November 19, 2006 Sermon
This page is offered for those unable to attend the service or who would like more time to study the message.
Proper 28 – B
November 19, 2006 Allan Conkling
I can always tell when Advent is getting close. Like a weathervane atop an old barn swinging around at the coming of the first Norther of the year, I can always tell by the readings that a change is in the air. Awareness, says Anthony de Mello, in his book by the same name, brings with it a wake-up call. In order to lead a spiritual life, one has first to wake up. This, then is the loud knock, the harsh voice, and the cold floor meeting your bare feet when you would rather stay safe and warm in your comfortable bed: “Be alert, for the end of the age is coming.”
The style of writing we encounter this morning is what is called “apocalyptic” from the Greek work apocalypsis: to reveal; to uncover. It is an entire genre in the Bible; and it is also mostly ignored by Episcopalians, because we don’t quite know what to do with it. Filled with doom, gloom, and descriptions of the end of the world, it has been called the “happy hunting ground” for religious fanatics; “the fanciful product of unbalanced minds.” In our church it is always saved for the last two weeks of the season of Pentecost. “End times” readings for the end of the church year: as predictable as turkey on Thanksgiving.
But what is the point? What is the attraction of apocalyptic writings? Is there anything we can learn? If indeed this is a call to wake us from our slumber—to what and for what are we being aroused? To answer these questions we need to back up a bit and see how apocalyptic writings first developed. The year 168 BCE (the time of the OT reading) saw the first full scale persecution of the Jewish people. Jews were killed, sacred books were torn to pieces and burned. And just to be spiteful, a Syrian king placed a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem and made the people worship it. Under such humiliation, torture, and suffering Jews began to long for a time when the end of the world would surely come; a time when God would send a Messiah, an anointed one, to save them and lead them to a new life. About 150 years later, Christians believe the messiah did come, although not in the way he was expected: not as a king, but as a child, born in a manger; riding not a chariot, but on a donkey; no army, only 12 disciples—fishermen, tax collectors, sinners, and women. He preached not God’s vengeance, but God’s love. To emphasize his purpose, Jesus also spoke of a time when the end of the world would come. Although he did not say when, his disciples expected it soon, especially when they too became the brunt of persecution and derision for their faith.
Throughout history different groups, particularly the poor and the marginalized have seen in apocalyptic writings a key to a better life. Slaves in the South saw in them a promise of divine justice in a world of injustice. To most however, they are just too difficult to understand. After 2000 years most folks don’t have an immediate expectation of God’s coming. We say in the Creed that we believe that “He will come again in glory to judge the living and dead…”, but really, we are thinking about where we will go to lunch, or what time the Cowboys come on. We continue to work, provide for our family, ask for pledges, and plan for our children’s future. The here and now it seems, always draws our attention from the hereafter.
But some place in between, our faith tells us that there is more. Somewhere between an over worrying and obsession on one hand, and a cynical shallowness on the other, if we are honest we know that life is short. We get older and feel our bodies begin to change—we see our reflection in the mirror. None of us is going to last forever. No we don’t want to dwell on it, but as you get older you know Jesus is right—the world is passing very rapidly, and so are we. Moreover, the world is pretty meaningless without God.
I would
submit that passages like we have this morning are good for us to read,
at least a couple of times a year; not to make us feel bad, or feel
guilty, or afraid – but maybe to help us keep a sense of perspective.
Paul says in
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The writer of Hebrews says, “Do not abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.” Far from calling us to live in fear, these readings remind us that we are to live life to its fullest, loving others with that extravagant grace-filled love which has been shown to us in Christ. We are to be all we can be in Gods sight, in full assurance of “salvation” and our relationship with our loving God. Oh yes, scripture tells us that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…” but scripture also tells us that “God is not a God of confusion but a God of Peace.” When the “end times” do come, whether it is at the end of the world, or at our own end, we can be ready, filled with hope, living each day as if it were a gift. Because it is, you know.
In times of trial, when we face the ever present challenges and setbacks of life, we can also expect new beginnings, new life to spring from the old. This is the Christian message: Christ has died, Christ is risen; Christ will come again! And Christ’s Spirit is with us, now. There is no waiting. End times and new beginnings indeed are all around us.
A little boy listened closely as the rabbi read the Bible. “May I ask a question?” he asked. “Sure. Go ahead. Ask your question,” replied the rabbi. “Well the Bible says that the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea; the children of Israel built the temple; the children of Israel did this and did that. Didn’t grownups ever do anything?
We can decide to roll over and go back to sleep. God will not force us to wake up. Or we can discover that we have a job to do. “Take heed,” says Jesus “I have already told you everything.” I guess we should thank him for giving us the heads up!
Copyright © 2003 Emmanuel Episcopal Church. All rights reserved.
Revised: 11/28/06