Cornerstone United Methodist Church
“The Advent People: We are a people of power and gentleness”
Isaiah 40:
2 Peter
December 7, 2008
Year B
Traditions that tell us that it is time to get into the spirit – Christmas concerts, the Nutcracker, Santa Claus is coming to town, your first Christmas card in the mail –
All signs that it is time for Christmas to get started. All signs that it is time to enter into that magical time of year – when the world is a little different place to be
My favorite words…
RECITATIVE. (Accompanied - Tenor) Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness:-Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert ahighway for our God.AIR (Tenor)Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.CHORUS And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
These are the beginning words of Handel’s messiah. I can’t wait until next week when I can go to the sing along messiah to sing those words. Not a singer by training, which is why I didn’t sing them. But it really doesn’t matter. As a matter of fact, I Handel’s Messiah is one of my favorite cd’s. I listen to that cd all times of the year – to be reminded of God’s promises to the faithful.
Words of Isaiah
These are the words of the Hebrew scripture for today. A reminder that this is the time of year when we will be comforted.
But what do they mean?
Why is Isaiah telling us that things will get better. The original audience of these words – were devastated. They had worked so hard to build a city dedicated to God – only to come back and to discover that all they worked to build ad been destroyed. What must that feel like – how can you make it better?
Realization of the needs of tender words – speak comfort to my people.
The news is filled with words of things going haywire in the world.
If we ever needed God to speak tender words of comfort – I think it is now. The news is filled with a situation getting worse and worse everyday. I cannot even fathom what $25 billions is – and the government has loaned that amount for how many times in the last two months. Then there was the story of the Chicago factory which has gone out of business – on top of the story that 533 million people who have lost their jobs last month. I could not help but to ask God when does this end – when will the angels come in and give a real word of hope – that things are getting better. I found myself telling god that I really need to hear a miracle, only a divine word could make all of this seem better.
What words do you need to hear from God this season?
The scripture also Also talks of preparing a highway for God – make the rough places plain, hills and mountains straight. How is that possible? What does that mean?
There was a time when the God’s were paraded around and the parade route had to be prepared, so the way of the God was smooth
Life in times of chaos like a construction zone. Have you ever been in the middle of a contruction zone – lots of knocking down , noise, and destruction of what is already there.
That is what life is like when things are changing.
Change is difficult – advent is not just a time of a little change – major changes. Making a way for God in our lives. And expecting it to happen
But the words from Isaiah is intended to Remind us that no matter what – God is always there. Life happens, but God always makes a way.
Last week – the first week of advent is a time for us to get in touch with the way the world is. Life is full of bad news, of dreams that fall apart, of decay, or suffering. That is just how life is and we can’t escape from that reality. The second week is time to be reminded that life is what life is – but the power of the gospel is for us to be reminded that there is something more, someone one bigger, something better. God and God’s love for us. No matter what happens – God never stops loving us caring for us, comforting us. We just have to prepare ourselves for God’s appearance in our lives. A time when things will change.
Change always starts in the desert
Isaiah says in the wilderness – to prepare a way for the Lord. Why in the wilderness? Because change always happens for us in the wilderness? In order to us to be at home in the new way, we have to be keenly aware of what it means to live in the chaos of the wilderness. The wilderness our stuggles, our problems, our worries, our unresolved issues. Our desires for things to be different.
A call that things are going to be different
It is in the wilderness – that we finally hear a voice that things are going to be different. Isaiah says that a voice cries out – and the prophet asks what shall I cry to make the people feel better. The cry is a reminder that all things that happen in life good and bad eventually come to pass – But God’s love is constant.
We are an advent people – we are the one who hears that call. We are the ones who call to others
We are the ones who point the way to God – powerful, gentle, patient and trusting
2 Peter talks of that who we are to be as a people – wait for God.
Life makes us ancient – but if we trust in the power of God – we will be patient. If we trust in the lord we will be peaceful while we are patient. That can be easier said that done.
Baby story
Todd and Dawn were remember the first anniversary of the death of their young son, from cancer. He lived to be 8 months old. He had been in the hospital for most of his life – going through every treatment imaginable. But nothing seemed to make a difference. Needless to say, this was a very anxious time for them. One night, while sleeping beside their son Todd had a dream. He had been talking with God – as many of us do in times of trouble. Asking God for an answer – the answer was 5:38. He woke up wondering what that meant – not really wanting to know the answer – as many of us do in times of trouble. He told his wife about the dream- she knew what it meant – but didn’t want to think about it. That day the doctors told the couple that they had done all that they could for the baby – and it was time for them to make a decision. That day they took the baby off of all life support. They held him in his arms as he died. And after they said goodbye – and were packing up all of their son’s belonging – they realized that at 5:38 that evening they were holding their son as he was taking his last breaths. 5:38 was their word of comfort from God. God’s message that the worst was to come – but that God would be with them in the midst of it. God would be with them, and God would love them.
Advent story
A twelve year old had an accident, where he fell off of a horse. He was not hurt – but he went into an emotional paralysis. He could not speak, he could not respond. The doctors had not idea of who to snap him out of it. They kept him in the hospital and loved him as much as they could – but it did not seem to make a difference. One day a nurse bought a six month old baby into his room. She laid the baby on the young boys’s stomache. Out of nowhere, the boy smiled, hugged the baby and kissed him – he was back to normal. It was the love of a child bought into his life that made all of the difference in the world. He was healed and able to go home soon after that.
That is advent for us – the time when a baby comes into our lives – and shows us the love of God – which heals us, brings us back to life. And changed everything.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem says your God
What do we need to hear this season?
What does the world need to hear this advent?
Be an advent people.
God’s people – spreading God’s words. Life is what life is – but this is the time of year to be reminded that is so – but the good news is that if we believe in the power of God – there is still something more. Something to prepare for – something to wait for, something to look forward – the coming of the Lord!
