The season of Advent is upon us! I have always found it to be a bit of a challenge to preach on these Sundays. Many of the Gospel readings in the lectionary cycle focus on the apocalyptic narrative which has led so many to spend more time reading the tea leaves and looking for signs of the end times than spending time in quiet reflection and anticipation.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. We are entering the season of anticipation and preparation in an unusual way. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia, meaning “second coming.” In the early history of the church, Advent was often called a “mini-Lent” and was a time of fasting and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. It was also a time of preparation for those wishing to join the church. The new members would join the church on the Feast of the Epiphany which commemorates the visit of the Wisemen, Jesus’ Baptism, and his first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee.
Over time, this time has become marked by a consumer attitude of buy, buy, buy. Black Friday kicks off this secular festival immediately following Thanksgiving. I find it interesting that the day after we give thanks for what we have, that we rush like mad to buy more. Somewhere in the middle of all of this madness, the spirit of Advent has been lost. When we read Mark 13:24-37, Jesus’ parable offers a rather apocalyptic vision about the second coming, concluding with the charge to keep awake since we don’t know when the master will return.
Watching and waiting with anticipation are the hallmark of this season. We have spent a great deal of time in waiting, wondering, and anticipation in 2020. We have wondered how long the Pandemic is going to last. We have waited with anticipation for the 2020 election results. We now wonder when there will be an effective vaccine against COVID-19 and when it will be available. We wonder what Christmas will look like this year just as we wondered what Thanksgiving would look like in the midst of a global pandemic.
As I read and re-read Mark 13:24-37 this week I was struck by the stunning and vivid language describing the coming of the Son of Man. The picture painted by Jesus is pretty incredible. Between the sun darkening, the moon not giving light, and stars falling from the sky we have a pretty overwhelming picture. Jesus told this parable as Mark relates it just before his arrest, torture, and execution at the hands of the Empire. These new leaders of the movement would have their hands full in the midst of so many unknowns. Up until that time, Jesus had taken most of the slings and arrows sent their way. Now, they would deal with it on their own. In the midst of the chaos that was to come, they would have to figure out how to be leaders instead of simply followers. In their own ways, each of the Disciples would find their own unique way to lead this new faith movement as it grew. I wonder if part of the admonition to “Keep awake” meant that they were to look for opportunities for ministry and being Christ to the world. For me, part of that admonition is to be aware of how I can be Christ to those whom I meet.
In the midst of all that is 2020, have we forgotten to take those moments to simply “be still” in God’s presence? Paul tells us in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians, chapter one, that God is faithful, and that God will give us strength as we live each day. As we approach this Advent season, I think it is imperative for us to keep awake and be ready for what is to come. It is also critical for us to not only remember that God is faithful, but to also be an instrument of God’s faithfulness, God’s peace, God’s justice, God’s mercy, and God’s love in this pandemic weary world.
This year is different from many of the past years we have experienced. In the midst of it all, we need to hear the reminder that God is faithful!
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Thankful for a day of settling into our new home
The process is not always easy
Yet in the midst of the uncertainty
Your Spirit guides us
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
“It is not enough for us to possess human nature, we have to act as humans, we have to exercise all the deepest capacities of our nature. More than this, we have to act as persons—freely! As soon as we come into existence we begin to obey the Law of Love.” —Thomas Merton (Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, p. 117)
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a wonderful day with my sweetheart
There is so much to be thankful for
Family and dear friends around the globe
Our kids in Chicago and Mobile
Our Dads in Alabama and Minnesnowda
Our church family in Georgia
For all of these gifts I thank you
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre..,
Old Thanksgiving memories include the appearance of the pilgrim and turkey candles at Mom & Dads when I was growing up. Dinner would be served on Mom’s china which we will be using again this year. I remember the plays and costumes at school. The “story” of the first Thanksgiving was told without mentioning the “rest of the story.” That education would come later as the voices of the indigenous people rose up. Sadly, far too many continue to ignore that story.
So what do you do with a “holiday” that is so full of violence and suppression? That is a difficult question to ponder. The history which had been whitewashed for so long is finally being told truthfully in some parts of our nation for those who will stop and listen.
Perhaps if we focus on thanks-giving instead of the pilgrims that might be a start. Instead we could focus on both the blessings and challenges of this day. How does one give thanks when unemployment rates continue to climb as jobs are lost and housing is very insecure? How does one give thanks while infection and death rates continue to climb as COVID-19 shows no signs of backing off?
This year of the pandemic has changed so much in our nation and world. Not all of the change has been good. But there have been signs of hope in the midst of the darkness. There are many stories of neighbors and strangers helping each other out through this difficult season.
So as we walk through this day, I will offer the prayer of Howard Thurman, who was the grandson of a slave. He found a way to be thankful in the midst of segregation and oppression. Perhaps we can do the same.
In Your presence, O God, we make our Sacrament of Thanksgiving.
We begin with the simple things of our days:
Fresh air to breathe,
Cool water to drink,
The taste of food,
The protection of houses and clothes,
The comforts of home.
For all these we make an act of Thanksgiving this day!
We bring to mind all the warmth of humankind that we have known:
Our mothers’ arms,
The strength of our fathers,
The playmates of our childhood,
The wonderful stories brought to us from the lives of many who
talked of days gone by when fairies and giants and diverse kinds
of magic held sway;
The tears we have shed, the tears we have seen;
The excitement of laughter and the twinkle in the eye with
its reminder that life is good.
For all these we make an act of Thanksgiving this day.
I would add a call to work together so that all of God’s creation may experience these blessings each and every day. Until they do, the work of Justice continues.
| Verse of the day Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 |
| Voice of the day The concept of setting aside one day for giving thanks doesn’t fit. We [the Ho-Chunk Nation] think of every day as Thanksgiving. – Anne Thundercloud of the Ho-Chunk Nation |
| Prayer of the day Now we turn our thoughts to the Creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator. Now our minds are one. – From the Mohawk version of the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address – Greetings to the Natural World |
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Today was a day of reading, reflection, and worship planning
It was also a time for delightful conversations
Yes, Thanksgiving is certainly going to be different this year
Lord, help us to be thankful and see your Spirit’s presence in the midst of it all
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
God Almighty, this has been a terrible year.
So much death. So much illness. So much misery, all around the world, for every human being. I can hardly believe it. And I certainly don’t understand it.
— Read on www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/11/25/thanksgiving-prayer-covid-james-martin-gratitude-239355
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a long, yet productive day
Worship preparation and recording for Sunday completed
Studied and prepared for our Advent short course
Some time spent with my friend the squirrel
A wonderful evening spent with my sweetheart
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
As the US Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am both mindful of all that I have to be thankful for and what so many sisters and brothers need to survive.
Perhaps this week we can look beyond ourselves and our selfish desires in order to see and love our neighbor. Thomas Merton’s words from his book Thoughts in Solitude speak volumes.
To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference. — Thoughts in Solitude (p. 33)
Perhaps this week, in the midst of the pandemic, we can give thanks to God and love our neighbor. This is my wish and my prayer.
