors; and eventually the united kingdom runs a shambles. And while there’s a long list of “Kings” for the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, tragedy eventually befalls both.
Of the original 12 Israelite tribes, 10 of them comprised the “Northern Kingdom,” while the remaining 2 comprised the Southern Kingdom of Judah. And six whole centuries—600 years BEFORE JESUS, the Assyrian Empire rolls into the northern kingdom of Israel and the 10 tribes of Israel are wrecked. Simply put, Israel is “cut off.” But this is why that history is important to OUR story.
Nazareth is a word that describes an “offshoot;” a description of what happens when a plant has been “cut off.” A good example is an olive tree—indigenous in Galilee. Olive trees are well known for their long lives; they live for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And while the tree will grow and grow until the trunk outgrows itself and has to be “cut off,” the roots continue to grow, and “offshoots” of the roots form new trunks and the tree lives on. The word, “Nazareth” implies this kind of phenomena—where what is “cut off” can have new or renewed life.
And so the tradition goes that when the 10 tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel are “cut off,” people in the Southern Kingdom wait until it might be safe, again, and send folks to what becomes known as “Nazareth” to re-establish a kind of faithful “offshoot”—so that the blessing of God’s people and the way of God’s life can be “re-established” in that place. So that Nazareth’s history in part, is a reminder about some of the less than glorious past history of God’s people; but it’s also about the bright possibilities of the future. And in light of OUR story, what a powerful story for us to remember!
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
The story of Nazareth is one of faithfulness; a reminder that God is never “cut off” from God’s people. Even in an unknown place, a nearly forgotten corner, the light of the promise of God’s prosperity still shines.
What IF—OUR Advent celebration had the character of “Nazareth”—a reminder about some of our less-glorious past, but with the bright possibilities of a new future? What IF we could be more intentional about “re-establishing” the practices that are faithful to God’s way of life that leads to God’s blessing for ourselves and those around us? What IF—we saw not just in a Christmas story with a familiar plot and well-known characters, but we believed in a God who promises new or renewed life prevails even when there has been all but death?
Luke’s Jesus offers us another possibility with the parable of the fig tree:
“Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near."
Jesus is reminding us that with the signs and promises of the seasons, that we are not left to wait and “guess” about what things are occurring or that will be, but that we are given the present hope for what is being made real for us. Like the trees that sprout leaves in time for summer, we know the promises of God’s kingdom being among us: a righteous branch—where the Spirit of the Lord is upon him, because God has anointed him [and us] to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. And Jesus, who tells John’s disciples when they ask if Jesus is the one or if they are to wait for another,
“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them.”
So OURS is not just the story of Christ being born on earth among us, but the story of the reminder of God’s signs and God’s presence with us; the promise that God is here with us, now, even as we believe God is coming again.
So here are some of the Advent questions I’m asking: Have we noticed the signs of God’s promised future? Have you seen the things taking place that indicate the Kingdom of God is near? What if Advent is our opportunity to “re-establish” the ways of living that indicate God’s promised reign among us? And if Advent weren’t just about the “signs” that we’re used to—like Christmas decorations, or the familiar run-up to the holiday; what would the other signs be?
What “IF” we weren’t just looking for a Christ-child, but for all the signs of God’s promised kingdom? What if we were looking and listening for God’s presence among us, always seeking to bring life out of death? What if we were watching and waiting, not just for one special birth, or the news of that birth, but for the in-breaking of God’s long-held intentions—the good news that Jesus comes to proclaim: that God is love and that we belong to God, always and forever.
Now that, would be some kind of Advent, wouldn’t it?
So where are the moments that we might re-establish God’s reign among us? Where are the places where we hear God speaking to us? Where are the opportunities where we pause to wait and hope for the Word of the Lord? Not just in the familiar rituals, but in the promise of each and every day—a true preparation for the time when Christ is alive and well among us; and an opportunity to share that news, not only with us, but with others. That would be a worthy Advent, wouldn’t it?
--+ AMEN.
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