Loving God, there are times when the light seems very dim, and we have trouble seeing your salvation.  As we gather today, help us to know that you are near and to grow in our faith and trust; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

I’ve followed many a shiny
star
into many a stinking stable
to find it
empty
Leaving, I look back –
Wait!
A streak of light
on a strand of straw
bids me stop,
look,
listen.

    This Advent invitation is written by a friend and colleague, Lyn Brakeman, who lives in Boston (www.spirituallemons.blogspot.com).  Her son teaches in a school close to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  Her grandchildren also attend a nearby school. Her 10 year old grandson cried himself to sleep in the arms of his father.  She is angry and grieving.  Her anger is not directed at God, but at people: at congress, at the NRA, at certain Republicans.  In her estimation, the question to ask is not “where was God?” but “where was humanity?”.  It is at times like this that the stable can look especially empty, and many do not stop long enough to see the streak of light appear.

    This is a very dark time of year, in more ways than one: shootings in malls and schools; a higher incidence of theft than usual; people who are stressed out to the max – and all this as the shortest and darkest day of the year approaches.  Stress inventories even include Christmas as one of the stressors on the list – I believe everybody gets 25 points for that one.  And so people start to ask why the stinking stable seems empty.

    Once again, all of this is not about what God has done, but about what humanity has done.  It is human beings who have decided that you’ve got to spend all sorts of money you don’t have in order to celebrate Christmas.  It is human beings who have decided that Christmas is really all about family – leaving those who are alone or are in terrible family situations depressed and stressed.  It is human beings who have decided that you’ve got to shop until you drop and send “x” number of Christmas cards and bake so many dozen cookies in order to be able to have Christmas.  How many shiny stars have we followed that are quite simply fake and do not lead to Jesus or to life?

    Yet, in the midst of the darkness – in the midst of grief and illness and unbearable pain – we are invited to look back into that stinking stable that seems so empty and to see that streak of light that is forming there.  The message that comes to us over and over again in today’s readings is that “the Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5).  The Holy One of Israel is in your midst (Isa. 12:6).  “The Lord is in your midst” (Zeph. 3:15).  And from John the Baptist:  the Messiah is coming (Lk. 3:16).  Every one of these verses comes from a time when things looked pretty bleak and dark.

    Zephaniah prophesied at a time when corruption and injustice were rampant in Judah.  Most of his message was all about coming judgment and repentance.  Isaiah prophesied while Syria and Israel were attacking Judah, and then the Assyrians came in and attacked and carried off a bunch of people into exile.  Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was sitting in prison, and John was preaching and baptizing during a time of foreign occupation.  To a large extent, these seem like some of the same things that are going on in our world today.

    Yet, every single reading also talks about joy and rejoicing.  The rejoicing comes because the Lord is near.  The rejoicing comes because of God’s salvation.  The rejoicing comes because of the promise of God’s coming.  The only reading where the rejoicing is not quite as obvious is today’s gospel.  However, when we read between the lines and also behind the text, we discover that it is there.

    When I mention reading behind the text, I am thinking of an incident that took place when John was still in his mother’s womb.  At that time, Mary was also carrying Jesus in her womb and came to visit John’s mother Elizabeth.  John, even though he is still in the womb, leaps for joy as soon as Jesus is near (Lk. 1:44).  In spite of his fiery message, surely that joy was still there in the knowledge that Jesus was coming soon to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with the fire of his love.

    One of the most important things about the coming of Jesus is his identity as God Incarnate - God in the flesh.  He came as Immanuel - God with us.  This is so important because of God’s choice to be in our midst through Jesus.  Jesus is not “above it all” or unfamiliar with grief and suffering.  Instead, he entered into all of life with us, experiencing both the best and the worst of human life.  

    And so, when people do ask, “Where is God?”, usually God is right there.  God is there sharing the pain of the child who is hurt and embracing the child who is scared.  God is there, grieving with those who have suffered unspeakable loss.  God is there with those who are hungry or sick or alone.  God joins in the lament over the things that people do to one another.  God is so ready to heal and to bless and waits for all to turn to him.

    Of course, there are also those who ask why God doesn’t just step in and stop bad things from happening.  Why doesn’t God just prevent people from getting cancer?  Why doesn’t God stop people with guns who go out and shoot people?  Why doesn’t God just stop the wars and the suffering and the grief?

    I do not profess to have all the answers, but consider this.  Usually when we want God to step in and do something, it involves stopping other people from making choices that are going to cause harm and suffering to others.  However, I wonder how many of us would be pleased if God took away our ability to make choices.  It may sound almost trite, but to me it comes down to the way that God made us.  We were created in the image of God in order to be like God in certain ways.  One of those ways is the ability to think and to make choices.

    This means that people can either love or not.  People can worship God or not.  People can receive the gift of salvation or not.  People can seek a right relationship with God or not.  People can put their trust in Jesus or not.

    There are times when that light seems oh, so dim, and yet, it is there.  Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving even in the midst of grief.  An openness to the Holy Spirit and the fire of God’s love.  The willingness to allow Jesus to clear out all of that chaff in our lives – the things we don’t need – and to leave only the good, wholesome, nourishing wheat.  The invitation to draw water from the wells of salvation. – All of these are invitations and hints of light in the darkness that are found in our readings for today.

    And so, as we gaze into the stinking stable that seems so empty, may we discover that God really is there.  May we wait and look and listen, and see that hint of light in the darkness beginning to brighten ever so slightly.  May we discover the peace that passes understanding that guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Advent 3(C)                                    Luke 3:7-18
December 16, 2012                            Zephaniah 3:14-20
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church                        Isaiah 12:2-6
Pastor Lynne Hutchison                            Philippians 4:4-7

© 2012 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved