SERMON FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012 SAINT ANNE’S
ADVENT 3C
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9
Philippians 4:4-7
Reflecting on the gospel, in light of the horrific events of Friday, December 13, in Newtown, Connecticut
A terrible thing happened in Connecticut this past Friday,
and we grieve with those who lost family members,
those whose innocence was lost when they witnessed horrific violence,
and for those whose young lives were taken.
Since Friday there have been extra hugs for children,
and unbidden tears rising to our eyes and spilling down our cheeks.
Yet again we ask Why? and cry out in unbelief, “Not again!”
Katharine Jefferts Schori, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church,
sent this urgent request for prayer:
We know that God’s heart is broken over this tragedy, and the tragedies that unfold each and every day across this nation. And we pray that this latest concentration of shooting deaths in one event will awaken us to the unnoticed number of children and young people who die senselessly across this land every day. More than 2000 children and youth die from guns each year, more than the soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Will you pray and work toward a different future, the one the Bible’s prophets dreamed of, where city streets are filled with children playing in safety (Zechariah 8:5)?
This different future is the one
that the prophets hold up for us to see and hope for.
It is a vision of the whole world healed and at peace,
and everything is in a state of shalom -- wholeness --
as God has intended it from the beginning.
Events like the one this week remind us how very far away we are,
as a whole human family, from that ideal.
And yet…
Let us not be so consumed by the tragedy that we let despair overcome hope,
or that we think the dark of evil is more powerful than the light of good.
If you have two rooms, one completely dark and the other bright with light,
with a door between them,
when you open the door, the dark does not expand and make the bright room dark.
No, the light shines into the dark room.
Light is more powerful than dark, and cannot be extinguished by darkness.
Let us not begin to think that terrible event, and others like it, are what defines the world.
For the good that happens every day far outweighs the evil.
And I still believe, and our hope always is, that good will triumph.
Good is winning, even now.
There was a man sent by God whose name was John.
He came into the world to tell us about the Light.
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to --
to tell the world about -- the Light.
The true Light, which was coming into the world.
As Luke tells the story,
this man, John, doesn’t beat around the bush.
He speaks directly and clearly, even harshly,
to the crowds that have followed him out into the desert.
He tells them -- repent! change your lives!
rededicate yourselves to being part of the better future.
He speaks about fruit.
Bear fruit worthy of repentance, he says.
Bear fruit …
Just as plants have flowers and fruits and vegetables and seeds that grow from them,
our lives also produce something that people can see,
that makes a difference -- for good or ill -- in the world.
You see, it’s not enough to just believe certain things.
In fact, John isn’t even trying to get his listeners to believe any doctrine or dogma. He is talking about core values, that influence the way they live their lives.
His harsh words are for those who say they believe in God,
and who think that being a member of a faith group is enough.
John actually calls them a brood of vipers!
He says, true faith is seen in the way you live your life.
The fruit that your life bears.
And the people ask him, “What should we do?”
What does repentance -- turning our lives around toward God -- look like?
John is incredibly practical. Very clear.
If you have 2 coats, share with someone who doesn’t have a coat.
If you have food, share.
If you are a tax collector, or a soldier -- a person in power --
don’t use your position to cheat people, or to harm others in any way.
It’s incredibly practical, and small-scale.
You don’t have to solve all the world’s problems,
just take care of the part that’s right in front of you.
Another thing about John’s practical directions,
is that they are not simply personal.
They are about interactions with others.
Repentance is not about confessing your sins,
as much as it is about changing your life --
noticing and responding to the people who are around you.
The cold, the hungry, the powerless, whom you have the means to help.
And when we turn outward, and realize it’s not all about us,
an amazing thing happens.
Our hearts become softer, more loving.
As we reach out in love to others, we ourselves are transformed.
Poverty of spirit gives way to abundant spiritual blessings and brilliant fruit.
Because repentance -- the kind of repentance that John is talking about --
(even though it’s practical, and has to do with how we behave in the world,
interacting with others) --
it’s not about problem solving.
John isn’t telling us to get out and solve the world’s problems,
but to begin with ourselves,
to line up our lives with God’s priorities,
to tend to our own hearts, to let our reaching out to others
to be the fruit that grows from a humble, grace-filled heart.
As we look at the world, with its huge problems and far-reaching issues,
how can we have hope, and not get weighed down by the hurt and horror of events beyond our control?
We must begin with the practical, the small, the personal.
Our response must include noticing the evil, and grieving over it,
but it must also include noticing the good,
the enormous good that people are doing every day.
That is where we see the light that overcomes the darkness.
It begins with each one, ourselves, and then those close to us.
We can’t prevent every tragedy, and we can’t heal every hurt,
but we can prevent some and we can heal some.
And we can look around us to see that we are not alone.
Words of hope and healing, deeds of compassion and courage,
are being done every day, and the impact of that good, in small, practical ways,
adds up to much much much more than the evil that dominates the headlines.
Some examples:
Following Hurricane Sandy, Dr. Dave Ores opened his clinic to any who needed free medical care, for any reason.
A whole lot of people who still had electricity put extension cords and power strips out, so others could charge their cell phones.
In Libya, following the raid on the U.S. Embassy and the death of our diplomats, a young child was photographed holding up a sign that read “Sorry people of America, this is not the behavior of our Islam and Prophet.”
There’s a soccer team in Michigan who gave their team manager with Down Syndrome a chance to start in a game.
In Texas, college students formed a human wall to block anti-gay protesters at a military funeral.
And on the other side of the wall, there was a young boy bravely holding up a sign saying “God hates no-one.”
Young parents eating lunch in a restaurant received this note:
“I wanted to offer to hold your sweet baby while you both ate lunch, but my husband said I’d look like a stalker. So, I’m buying your lunch instead. Enjoy that sweet baby -- we have teenagers. I know what’s ahead for you, so snuggle your wee one while you can!”
Those parents will never forget that kindness, and will possibly be moved in the future to “pay it forward.”
And we… What should we do? the little things that add up --
Hug your children.
Hug your friend’s children.
Be part of the net of this faithful community that holds all children,
of every age, in a place where they are noticed and known.
Reach out to and include another child,
maybe the one who doesn’t seem to have friends.
Offer help without expecting anything in return.
Give toys and food this Christmas.
The need is always, of course,
but the holidays are especially times when lack is felt.
Smile… Rejoice always… Be patient… Bear fruit worthy of repentance…
Let the fruit of your life be rich, beautiful, nourishing.
Good fruit grows from doing the things that are right in front of us to do.
Small and big… individual acts of kindness, and things we do together with others -- all of them add up to a tsunami of light and love and goodness
that will -- that DOES -- overcome and outweigh the terrible.
It’s all we can do.
And it’s enough.
