FULL MEASURE 2021 ADVENT CELEBRATION DAY 14
MODERATOR: Pastor jen Cumberbatch
Welcome Friends to The Full Measure’s Celebration of Advent 2021
ADVENT CELEBRATION DAY 14, Saturday, December 11, 2021
SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:1-6
READERS: The Linenschmidts
THEME: PEACE
CANDLES: Light 2 purple candles for each reading The HOPE Candle from Week 1 and The PEACE candle from Day 8-Day 15.
Luke 3:1-6 NIV
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a]
Reading
C.S Lewis, a brilliant author, once an atheist, who became a Christ-follower and an equally brilliant Christian apologists, said of Christmas that it was “the central event in the history of Earth’’ and Lewis called the Incarnation, “the Grand Miracle.” What powerful statements that ring true today. By extension, one might add that Christ’s return will be the most central event in the history of Earth. And, the anticipation of the latter event might outweigh the celebration of the former.
The question arises, why celebrate Advent or Christmas? Advent being the precursor to Christmas, as well as the anticipation of Christ with us now, and the hope of his return.
One answer to this age old question is found in the passage of scripture chosen for today, Day 14 of the 2021 Celebration of Advent. Namely, that celebrations take preparation. C. S. Lewis condemned the gift-giving frenzied way of celebrating Christ’s birth, as frantic, ill-tempered, excessive materialism.
And, though it is easy enough to take a cynical stance toward gift-giving, ostensibly in honor of God having given the world the gift of Jesus, it is possible to engage in this time-honored tradition with prudence---making our list and checking it twice---(moderation, supply chain shortages and budget concerns taken into consideration), while still doing the most important preparation for celebration and anticipation of Christ’s coming in the earth realm, namely the preparation of our hearts.
Sounds deep and wonderful, transcendent, and spiritual, Right?
What does it really mean, however, to prepare one’s heart to celebrate Christ’s arrival, then, and now, and to anticipate Christ’s return.
An examination of our core beliefs and values might be in order.
Every Valley Shall be exalted
Where are the depressed----valleyed spaces of my faith, thoughts, beliefs and values, as it relates to God and God’s Christ that need to be elevated to God’s perspective?
Do I truly believe that the earth was created for God’s glory and that humanity was created for authentic and eternal fellowship with God?
Do I believe in the concept of sin and a consequently fallen world?
Is truth relative, and in the eye of the beholder?
Is the earth and all creation really groaning in anticipation of the reconciliation of all things, by a Savior.
Does humanity need a Savior or are we little gods, capable of rescuing ourselves by our own effort.
Is humanity inherently good, and evil is in the eye of the beholder, with each person pursuing what is good for themselves?
The Crooked Straight and the rough places plain.
The Ancient African theologian, St Augustine, defined evil as a twist on good.
So, I ask myself where in my thinking and my behaviors have I gotten things twisted, perverted, leading to self harm or the harm of others?
Do I love God with my whole heart, and strength or do I merely acknowledge God’s existence?
Do I truly love the person God has created me to be, the image of God in my person, acknowledging that God who loves me, made me, and I didn’t make myself. Or, am I constantly despising the image of God in me and remaking myself into my own preferred image?
Can I identify my neighbor, if they are outside my chosen tribe. And, having made said identification, can I then love my neighbor, not having yet learned to truly love myself?
Every mountain and hill made low
Where have I made myself the master of my own fate and destiny?
Where have I elevated myself and other humans to the place of transformer and creator?
In the season of Advent, I become the prophet emerging from my own wilderness, I am the herald, the one clearing the way, making a path for Christ to Come.
I am the one receiving the Word of the Lord anew. receiving the incarnation afresh. Declaring, “What thus saith the Lord” to my own heart.
On this day, Jesus Christ is born, Christ has arrived in me. And, it is the most central event in the history of my existence on earth.
Prayer
Lord, we daily long for your appearing. Come in and sup with us. Recline at the table with us. Share your life with us, break bread with us, feed us manna from on high. Oh, bread of heaven, Christ, you are the living Word. Holy Spirit you hover over us and bring your Word to life.
You alone, Oh God, in Christ have the words of life, where else will we go? Heal our fractured pieces. Give us your eternal, peace, and hope. Prepare our hearts and lives to receive you again and again. In the matchless name of Jesus we pray. Amen and amen.