The Last Day of Advent 2010

The last day of Advent 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

Do you know what swaddling clothes are?  I didn’t until I was in high school or college.  Our neighbor, Mary, was a second generation Italian.  Her parents were born in Italy.  One afternoon before Christmas Mary explained that in Italy poor people wrapped their new born infants in bands of cloth to keep them warm and keep their arms and legs flaying about.  According to Mary it gave them a sense of security.  Mary explained that that is what swaddling clothes are.  When our children were born I saw the same principle at work when they were wrapped tightly in a blanket. 

What was the sign the angles gave the shepherds to look for in order to find the new born king?  Not angelic chorus, not a bright shining star – but a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.  The sign was not some extravagant, magnificent, wondrous happening but a common little baby wrapped up like new born infants were and are wrapped. 

I love all the whoopla and the extravagant, magnificent wondrous things about the Christmas holiday.  But I am well aware that Christ most often comes to us in the common ordinary things of life.  I guess that’s why the church has chosen water, bread and wine to be vessels of the Holy Spirit and our Lord in the sacraments.  So, I say, “Enjoy all the whoopla and the extravagant, magnificent wondrous things of Christmas.  But look for our Lord in the common ordinary things in the day and in the coming year.

Stir up your power, O Lord and come.  Let us see you as you come to us in the common and ordinary.  AMEN

The Fourth Thursday In Advent

The Fourth Thursday of Advent

December 23, 2010

Gospel: Matthew 1:18–25  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  ²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:³"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."

They shall name him Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."  I remember a few things my freshman college religion processor taught me.  Forty years later I am not sure if he would be more flattered or shocked!  One of the things he said that stuck was, “Faith is not feeling.”  I may not feel the presence of God but that does not change the fact that I believe God is present.  I believe God is present when I feel God’s presence and when I don’t.

My wife and I have a collection of over 50 nativity scene from all over the world, India, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, and my workshop in Pennsylvania.  By far the most precious is the one that was given to my mother when she was a young girl, over 90 years ago.  When she died my father gave it to me. 

The first time we set it up we discovered that the baby Jesus was missing.  I was sadly disappointed but understood how such a little figurine could get lost in the confusion of packing and unpacking Christmas decorations.  For several years we displayed this precious creche with our growing collection of nativities.   One year, not too long ago, as I was examining the Mary figurine, I noticed a piece of tissue stuck up inside her.  I pulled it out and low and behold, the baby Jesus was safely tucked away inside Mary wrapped up in a piece of tissue.  What a wonder to discover this precious baby Jesus when I had thought he was got.  He was there all the time even though I did not know it. 

I pray you will discover Jesus in your life when you least expect him and are looking in unexpected places.  A Blessed and Very Merry Christmas.

Gracious and living God, thank you for coming to our lives when we least expect it and in places in which we are not looking.  AMEN

The Fourth Wednesday In Advent

The fourth Wednesday In Advent

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Matthew 1:18–25  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  ¹⁹Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.  ²⁰But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  ²¹She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  ²²All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:  "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."  ²⁴When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,  ²⁵but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.   Mary always  gets the spot light on Christmas Eve.  Joseph stands waiting in the wings.  Perhaps we should put the spot light on him too for Joseph was a stand up sort of a guy.

Joseph’s fiancé was found to be pregnant.  He knew it wasn’t him.  So he decided to do the only thing a righteous, honorable, upstanding, First Century Jew would do.  He did the same thing that most men I know today would do.  She was guilty of breach of contract!  He could get off scot free.   To his credit he decided to do it “quietly.”  He didn’t want to disgrace her. 

BUT he changed his mind.  He heard God’s word and like Mary he was willing to be an instrument of God.  Joseph had a lot to lose.  It would soon be apparent that Mary was pregnant.  If he didn’t dismiss her it would be assumed that he was the father.  He would be disgraced for getting her pregnant before they were married.  But Joseph heard the word of the Lord from the angel and changed his mind.  Joseph was a stand up guy.  Like Mary, he was ready to do the Lord’s bidding even though it would cost him his standing in the community. 

I’ve been a stand up guy at times too.  I recall being in a local hardware store and hearing the owner and a few customers talking.  They were using the “N” word liberally and loudly.  At first I thought I would just pay for my stuff and walk out.  But I changed my mind.  I confronted them.  I put my purchases on the counter, told them I was offended at the tone of their conversation and their language, and announced that I would not be back and that I would tell all my friends why.  It was nothing like Joseph and Mary but I did change my mind do what I believe God was bidding at that moment.

SO WHEN have you been a stand up guy/gal and changed your mind to do God’s bigging?

Stir up your power, O Lord and come.  Come to us and embolden us to change our minds when we hear your word to us.  AMEN

The Fourth Tuesday In Advent

The fourth Tuesday in advent

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Isaiah 7:10–16  Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,  ¹¹Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.  ¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.  ¹³Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?  ¹⁴Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.  ¹⁵He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.  ¹⁶For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

I love these Isaiah texts because Judah’s history at this time is so fascinating and King Ahaz has to be the epitome of evil.  Here in this reading Ahaz refuses to listen to the word of God for which he and his country would ultimately be sorry.

Someone once told me that nothing is so useless or evil that it can’t serve as a bad example.  Ahaz and his refusal to hear and heed God’s word is case in point.  We all have been like Ahaz at times.  But rather than focus on how I have failed (which we all need to do at times) this morning I’d rather recall and learn from the times I have heard and heeded God’s word and will for me. 

When I retired from full time pastoral ministry over a year ago, I told our Bishop and his assistants that I wanted no part of interim ministry.  “If I wanted to continue working in a parish ," I said, "I would not have retired.”  I found myself filling in just on Sunday mornings at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd until they could find a new interim.  When Chris Lowe, Council President, asked if I would be their interim pastor,  I politely declined.   But the second time she asked, I thought perhaps God was using Chris to call me.  (You know God uses us like that!)  I heard and I heeded.  I have been so thankful that I was listening.  The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd has been a blessing to me.  Like Ahaz, I had my mind made up.  Unlike Ahaz I was open to God’s call. 

So when have you heard and heeded God’s call?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open our ears to your call and bless us as we follow.  AMEN

The Fourth Monday In Advent

The Fourth Monday In Advent

Monday, December 20, 2010

Isaiah 7:10–16  ¹⁰Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,  ¹¹Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.  ¹²But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.  ¹³Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?  ¹⁴Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.  ¹⁵He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.  ¹⁶For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Again historical context is important.  Judah was being threatened by her neighbors.  To defend his country, King Ahaz determines to ally Judah with the ruthless and feared Assyrians (for which he would later be sorry).  Isaiah warns him not to make such alliances but to trust in God’s presence for protection.  But Ahaz has his mind made up.  So God speaks to Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah, telling him to ask for a sign of God’s presence and protection.  But again, Ahaz has his mind made up.  With a sense of false piety, Ahaz responds, “I will not put the LORD to the test.” 

So God sends him a sign anyway.  Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.  Immanuel means “God with us.”  So as this child grows, every time this young woman call her son in for lunch, for supper, or bed time, he hears “God with us, time for supper.  God with us, time for bed.”  All day long he hears, “God with us.”  All day long he is reminded of God presence with him. 

Along with many other Christians, Lutheran Christians are believers in the doctrine of REAL PRESENCE.  When I give communion, I hold the host between my eyes and the eyes of the communicant and say, “The body of Christ, given FOR YOU.”  When I receive communion I hold out my hand and hear the words, “The body of Christ given for you (i.e. ME).  At those times I know Christ is REALLY PRESENT with me.  That’s the wonder and joy of “real presence.”

SO WHAT times in your life do you know God is present with you?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  To you us and unlike Ahaz make us aware of your coming, your presence with us.  AMEN

The Third Saturday In Advent

THE THIRD SATURDAY IN ADVENT

Matthew 11:2–6  ²When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples  ³and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"  ⁴Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:  ⁵the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.  ⁶And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

John asks this strange question of Jesus, “Are you the Messiah?  Or should we wait for another?”  Jesus answer is, “Go and tell John what you see and hear.”  If someone were to ask me, “Are you really a pastor?”  My response would be, “Of course I am.”  And then list all my qualifications.  But Jesus doesn’t do that.  Instead, he recounts what he has been doing.  Reminds me of a story.

An over zealous evangelist asked a man on the street, “Are you a Christian?”  The man answered, “Don’t ask me that question!  Ask my banker.  Ask my neighbor.  Ask my boss.  Ask my wife.  Ask my children.  Talk is cheap.”

“Are you a Christian?” can easily be answered by, “Yes!  I am baptized and I go to church.”  But the real answer to the question lies in what the people you meet each day see.  Can they tell you are a follower of the Lord Jesus by your actions toward them?

I humbly suggest to you that I think most of the people I meet most of the time would answer of me, “Yes.”  Not all of the people all of the time, but most of the people most of the time. 

SO WHAT about you?  What would your banker, neighbor, boss, spouse and children (if you have them) say about you?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Empower me to talk the talk AND walk the walk of your disciple.  AMEN

The Third Friday In Advent

THE THIRD FRIDAY IN ADVENT

FRIDAY, December 17, 2010

James 5:7-10  ⁷Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  ⁸You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 

I fondly remember Christmas several years ago when I purchased a Cinderella coach complete with a Cinderella doll and white horse for our granddaughter.   When she opened it she screamed with delight and threw her arms around the box and hugged it tightly. "I love it.  I love it. I loved it" she squealed.  She was so anxious to get down on the floor and run Cinderella, the horse and carriage around the room.  But she sat patiently, waiting and watching her Dad and me as we struggled to put all the pieces together.  I thought such a demonstration of patience bodes well for a little girl.

James urges us to be patient for the coming of the Lord.  But I think his admonition for patience has application for our lives in the world today.  Be patient as you drive behind the pokey driver.  Be patient with the elderly woman in the cashier’s line as she fumbles in her purse.  Be patient with the child who struggles to do it herself.  Be patient with yourself.  

SO WHAT tries your patience?  Will you resolve to remember James’ words when you find your patience running out?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Come and give us patience and give us patience now!  AMEN

The Third Thursday In Advent

THE THIRD THURSDAY IN ADVENT

Thursday, December 16, 2010

MATTHEW 13:2-When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

Yesterday I noted that this was a strange question for John to be asking.  The first part of John’s ministry was preparing for Jesus.  When Jesus was baptized John greeted him at the River Jordan with that words that have become part of our communion liturgy, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  Now John is questioning if Jesus is the real deal.  Why?

Remember where John was – in prison.  He was awaiting execution.  Having visited in jails and prisons, they are never pleasant places today.  I can only imagine the dismal circumstances of a First Century prison.  John’s life was unraveling.  He must have felt abandoned, frightened, and despondent.  His heart was so heavy that his eyes of faith were clouded.  We are not told but no doubt John’s disciples returned to encourage John and assure him that Jesus was who he said he was. 

I will always remember the young woman, widowed for the second time and left with three small children, asking me, “Why has God abandoned me?  What have I done to deserve this?”  Her heart was so heavy that she could not see God at work in her life through friends, family and her church working to support her and help her through.  God had not abandoned her but was more present that ever.  But like John the Baptist she could not see it at the time.

SO WHEN have you been called upon to be like John’s disciples to encourage and support someone in a difficult time?  Or when have your eyes been so clouded that you needed someone to remind you that Jesus was still there even though you could not see or feel him?

Stir up your power, O Lord and come.  Come to us and empower us to be your presence in the lives of people who cannot see you.  AMEN

The Third Wednesday In Advent

THE THIRD WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

MATTHEW 11:2-3  ²When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples  ³and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"

How strange that John the Baptist would ask of Jesus, “Are you the one to come or are we to wait for another?”  Is this the same John who earlier in his ministry said of Jesus, “This is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 'Prepare the way of the Lord.  Make his path straight.'"?  Apparently John did not recognize Jesus.

Verse four of the Advent hymn All Earth Is Hopeful reminds us that we meet Jesus everyday in our neighbors.  Sometimes we recognize him and sometimes we don’t.

We first saw Jesus a baby in a crib

This same Lord Jesus today has come to live

   in our world.

He is present in neighbors we see

Our Jesus is with us, and ever sets us free.

I have an irrational fear of being confined, locked in.  When I visit the mental health ward of a hospital and hear the door lock behind me, my heart begins to race and my palms sweat.  Imagine my terror, panic, horror when I was called upon to visit a convicted murderer in a maximum security prison.  It wasn’t visiting a murderer that terrorized me but the thought of being locked in, confined like I had never been before. 

The day before my dreaded visit I met a Roman Catholic priest at a funeral.  I told him about my upcoming visit and how I was dreading it.  “Oh,” he said, “I am the chaplain on death row at that prison.  I’ll meet you there tomorrow and walk you through it.”  There is not doubt in my mind that I met Jesus in that man.  I am happy to say that unlike other times, this time I recognized him and thanked him for being present in my life.

SO WHAT experiences have you had when you met Jesus and recognized his coming to you? 

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Come to us and open our eyes to your coming and make us thankful.  AMEN

The Third Tuesday In Advent

The Third Tuesday in Advent

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Isaiah 35:5  ⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;   ⁶then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.

If my Aunt Helen were alive today she would be nearly 100 years old.  When she was an infant she developed a very high fever that I’m told lasted several days.  As a result Helen was deaf, unable to speak clearly and had some serious developmental and  physical challenges.  There were no special schools for children with multiple disabilities.  Well meaning neighbors and family members encouraged my Grandmother to “put her away.”  Grandma Reesh would not consider it.  Until Grandma Reesh died, she cared for Helen.  Then Helen came to live with us part of the time.  Consequently Helen with all her physical and mental challenges was a constant presence in my life until I left for college. 

At her funeral the pastor used this Isaiah text and asked our family to try to imagine Helen standing straight and tall, dancing and joyfully singing words that were crystal clear.  Whenever I hear these words from Isaiah, I think of Helen and I get excited about the life to come.  I can hardly wait to see and hear Aunt Helen dancing and singing for joy.

SO WHAT excites you when you think about the life to come?  Remember Peter Pan?  It will be an awfully exciting adventure. 

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Come and excite us about what is to come.  AMEN

The Third Monday In Advent

The third Monday in advent

Monday, December 13, 2010

Isaiah 35:8    ⁸A highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Holy Way;

                        the unclean shall not travel on it,

                        but it shall be for God's people;

                        no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.

No traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.  Some contemporary translations read, “Not even fools will get lost.”  This reading for the Third Sunday in Advent was meant to give the people of God in Isaiah’s day and in our day hope in a difficult time.  Hope is a gift from God.  But in addition to giving hope, this text makes me smile.

I am “geographically challenged”.  I get lost is big rooms.  Recently on a trip to Philadelphia with friends I volunteered to park the car while other entered the Franklin Institute.  Upon exiting the car with our friends, Carolyn remarked, “Are we actually trusting him to park the car?  He’ll get lost and he’ll never find us and we’ll never find the car.”  Guess what?  I did get lost but I found them and we eventually found the car. 

It has nothing to do with Isaiah’s original meaning or its meaning to us today buy this text makes me smile.  It makes me laugh at myself.  The ability to smile and to laugh at one’s self, like hope, is a gift from God too. 

SO WHAT makes you smile and when have you laughed at yourself?

Stir up your power, O Lord and come.  Come to us and give us joy today. AMEN

The Second Saturday In Advent

SECOND SATURDAY IN ADVENT

Saturday, December 11, 2010

ROMANS 15:7  Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God

In the Second Reading for the Second Week in Advent St. Paul gives us some hints on how to wait for the our Lord’s coming.  He says, “Welcome one another.”

We have several Indian neighbors.  When we first moved into the neighborhood, it was Ravi and his wife who were the first and only neighbors to welcome us and offer any assistance in getting settled in a new place.  Several years ago when my son and I were moving a load of 80 pound bricks from the driveway to the back yard, it was Rakeesh and his father (who speaks very little English) who, unbidden, came out of their house and began to help us.  Janeeka knew I liked Indian food.  Often when she made Indian delicacies, she would bring a plate over for me. 

Although these people are not Christian, God was showing me through them what it means to be a welcoming person.  Carolyn and I have tried to follow their example by being welcoming people in our neighborhood and in our lives.

SO WHEN have you been welcomed or welcoming?  Did you understand it to be part of what St. Paul is telling us in his letter to the Romans?  Do you see it as a way of life as you wait?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open our lives to be welcoming people .  AMEN

The Second Friday In Advent

SECOND FRIDAY IN ADVENT

Friday, December 10, 2010

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

“THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE” – We are people of hope.  I remember the story of a Jewish man in one of Hitler’s concentration camps who lived with the hope of seeing his beloved wife once again.  When he got word that she had died in another camp, he too died days afterward.  He could not live without hope. 

Today I went to the funeral of one of the church’s saints.  Doris died with hope.  She consciously made the decision to have her respirator turned off knowing full well what it meant.  She was tired of struggling and had the hope for a much better existence, the hope of being with our Lord and her beloved husband, Charlie, also one of the church’s saints.  With that hope she was able to say her final goodbye. 

The pastor’s sermon reawakened in me that hope and the excitement for what is to come.  Many of you have heard me say that my favorite line in all of English literature comes not from Shakespeare or the Bible but from Peter Pan.  When he had been captured by Captain Hook and was forced to walk the blank.  In the water below was Toc, the alligator, waiting for his Peter Pan snack.  Certain death awaited him and he boldly announces, “To die will be an awfully exciting adventure!”  For Doris death was an awfully exciting adventure. 

With that hope I can go boldly into life not fearing its end.  As the candles on the Advent wreath grow brighter each week, they remind me that Advent is a time for hope.

SO WHAT do you hope for?

Stir up your power, O Lord and come.  Come to us and reawaken in us the hope and excitement for what is to come tomorrow and the next day and on the last day.  AMEN

The Second Thursday In Advent

THE SECOND THURSDAY OF ADVENT

Thursday, December 9, 2010

ISAIAH 11:3-4a         His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

                                    He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

                                         or decide by what his ears hear;

                                    but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

                                         and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

Upon first reading these lines I was confused.  Don’t we want a judge who will judge by the facts and not be swayed by bribes or personal feelings?  I want a judge who will judge by what he sees and hears.  Then I remembered Cart Man at Giant, the man who gathers the shopping carts from the parking lot. 

He is a little man who at the first hint of frost in the air bundles up like an Eskimo and has what appears to be a tissue stuffed in both ears.  He always has a hard stoic look on his face and would never acknowledge a smile or a greeting.  So, I made it my goal in life to make him smile or at least acknowledge me.  I was always pleasant, kind and courteous but persistent in smiling and greeting him, commenting on how cold he must be, etc.  Never a response!  Finally deciding he was simply an unfriendly curmudgeon Scrooge, I gave up. 

One afternoon while visiting in the hospital, I met another Giant employee who was the exact opposite of Cart Man, friendly, engaging and always smiling.  I told him about the unfriendly curmudgeon Scrooge who tended the carts.  “Oh, you mean Jim.  He is totally deaf and cannot speak.”  All of a sudden I wanted a judge who would not judge by what his eyes see or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”  I thank my God that God will judge Cart Man and not me and that God will judge me.

SO WHEN have you judged a situation only to find that you were all wrong?  Are you not glad our God is judge and not you?

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Come to us and keep us from being judge over others.  AMEN

The Second Wednesday In Advent

THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

WEDNESDAY, December 8, 2010

Matthew 3:7-10  ⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The last word about repentance – Earlier this week I shared with you an incident with my wife for which I needed to repent.  I was short and curt with her because she suggested doing something differently than the way I wanted to do it.  I failed to listen to her and to try to see things from her perspective.

So I repented.  That means I recognized that I was wrong (That’s a p.c. way of saying sin!) and turned around and acted differently.  I apologized and suggested that we revisit the situation.  At which time I resolved to listen, valued what she had to say and to do what she suggested.  The SO WHAT of all this is that it was easy for me to repent/apologize to Carolyn because I knew I was loved and had already been forgiven. 

So it is with my God.  I am able each Sunday to confess my deepest and darkest sin, all that I have done and failed to do because I know I am love and have already been forgiven.  That’s what the cross is all about.  You know, that God so loved the world that he gave his only son.  If God loves me that much, I do not have to fear confession and repentance.  When Carolyn forgives me, I experience something of what the forgiveness of God is like.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open us to a love so great that it would give a son for us.  AMEN

(Incidentally it wasn’t that big of deal to her.  We did it the way I wanted.  The whole thing could have been averted if I hadn’t been so pig headed.  But I am learning ever so slowly.)

THE SECOND WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

WEDNESDAY, December 8, 2010

Matthew 3:7-10  ⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.  ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

The last word about repentance – Earlier this week I shared with you an incident with my wife for which I needed to repent.  I was short and curt with her because she suggested doing something differently than the way I wanted to do it.  I failed to listen to her and to try to see things from her perspective.

So I repented.  That means I recognized that I was wrong (That’s a p.c. way of saying sin!) and turned around and acted differently.  I apologized and suggested that we revisit the situation.  At which time I resolved to listen, valued what she had to say and to do what she suggested.  The SO WHAT of all this is that it was easy for me to repent/apologize to Carolyn because I knew I was loved and had already been forgiven. 

So it is with my God.  I am able each Sunday to confess my deepest and darkest sin, all that I have done and failed to do because I know I am loved and have already been forgiven.  That’s what the cross is all about.  You know, that God so loved the world that he gave his only son.  If God loves me that much, I do not have to fear confession and repentance.  When Carolyn forgives me, I experience something of what the forgiveness of God is like.

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.  Open us to a love so great that it would give a son for us.  AMEN

(Incidentally it wasn’t that big of deal to her.  We did it the way I wanted.  The whole thing could have been averted if I hadn’t been so pig headed.  But I am learning ever so slowly.)