Advent 1: Waking Up

12/2

Congratulations Dwight!

It's the first Sunday of Advent. It's a cold rainy day as I walk up Beverley Road under my umbrella. I notice a sign welcoming refugees.

a welcome on Beverly Road

When I get to the church, there's a sense of excitement. A baptism will tae place!  The first in a long time....

Here is my reflection for the day...

There's a word the kids use to describe a certain sense, a certain awareness of reality. It's "woke"....which kind of means that something was going on and you weren't quite aware of it, but now you are and from here on out you are responsible.  ( The first words of Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" were WAKE UP!) That's what we're up to on this first Sunday of Advent.

Of course in any given Advent we are experiencing 3 advent simultaneously...the word means to come....so what  are we waiting for? what is to come?

First, there is the celebration fo the first Advent, when God came to be present with us in human form in the person of Jesus.  Then there is this Christmas, the one that's coming right at us like an onrushing train whether we're ready for it not or not. (And  in our minds of course, the memories  of all the  Christmases that have come before...) And finally the ultimate Advent, the expectation of Jesus' return. That's where "woke" comes in. There's this heavy apocalyptic feel to this moment.

Luke is filled with signs....earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves......certainly climate phenomena seem all the more violent...storms lash vulnerable communities...Puerto  Rico has yet to recover....

California wildfires rage out of control....Berlin "suffers" with beautiful weather because there has been no rain for months ...and the Spree gets lower all the time..

And there are more people on the move than ever before.  Thousands of Africans trapped in Sicily because other EU countries won't let them in. New right wing government in Italy criminalizing aid to refugees. More than half a million Venezuelans fled to Ecuador. 50000 Nicaraguans have fled to Costa Rica. And the "caravan" from lawless  Honduras edges closer to our border. And we fire tear gas canisters at mothers and babies across the border. While thousands of children separated from their parents are in a detention camp in the desert. Taking all these things in...that's what "woke"means. 

It would be easy to read these signs as filled with apocalyptic meaning. And of course at some level, every age can be demonstrably apocalyptic, at least for some people. Carefully detailed scenarios come and go in every generation. Remember, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.....and since then, 66 generations have passed away....but more importantly.. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.....

Jesus wants us to  be AWAKE to what's going on around us and NOT worried about end times...but to begin living as if redemption is near, or better, as if we are already redeemed....

Think about this..."Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. 

...okay, the drunkenness and dissipation is pretty clear....but also notice ....."the worries of this life...." worrying is right up there with drunkenness...it robs life of tis richness, fills our heads, makes us pre-occupied. Like a parking lot with no empty spaces or the subway just about any day these days. I used to find Bobby McFerrin's "Don't worry be happy"  annoying but I've begun to feel it's profound. Worry can be a substitute for actually doing something about it. 

When I was in Berlin, I got to experience one of the greatest joys anyone can have, the arrival of my second grandchild, my granddaughter Karla. Today we are blessed with the opportunity to celebrate perhaps the most joyous moment in church life, a baptism. Today the baptism of Dwight Stephens. 

Every child is a vote in favor of life. 
Every child is a new statement of hope. 
And every child is a new opportunity.

So while we begin our  journey to the celebration of the Christ Child, let us rejoice in the opportunity to celebrate the life of THIS  child.  In our tradition, Baptism is a community sacrament. We all share in responsibility for this child's understanding of Christian community. May we embrace this call as the gift it is....

We share in communion. Then it's time for Dwight's baptism. An extended family is gathered. Dwight is more toddler than baby and is suspicious when I bring the water it his head, but baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit he is.

The people are ready to continue the celebration. I am off to celebrate my birthday with my family back in Manhattan. Advent has begun. 




Gospel Luke 21:25-36

25"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

29Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Advent 1: What are we waiting for?

12/3

Ready for Advent

So on this first Sundayy in Advent, my birthday, I'm back to Beverley Road Church in Brooklyn.  After an unusually long ride on our increasingly broken subway system, I have ti take. cab to get to the church anywhere near on time. When I get there apologetic, the gracious response is. Does it look like we've started yet?

Here is my reflection for the Sunday:

So it's that time of year again. For us Christians, it is Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. I learned thsi year that back in the day, Advent used to be 40 days before Christmas,  just like the 40  days of Lent before Easter.  I learned  about it when I saw a picture of my grandson with a small lantern  on St. Martin's Day, a day I never knew about, in Germany. (So strange that  in such a secular country, thee is still public celebration of days like St. Martin's Day and Ascension Day and others...in New York City, the sign of a holiday is if the city cancels alternate side parking ) In the 6th century, except for Saturdays and Sundays, a fast would be declared from November 11th until January 6th. 

We've shortened that to 4 weeks. But we still wear purple,just like in Lent, (Although we've also added blue for hope.) And in traditional liturgical churches, like Anglicans and Lutherans, no Alleluias are sung until  Christmas Eve. And t's a bit strange because out  there, the world  it's all hustle and bustle of the season rfom the  absolute madness  of "Black Friday" until Christmas. From Halloween on, Christmas  decorations and music being played everywhere. And somehow, in here, we've got to provide a quiet place for some reflection. 

It's a time of preparation.  Of getting ready. And waiting. With three Christmases in our minds. First, the historic Christmas, when Jesus was born. Second, this year's Christmas, the one just twenty two days away, and then the final coming of Jesus. Somehow we keep all these in mind while also caught in all the memories of our past Christmases. 

There is this sense of urgency. Remember "People Get Ready there's a train a comin..." ( I see heads nodding...) There is no better Advent song. 

But the question is what are we waiting for? Mark's message seems pretty clear. You better get ready because he's coming back and you're  not sure when. But what exactly does that mean?

Are we really sitting here waiting for Jesus to come again? Is that something to worry about or fear? or something to look forward to?

What do you think about a Second Coming? How does it affect  your understanding of Jesus?

And we've got these strange  combinations of ordinary and extraordinary, 

In Isaiah, we've got heavens torn open and quaking mountains but also a potter and clay.  In Mark, we've got a total eclipse  of the sun (well, we've had that!) and falling stars but then the tenderness of the fig trees' shoots. (And what signs of tenderness do we see announcing  the coming of the Kindom of God?) Jesus tells us to watch for signs, then says we can't know. He says "this generation won't pass away..." but it's been over 2000 years!  What's being asked of us here? What difference does  it make?

The kids use the expression "woke."  Like you've been asleep and now you know what's going on. ("Keep awake" says Mark. 13:35) Like look what generations of women put up with for years until the Harvey Weinstein dam broke and the chorus of " me  too's" began. Now we know. Men, I wonder how many of our sisters here this morning have had their own "me too"moment. Once you know, you can't go back. 

The Federal Court recently actually brought in a  wrongful death  judgment verdict in the death of Mohammed Bah of Harlem at the hands of  police. Those of us who are white have to understand that  even though we are not personally guilty in the system of white privilege, we do benefit from it every day. And even though not guilty, we are responsible. We are called to begin the deconstruction  of that system immediately. 

We're talking about active waiting, not idle speculation. Like if he did come back, what would he find us doing and how do we feel about that?

It's like you know, we've got chronos and kairos, kronos regular tick tock time, minute after minute, and kairos  when God breaks in and disrupts. Are we waiting for that?  Are we waiting for a deus ex machina? A messiah figure swooping down from the sky?

I'm thinking of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas carol" today. Actually, congress has me thinking about Ebenezer Scrooge. After this tax reform bill they are  intent on passing. Like on what world does it make sense to lower taxes on the super rich and then  remove tuition and loan reductions from the middle and working class? Cruelest of all, make blue collar scholarship benefits taxable? What??!!  It's like permanently  locking a generation of people out of the middle class...how?why?

When approached by gentlemen seeking charitable contributions for the poor, Scrooge responds: 

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge. [Stave 1: 50-51]

Later, the Spirit of Christmas Present mocks Scrooge's former insensitivity by hurling his own words back at him as he regards the appalling children of humanity, Ignorance and Want:

They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

“Spirit! are they yours?” Scrooge could say no more.

“They are Man's,” said the Spirit, looking down upon them. “And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree; but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!” cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. “Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!”

“Have they no refuge or resource?” cried Scrooge.

“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. “Are there no workhouses?”

The bell struck twelve. [Stave 3: 108-109]

Earlier, Marley had told him:

“Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

Finally, Isiah has some strong, comforting but strongnwords for us:

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;

    we are the clay, and you are our potter;

    we are all the work of your hand.

9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,

    and do not remember iniquity forever.

    Now consider, we are all your people.

That word is ALL....All....that's people who voted for Trump  too...all means all...

How do we  live that  out, make that real?  What  better time to think about it , what better season to engage that than now?

What are we waiting for?

On this Sunday, we celebrate communion. And pray for those we love. An then gather downstairs for the breaking of bread together.  I miss my friend Geraldine who is not here today, I'm becoming aware thatch of the liturgy is probably her work and that he musical selections and variety reflect her love of music. One of those invaluable lay people who keep these churches together.   I notice the collection of photographs of earlier days, when the congregation was bigger. Remembered events and activities. Signs of their recent Thanksgiving celebration. The usotms and practices of this church that keep the body together, even through the struggles of aging and growing smaller. A faithfulness that won't let go....