Today’s movie/scripture is the sequel to the story of Christmas. But it’s not really a sequel. In movie language it’s kind of like a prequel and a sequel and an origin story all rolled into one, and in just a few short verses.
Sermons (Page 3)
We have arrived at the 4th Sunday of Advent – Christmas is just around the corner and perhaps you are as ready as I am to move from Advent’s transformation-of-the-world politics to Christmas’ sparkly lights and newborn baby. And, at first glance at least, our readings seem ready too, replacing John the Baptist with Joseph and his already-pregnant betrothed, Mary.
But it’s not that simple…
The season of Advent calls us to be both – to wait with John and to sing with Mary; to watch for the future and refuse to settle for less than the kingdom and to bear witness to what God is doing now; to the beauty and power and hope that springs up all around us.
So, when John showed up, looking like Elijah, sounding like Elijah, and telling people he was there to prepare the way for someone coming after him, the people listened. This was it, finally! What they’d been waiting for!
…but I think we can be pretty confident that the nations of the world are still making weapons of war and still learning the ways of warfare. And at this point, we’ve (collectively) been waiting for a long time. At times it seems as though we are going in the wrong direction.
Today, we are proclaiming Christ to be King – on the cross, in the manger, and now in this world. Which means we are also proclaiming ourselves to be subjects of this King; inhabitants of this Kingdom, not only in the age to come but now.
We’re not used to that, are we? Turning to scripture for answers and then finding out that the answers aren’t as clear as we’d like. Well, actually, maybe that is exactly what we’re used to. But it does seem strange when Jesus is the source.
Will Postma, Executive Director of Alongside Hope (previously known as the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund), was at St. Helen’s on October 26.