Sermon for Advent 3: December 15, 2013

Sermon for Advent 3: December 15, 2013

Matthew 11:2-11

PREACHER: Pastor Carrie Smith

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sisters and brothers of Bethany, I’m sorry to have to stand here and say this, especially on such a festive, snowy December morning and on the day of our Children’s Christmas Pageant, but here it is: I think we’re going to have to cancel Christmas this year.

The thing is, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the Gospel lesson for this week from Matthew, chapter 11. And while at first I felt very judgmental about John the Baptist and his doubts about Jesus (after all, he was the one who leapt in his mother Elizabeth’s womb when Mary walked in the door—how could he, of all people, doubt Jesus is the Messiah?), at some point it started to make sense to me. John, the prophet who was supposed to be out announcing the coming of the Messiah, was instead sitting in prison. And Jesus, the guy he thought was “the one”, wasn’t doing anything but preaching and healing and eating with sinners. “Prepare the way of the Lord”, preached John. And frankly, I think he expected that if we prepared the royal highway, Jesus would make better use of it. John, and most everybody else, expected that when the Messiah came down that highway there would be a great and dreadful day, a day when evil and sickness and death and violence would be swallowed up and annihilated from the earth. But now John, messenger of the Lord, found himself sitting in prison. And outside, things seemed to be going along as usual.

It’s no wonder John had doubts! In fact, it’s a wonder any of us are sitting here at all, still following this guy Jesus. Because I’ve got to tell you, 2,000 years later, things outside these walls seem to be going as usual, Messiah or not.

Have you read the prayers on our prayer wall? Cancer. Death. Grief. Unemployment. So many people are still waiting for answers.

And have you watched the news? It’s been one year since Newtown; eight months since Boston; seven months since the tornados in Oklahoma; one month since the typhoon in the Philippines; and just 2 days since the last school shooting. So much pain! The whole world is still waiting for answers.

And this is why, dear people, I think we should cancel Christmas. Because, considering the evidence at hand, maybe Jesus really isn’t “the one”. Could this really the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace” we’ve been waiting for, when he has clearly failed to eliminate evil from the world?

Listen, I know this comes as a shock, but never fear: I’ve sent a letter to Jesus (apparently he doesn’t do email) asking him to positively identify himself before we go to all the expense of throwing him a birthday party this year. After all, if he’s not really the one, then we need to save our resources to celebrate the guy (or girl) who is. If he’s not really the one, then we can stop fighting the “War on Christmas” everyone keeps talking about. And if Jesus is not the one we’ve been waiting for—and I’ve got to tell you, things aren’t looking good at this point—then I really need to start looking at new job opportunities.

Now I was hoping to get a reply before this morning’s sermon, but either the mail was held up, or Jesus was just too busy (or maybe had nothing to say for himself) because I haven’t received any kind of answer yet. So, until further notice, I think we’ll just have to put Christmas on hold.

PAUL: “Oh, sorry, Carrie, I forgot to tell you something. We did actually get a letter from Jesus the other day.” (pulls it out of his pocket from under his robes).

CARRIE: “Really? Paul, why didn’t you tell me?!”

PAUL: “Well, you know, it’s been a little busy around here this time of year.”

CARRIE: “OK, well, don’t keep us in suspense! What does he say?”

PAUL: “He says:

“Dear Carrie: Don’t cancel Christmas! Tell the people what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me. Also, next time, use Twitter. Signed, Jesus.” (Paul sits down)

CARRIE:

Is that it? That’s all it says? Well that’s perfect, Jesus. Just great. Tell the people what you hear and see. That’s your proof? Nice try.

Tell them what you hear and see.

OK, tell them the blind receive their sight: Well, this is easy to disprove, because we have a member right here at Bethany who is blind. In fact she was born that way. Her name is Hannah, and last I checked Hannah still had not received her sight. But then again…something miraculous did happen this week. Many of you generously contributed cash and even mileage points so Hannah and her brothers could go to Disneyworld this Christmas! Of course, Hannah won’t be able to see Mickey, but she’ll hear him, and she’ll feel the rides, and her parents and brothers will receive the gift of memories with her in the Magic Kingdom. “The blind receive their sight.” Do you suppose this is what Jesus means? Do you see what I see? If so, give me an Amen, sisters and brothers!

Jesus said, “Tell them the lame walk”:

Now this one’s tough. I’ve noticed lots of folks walking around with limps lately (me included!) In fact, last Monday our Bible study group gathered, and there was Dick hobbling around with his new titanium toe, and Beth came in on crutches after breaking her foot, and I had just come from yet another visit with the podiatrist. We were a pretty sorry bunch. But you know what? During that meeting, we shared our prayers and concerns, not only about our aching feet, but about the recent death of a parent, the hope of a job interview after long-term unemployment, and the joys of grandchildren about to be born. We laughed and cried and even did a bit of Bible study. We prayed for each other. And when we left, all of us were walking with renewed strength and hope. “The lame walk.” Do you hear what I hear?

Jesus said, “Tell them the lepers are cleansed”:

I have to admit, I don’t know any lepers personally. But I do know that lepers in Jesus’ time were not just sick. They were outcasts, shoved to the edge of town where no one would have to look at them or be infected by them. So I can tell you something I have seen and heard – I’ve received a number of emails from folks who have felt estranged from God for a number of reasons: Some have a gay son or daughter. Some have been divorced and remarried. Some had questions and doubts they never felt safe to ask, so they stayed away instead. But because they’ve experienced Jesus’ wide, extravagant welcome offered not only by Bethany but by the ELCA, they are no longer lepers and outcasts, kept outside the city gates. Now they’re coming back, sitting in these pews, eating at this table, and offering their gifts and talents in the service of God. Jesus cleansed the lepers. Sisters and brothers, do you hear what I hear?

The deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have Good News brought to them:

You know, I thought this would be hard, but I think we’re on a roll! I know some whose ears had never heard a word of grace and forgiveness in their lives, who have heard Good News for the first time right here, in the name of Christ. Because of Jesus, I’ve seen people raised to new life from the darkness of grief, depression, or addiction. I’ve seen how the poor and the homeless have experienced Good News through the ministries of PADS, the Food Pantry, and the Diaper Bank. And thanks to our sponsored missionaries (Danae and Steve Hudson and the Stubbs family) and our own ELCA mission personnel, Rafael and Robert, I have heard how the Good News has been shared all over the world.

Jesus said to tell the people what I’ve seen and heard. Sisters and brothers, do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see?

So maybe we shouldn’t cancel Christmas after all! After all, even John the Baptist shared doubts at times. And it’s true: the world is not perfect. Bad stuff still happens. Jesus has brought the kingdom, and yet it’s also still on its way. Love has come, a light in the darkness, but we still need to share it. Christmas, then, is not about celebrating one magic day when everything was made perfect. It is about celebrating one night in Bethlehem, when God came near and ushered in a new age--an age of possibility and wonder. An age when it has been revealed to the world, through the birth of a baby, that God is not seated on a throne, far away, but is on the loose in the world, working within and through God’s people. This is our hope. This is our joy. This is who we’ve been waiting for: the child, the child, sleeping in the night. And he will bring us goodness and light. Amen.