Preparing the Way

December 7^th, 2014      “Preparing the Way”    Rev. Heather Jepsen

John 1:6-8, 19-28

          As you know it is the season of Advent here in the church.  This is a time of watching and waiting, a time of preparing our hearts for our coming Lord.  And we certainly cannot do that without the hero of Advent; John, known so well as the Baptist.  And so this week our readings turn to him.

          John is one of the most interesting characters of the gospels and many of the gospel writers don’t seem to know what to do with him.  Is he greater than Jesus because he baptizes him, or is he less than?  Does Jesus come from within his movement, or does he start his own?  Do the followers of John become the followers of Jesus, or is it the other way around?  The biblical authors can’t even agree on a name for this guy.  In Matthew he is “John the Baptist”, in Mark “John the baptizer”, in Luke “John the son of Zechariah”, and in today’s reading from the gospel of John he is just plain old “John.”

          Even in the story that is told, no one seems to know who he is.  In the reading for today, priests from the temple in Jerusalem have headed out into the wilderness specifically to ask that question, “Who are you?”  The answer John gives is very nebulous.  At first he refuses to claim any identity.  All he offers those who ask is a series of “nots”; not the Messiah, not Elijah, and not one of the prophets.  When pushed, John refuses to make claims in his own words; rather he paraphrases Isaiah “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.  ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

          I like this plain old “John” from the gospel of John because he is so shrouded in mystery.  His whole story is placed smack in the middle of the great cosmic opening of this gospel.  Like directing a film, we start from way back with the greatest wide angle distance shot ever: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  There is some wonderful language about dark and light, and in just a few short verses the camera zooms way in.  It zooms so far in that we can see the details of one man’s face, the scruffy beard hairs and the wrinkles around his eyes.  “There was a man sent from God whose name was John.”  From the vast expanses of a world before time to the sudden detail of the life of one man, John is the focal point of this gospel. 

          I really enjoy the interplay throughout this gospel between the cosmic and the everyday, the infinite and the incarnate, the forever of God’s time and space and the true experience of our here and now.  John is the man who stands in the gap between these two things, John is the connector.  As the gospel writer says “John came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”  It is through John that we can see, it is through John that we come to know Jesus, it is through John that we believe.

          You would think that through the repeated seasons of Advent a preacher would grow bored of the same old texts, but really that isn’t the case.  In fact, I am always surprised at what different verses “pop out” at me each year.  As I was reading the familiar story of John this week I noticed a line I hadn’t noticed before.  John is speaking to the Pharisees about the coming Christ and he says “Among you stands one you do not know.”  The Pharisees are missing the signs, they are missing the light, they are missing Jesus.  And I started wondering, what if we are missing him too?

          “Among you stands one you do not know.”  Are we missing the stranger within our midst?  The first line of thought of course is to consider the literal stranger.  This is a great season for sharing.  From donating to the Christmas Store, to putting something in the Toys for Tots box, to dropping money in that famous red kettle; this season is full of opportunities to share with the stranger.  Among you stands one you do not know, and our call during this season of sharing is to share what we have with them.  Just a few weeks ago, we were reminded that whenever we have done it for the least of those among us, whenever we have helped the stranger, we have helped our Lord.  The celebration of Christmas is simply another step on our great Journey of Generosity.

          “Among you stands one you do not know.”  What if, like the Pharisees, we are missing Jesus within our very midst?  I am thinking of the presence of Jesus, the likeness of Jesus, on display within our very homes and yet we do not see him.  I have several Nativity scenes or Crèches within my home and each one has a Jesus figure.  I am sure many of you have one set out as well.  Perhaps we are even missing that Jesus.  Perhaps we are unable to even see and know this one, who we put out on display to gather dust for a few weeks.  Perhaps even this Jesus, the babe in the manger, is a mystery to us.  “Among you stands one you do not know.”

          The writer of the gospel of John reminds us that John came as a witness, and who is a witness?  One who sees.  John is the one who sees what we cannot.  John is the one who tells us what we should be looking for.  John is the one who is telling us to open our eyes to the power of God in our world.

          The great cosmic power of our creator God is present in our everyday lives.  There are moments when it breaks in and surprises us.  Moments when our eyes pop open and we suddenly come to the realization of God’s great love.  But most of the time our eyes are closed.  Most of the time we don’t see.  Most of the time we miss the in-breaking power of God.  Advent is a special time to focus on opening our eyes.  To listen to the testimony of John, the witness, and try to see what he sees.  “The true light, which enlightens everyone, is coming into the world.” How do we open our eyes to see it, so we don’t miss the one standing among us even now?

          John of course, tells us to prepare the way of the Lord, and there are lots of powerful ways to do that this time of year.  One way of course is to prepare our own selves, our own eyes and hearts for the coming of Christ.  This season offers us lots of opportunity to train our hearts to listen and see.  From the daily advent devotionals, to weekly Taize service, to all the special events on Sundays you have a whole host of opportunities to prepare a way in your own heart this year, so you don’t miss the one standing right beside you.

          I was also thinking this week about my role as a parent.  Taking the time to talk about Advent, to tell the Christmas story, and to worship together with my children is also a method of preparing the way.  As I spent this week doing stickers on the kid’s advent wreath devotionals I realized I was preparing their hearts to see God.  I cannot give them faith, but I can prime the pump so to speak, by familiarizing them with the language and stories of the God I so dearly love.  I can prepare their hearts when they are young, and when they are older it will be up to God to do the rest.

          Of course, the biggest preparation this time of year is to focus Christmas on Christ.  I’ve told you before how much I love Santa and all the magic of that Christmas story, but where my heart really lies is in the story of the baby Jesus.  I love to focus on incarnation this time of year, as that is the miracle we are truly celebrating.  God came among us in the form of a child.  All that was cosmic, all that was light and hope and power and love, all that was in the beginning, is suddenly present in the form of a tiny baby.  God did not come among us as a man, but as a child, small and weak and full of questions and wonder.  It is the most beautiful and wonderful thing ever.  Save the cross and salvation for Easter; this is Christmas and it is all about the miracle of the incarnation, God with us, Emmanuel.

          When we get distracted by our busyness, when we get distracted by our daily lives and to do lists, even when we get distracted by the other stories the church tells at other times of the year; then we risk missing Emmanuel.  Then “Among us stands one we do not know.”  John has come to show us the way, John has come to open our eyes, John has come to call us to prepare.  Now is the time to share with the stranger, to re-examine and re-think that babe in the nativity, and to tell stories of our incarnate God to our children and to those we love.  Now is the time to open our eyes and to see the cosmic God in our everyday world.  The true light which enlightens everyone is here among us now.  Let’s not miss it.  Amen.

Let It Be

November 30^th, 2014    “Let It Be”     Rev. Heather Jepsen

Luke 1:26-38

          A wise man once said, “When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, Let it be.”  That wise man of course was Paul McCartney and he said these words in the 1970 Beatles’ hit, “Let It Be.”  Now, I must admit, that I have been listening to the Beatles longer than I have been reading the Bible, and I always thought “let it be” meant to leave it alone, things will work out by themselves.  But when I was reading the Advent scriptures I had a really cool revelation, Mother Mary really does say “let it be” and she says it right here in Luke’s gospel.

 

          I love the nativity story in Luke; he has all the good stuff; Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth pregnant with the baby John the Baptist, the trip to Bethlehem with no room at the inn, and the shepherds watching their flocks by night.  Luke has all my favorite things, and one of the parts I like best is the story of Mary.  We know that she was young, very young to be planning to marry and young to be bearing a child, just a teenager by our standards. 

          You know the story and can tell it as well as me; Mary is engaged to be married to Joseph when she is visited by the angel Gabriel.  Gabriel arrives in triumph with his announcement, “Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you” he says.  I love the way Luke writes this saying Mary was much perplexed by his words and wondered what sort of greeting this might be.  It's not every day that you are visited by an angel of the Lord, much less one eager to make a great announcement.  Plus, it seems angels are pretty scary to look at as they always approach folks with the words “Fear not”.  I don’t know about you, but I imagine I would be worried and frightened by such an encounter. 

          Of course, Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid.  “For you have found favor with God.”  Gabriel then goes on to tell Mary that she will conceive and bear a son; and not just any child.  This child will be great, and will have many names.  Jesus, the Son of the Most High, successor to the throne of David.  I am certain if Mary wasn’t scared before she is afraid now.  “How can this be,” she asks, “since I am a virgin?”  Gabriel responds that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, the power of the Most High will overshadow her, and this child will be the Son of God.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Now I don’t know about you, but at this point I would be shaking in my boots.

          If I am honest here, I imagine that if I was in Mary’s place I would be tempted to say no, if you can say no to an angel.  I would be tempted to say, that’s great Gabriel, but maybe you can find another girl to bear God’s son.  Yes of course, this would be a high honor.  But you and I both know that the path that lies before Mary at this point is no walk in the garden.  To be the mother of God’s son is not easy.  Mary will face ridicule at the pregnancy, she will have to leave her home, her marriage with Joseph will be in jeopardy, and the child will most certainly be in danger its entire life.  Plus, Mary may not know it at this point, but you and I both know that it won’t be long before Mary stands at the foot of the cross watching her beloved son die.  If I was Mary, I would be tempted to say no.

          But not Mary, “Here am I,” she proudly says, “the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  Did you catch that, “let it be.”  Mary doesn’t say leave it alone, she doesn’t say it will work out.  No – Mary says “let it be” with me according to the will of God.  Whatever your will is for me and my life Lord, let it be.

          So, when the Beatles sing about Mary coming to us in times of trouble, the words of wisdom that Mary shares with us are let it be with me according to the will and word of the Lord.  Let my life be in accordance with the will of God.  In our hour of darkness, this is the answer to us.  Let God’s will be done.  Let it be.

          The Beatles may have had more wisdom then they realized when the penned the lyrics to their hit song.  For let it be according to the will of God is a powerful sentiment.  The Beatles sing

And when the broken hearted people

living in the world agree

there will be an answer,

let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

still a chance that they will see

there will be an answer;

let it be.

These words are so relevant for our lives, even in our own time and space, as we struggle as a nation with the pain of Ferguson.  Whether they meant to or not over 40 years ago the Beatles were making a statement for the whole world.  In our world of endless disagreement and strife, in our world of suffering and pain, in our world of discontent and violence these are words of power.  In the face of hopelessness these are words of hope.  If all the people of the world can see the answer that is the Lord’s will, then we will have peace.  There is an answer for us, and that answer is God’s justice, where all lives matter.  That answer is let it be with us as a people, according to your word O Lord.

          All of us face hardship in our lives and the holiday season can be especially difficult.  Some of us are overwhelmed by our to-do list.  It is easy to get caught up in buying gifts and decorating the house and getting it all done that we forget why we are celebrating in the first place.  We lose sight of Mary’s message to us; to let God’s will be central in our hearts and lives.

          And for others, the Christmas season is a time of sadness.  For those who have lost loved ones around this time of year, or are facing their first Christmas without family members who have died, the season can be a time of deep loneliness and despair.  Again, Mary’s words and wisdom can be a source of hope for us.  We can pray to the Lord, let it be, and look for God’s guidance and peace through our periods of heartache.  As the Beatles say

And when the night is cloudy,

there is still a light that shines on me,

Shine until tomorrow;

let it be.

          Our hope in God’s will and wisdom is the light that shines in our darkest hour. 

          Of course, Mary isn’t the only one to offer up her life to God’s divine will and plan.  Later in the gospel of Luke we will hear of her son, making a similar statement.  You remember that night on the Mount of Olives, the night of his betrayal and arrest.  Jesus kneels on the ground and prays “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”  Let God’s will be done, even to the point of death, is the prayer that Jesus makes in the garden.  Every time we gather here in worship we pray for the Lord’s will to be done.  Let it be, we say.

          During the Advent season, we are told to watch and to wait for the coming of the Lord into our lives.  This week, I want to encourage you to listen for the word of God to you, listen for the will of God for your life.  You never know where you may find the wisdom of God speaking to you.  It could be in the voices of friends and family, it could be in the lyrics of hymns, it could even be in songs on the radio.  This week I heard the voice of God in the music of the Beatles.  It is my prayer that as we go about our busy week and wake up to the sound of music, that mother Mary will come to all of us, speaking her words of wisdom;  Let it be.  Amen.