This morning began with frustration after reading an article from a TEA party member calling for the dismantling of The United Methodist Church. I don’t want to give this idiot more press (hence no hyperlink to his website), but his words did arouse some discouraging thoughts. How is it that as Christians near Advent’s consummation, there are still Christian folk who want to make sure that the poor know that their proper place is on the bottom rung of the ladder, off, far enough away so that they won’t cause any trouble. How can we be on this side of Advent and Christians who fight so ardently to bring God back into the public realm (as if posting the Ten Commandments suddenly makes any gathering space holy) want to deny rights to children of immigrants, be they legal or not. How can we read Isaiah’s prophesies of the coming Prince of Peace and not want to sign a treaty to help do away with nuclear weapons (and I know that in a battle between a warhead and a signed piece of paper, the warhead will always win)? I know I need to add some footnotes, and the DREAM Act or START aren’t perfect, but it’s frustrating to sing the Magnificat when it seems to some simply to be a nice melody. When will the Magnificat be more than a nice song to sing during the offerorty? How long, O Lord!?
But maybe that is what Advent is about. Patience. Waiting. The Kingdom has not come to fruition, which is why we sing the faith with hope. I found it funny (or ironic) that I was preaching about waiting for the Lord, but I was doing anything but. Schedules, meetings, shopping . . . you’ve read this list before. Maybe the waiting that is necessary has less to do with time (ie. quiet time, silence), and more to do with the heart.
So here’s an opportunity to overhear the sermon I am preaching to myself today. In those days . . . there was hatred, ignorance, oppressive power, slavery . . . but “Do not be afraid; for see–I am bringin you good news of great joy for ALL the people: to you is born this day . . . a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” We wait in hope of the promise of God. May you find peace in this reading.