Advent 3C
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Philippians 4:4-7, Melissa Myers (@PastorMelissa, @PastorBesties, Youtube Channel)
Zephaniah 3:14-20, Bryan Odeen (@BryanOdeen, bryanodeen.com, soundcloud.com/bryanodeen)
Music: Jennifer Knapp and Margaret Becker, “Coventry Carol” from their album Hymns of Christmas (jenniferknapp.com, @Jennifer_Knapp, JenniferKnappMusic)
Luke 3:7-18
initial thoughts
Continuation of last week - if you didn’t preach Luke last week- consider looking at the whole passage starting with v. 1 (see notes on this here)
Bible Study
Interesting opening to a sermon.
Wakes people up with unapologetic anger.
These are people that are coming to be baptized by him, and he warns them not come with simply a desire to be baptized. This isn’t some “get clean quick” scheme.
The declaration that a ritual is not enough is consistent with the other prophets (cf. Isaiah 1)
Water isn’t enough, but a total change of heart is what is needed.
Being Jewish isn’t enough either.
Radical claim for a people who defined God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Generational ties were of utmost importance.
Remember though, Jesus’ genealogy doesn’t go back to Abraham (like Matthew’s). It goes all the way back to Adam.
“Say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father” - That is, trust not in your being members of the visible Church, or in any external privileges whatsoever: for God now requires a change of heart; and that without delay.
“Brood of vipers”
“When vipers are hatched, they remain together, until they begin to mature. But if something threatens them, they spread out and flee...Something has warned them of the wrath to come, and they are leaving the comfort and security of their lives.” Gonzalez, p.49
“The insult is fierce: vipers were thought to eat their way out of their mother’s body and so kill her.” Amy-Jill Levine, “Luke”, The Jewish Annotated New Testament, p.116
Harsh, Urgent, Concrete
John’s message is harsh - you brood of vipers
John’s message is urgent - the axe is at the base of the tree
John’s message is concrete - share with the needy, don’t cheat, don’t abuse your power
Three Groups come to John to ask, “What then, shall we do?”
Who are these people?
These groups represent steps away from those likely to be convinced of John’s preaching, or those that would be considered “least close” to the Kingdom of God.
Specific everyday examples of how to be transformed - not complicated - kind of a low bar of transformation...like the golden rule.
Crowds - People in the wilderness. Not connected to society - or at least temporarily escaping it.
Share with your neighbor - this is not new - “Caring for the disadvantaged is a major Jewish teaching” Levine, p.117
Don’t give away the thing you need for survival - give out of your extras
We do not have a food problem in this world. We have a distribution problem.
“According to Aramark, a dining company that serves about 500 schools in the United States, students waste 25-30% less food when they don’t have the option of carrying it on a tray.”
Reports that there are more vacant homes than homeless people.
Tax Collectors - Collaborators with the Romans, profiting from the struggle of their own community and neighbors.
Does not tell them to stop collecting taxes, only tells them to stop cheating people. Granted, this is the way in which they were paid, but John is urging people to make money in a more honest way.
If you can’t make enough by being honest- then do something different
Soldiers - The Romans themselves. The greatest enemy. Possibly even the ones who would eventually carry out “the wrath that is coming” (the destruction of the Temple).
This might also refer to the Herod Antipas’ soldiers. (Levine, p. 117) While not Romans, they were still collaborators with Rome.
Don’t extort.
“Don’t Hoard. Don’t Cheat. Don’t Extort”
All of these things deal with possessions
All deal with justice
All deal with the right way to treat others.
While John’s message - though harsh - was received by many, it still got him into trouble.
On the surface, good news to the poor is bad news for the powerful.
He’s not Christ - Wind and Fire
Important to differentiate between John and Jesus.
“This comparison and contrast is similar to that of W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. Both men had the same goal of racial progress but, because of their different backgrounds, different methods of achieving this goal. DuBois focused on higher education and civil and political action. Washinton concentrated on trade schools and accommodation. Similarly both John the Baptist and Jesus had the goal of bringing salvation to God’s people. John the Baptist did this through preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus, on the other hand, preached good news to the poor and the year of the Lord’s favor.” Stephanie Buckhana Crowder, “Luke”, True to Our Native Land, p. 163.
“Farmers poured wheat from one container to another on a windy day, or tossed the wheat into the air with a fork or shovel so that the chaff would be blown away, leaving the grain clean. The chaff burned with explosive combustion. To this day, farmers know that a fire in a dry wheat field cannot be contained or controlled… When repentance and forgiveness are available, judgment is good news. The primary aim is to save the wheat, not to burn the chaff” (Fred Craddock, Interpretation, p 49)
Wind and Fire are a dangerous pair, but also useful.
Both are purifying agents - one washes away and the other burns away, the latter is, obviously, more potent
Fire is destructive, but also cleansing, purifying, and strengthening.
NOTE: the baptism of repentance that John is offering is different from the baptism in the name of Jesus (Acts 19) which is connected to the Holy Spirit.
“Josephus describes John as, ‘A good man who commanded the Jews to exercise virtue , both as to righteousness towards one another and piety towards God’...some regarded John as the Messiah, a teaching maintained by a religious group known as the Mandaeans.” Levine p. 117
This passage does not mean - “Jesus is coming to send you to hell.”
Not about separating the saved and unsaved - but separating within us the chaff that needs to be burned away so that the wheat of our lives may remain.
Baptism is of repentance - to turn away from what keeps us from God, and toward the fruit of the Spirit - forgiveness, generosity, kindness.
18 - Good News
Do we often think of John as the bearer of Good News or of judgement? Are the two mutually exclusive?
“It is not good news in the sense it will make everybody happy. It is not good news in the sense that whatever evil and injustice people have committed and are still committing is no longer important. It is good news in the sense that a new reality is dawning.” Gonzalez, Belief Commentary: Luke, p.52
Not everyone will like this good news- see v. 19-20, because this is good news for the “people” a term Luke uses to describe the common folk, not the powerful and elite
Thoughts and Questions
John the Baptist as Morpheus, as proposed by Roy Terry in “The Hardest Question” (great blog from Sparkhouse that no longer exists)
Not The One, but the one who prepares the way for The One.
Reveals that the world is not as it seems.
The only way to find freedom is to let go of the ways of this world - to change, repent, take the blue pill and unplug.
The Matrix is a system that keeps people under an illusion of freedom so that they may remain slaves. It is only through allowing everything to change that people may experience true freedom - which comes at great cost and struggle.
For Neo to be set free, he must unplug (and be baptized)
What is the fruit of repentance?
Justice.
There is a strong argument that our world does not have a resource problem, but a distribution problem.
Bill Nye connects dots of Climate Change, Water Shortage, Terrorism.
All are a part of this kingdom. Which category do you fit?
Brood of Vipers
Tax Collectors
Romans
No matter what your ‘position’ in life, there is a chance to live in line with God’s will.
Philippians 4:4-7
Initial Thoughts
Rejoice. Be Glad. Show gentleness. Do not be anxious. Pray.
“Difficult words to hear, especially in light of recent conversations about “My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of _________.” Given that by the time we air this podcast, there might be a different city to place in that blank.” - This was from Dec. 15, 2015
Bible Study
Context of Letter:
Author of the letter is in jail
Readers of the letter going through persecution.
“Jerked out of their context, the exhortations connote an unrealistic attitude toward life, a Pollyanna religion that ignores the harsh tragedies and calls for a stoic like serenity… But they emerge from and are directed to what some would call the dark side of human experience.” (Charles Cousar,Texts for Preaching, Year C, p. 24)
“Gentleness” or forbearance
Do not fall into anger, vengeance, quarreling, hatred, bitterness, parking lot conversations
Forbearance - self-control, tolerance, restraint
Be bold in forbearance- not certitude, not righteousness, but in tolerance
Remember that God is near to give strength (and perhaps to judge)
Non-anxious prayerfulness
Remembering, affirming, believing: God is near
Being “right” will not protect us, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind to focus on self-giving love.
Not a disregard of anxiety but an invitation to bring you anxieties to God
Rejoice
Not ignoring the problems and divisions: Paul is headed to his death, the church in Philippi is waning
Problems are real, but will not have the final word
Struggles are not an excuse to stop trusting in God, to stop caring for one another, to backslide into division and attacks
Are we willing to take time for prayer, for reflection, to listen to God speaking through us?
Questions to ask of the text:
How is the Lord near? Spatial, temporal? Is the Lord coming soon, or is he already present - or both?
How can we possibly not worry? Is prayer the antidote to worry?
A stress-free life is hardly a life worth living. Yet that is easy to say in a relatively comfortable place.
For what am I supposed to be glad?
Was Paul glad that he was in jail?
What does it mean to have our hearts and minds safe?
Notice that the prayers do not guarantee physical safety.
Thoughts and Questions
In the midst of disagreement, where does your mind go? Most of the time we fall to despair, anger, outrage, frustration and retort. (There is scientific evidence for this: Oatmeal Comic, Backfire Effect). Instead of falling victim to “the backfire” effect”, practice forbearance, listen and focus on v.8: “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Initial Thoughts
This is a “Table of Contents” book. No one can find it without looking it up first.
Only time in the Methodist lectionary. One other reading in the RCL.
Pairs remarkably with Joy - which isn’t surprising because Joy is really the only Advent “theme” linked to the RCL.
Bible Study
Historic context
Zepheniah: Four generation introduction ties him to King Hezekiah (who was good)
Also named as descendant of Cushi (possibly Cushite, possibly meaning his Grandfather was black)
The book starts off big - predicting a global catastrophe - the very undoing of Creation, but has some notes of hope as well.
There is reason to place the bulk of his work as coming between 640-622 BCE. That is the beginning of Josiah’s reign and the year he instituted sweeping reform. There is little evidence of Josiah’s reform in this text, so it is likely most of Zeph came before it happened.
It is also possible that Zeph worked in conjunction with Josiah’s reform and conquest.
From Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: “Zepheniah 2:4-15 probably present the theological rationale for the Josianic expansion into the Transjordan and Philistia, most likely because of the weakness of Assyria. Josiah’s expansion is implicitly evidenced by pottery from Tel Qasile in Philistia from the seventh century BC that may be Judahite. Furthermore, Josiah spread his reforms into the former territories of the northern kingdom. The four regions may refer to a worldwide theme, at least symbolically as the four cardinal points of the compass are probably represented by these four nations.”
While most of his work is considered pre-exilic (during Josiah) some think there are pieces that are post-exhilic.
This passage is the end of the book, and some think may be an editorial addition.
“Either this chapter is by the hand of a prophet writing after 586 BCE, as some scholars conclude, or Zephaniah is following out the logic of the scenario he has been sketching: first catastrophe will overtake the kingdom, resulting in its destruction and the exile of its people; then the people will be restored to its land.” (Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: Prophets, p. 1350)
Verse 11-13 reveals what the punishment and exile will produce.
“A poor and lonely people” is opposite of the rich and haughty that are described earlier.
This is a good reminder of Mary’s song - the one where the mighty are pulled down.
It is in the humbling moment that “there is no tongue of deceit”
From this moment bursts forth the joy of this final passage
Joy because of Emmanuel - “The Lord God is in your midst”
Pure celebration and restoration
God:
Delights
Renews
Exults with song
Gathers
God will:
Deal with tormentors
Rescue
Gather
Make
Bring
Gather
Restore
God will restore their name
Reminds me of the Lord’s prayer and the request to “Make holy your name.”
Twice God promises to “make for them a glorious name”
“Precisely at a time when there is no ground for optimism, Zephaniah dares to hold that things will take a radical turn for the better — thanks to the Lord (verses 8-13). Building on the gleam of hope, the prophet bursts into the song of joy in verses 14-20. The world is a total mess, but though the people have failed God, God will pull them through.” (Jin Han, Working Preacher)
Very “Pandemicy”
Those sorrowing for lack of festivals,”
The sorrow ends in God’s time
People will be gathered after being scattered.
Thoughts and Question
God is the warrior with victory. God is the King of Israel. God is in your midst. God sings. God gathers. This piece of celebration and joy is based entirely on who God is - not on what the Israelites have done. The rest of the book is about how the people of failed God, and how the rest of the nations are no better. And out of nowhere, there is joy.
Isaiah 12:(1)2-6
Initial Thoughts
READ v. 1!
Gaudete Sunday- the Sunday of Joy!!
The Isaiah passage no one thinks about during Advent...which is weird
Isaiah 2 - swords into plowshares
Isaiah 7- Emmanuel
Isaiah 9 - people who have walked in darkness see a great light
Isaiah 11- Root of Jesse
Isaiah 40 - voice in the wilderness
Isaiah 61 - good news to the oppressed, bind up the broken, etc.
Nice balance to John- perhaps good to preached together
Bible Study
Context- a brief joyful interlude amidst judgment (Isaiah 13-23)
v. 1 - Comfort
anticipates Isaiah 40 - Comfort, O Comfort Ye My People
Acceptance of Judgement turns into Reconciliation and Comfort
Hymn of praise
The original “Advent carol”- ok- definitely not, but a hymn of hope and joy- isn’t that what Advent is all about?
Not about what has happened but in anticipation of what will happen
Hymn of celebration for the announced return in Isaiah 11
Most likely written during the exile and placed here in Isaiah 12 later
v. 2 echoes Moses’ song of praise in Exodus 15:2 upon crossing the Red (or Reed) sea
What is it like to preach of such hope amidst great spiritual or national tragedy (Violence in the US- esp. the mass shooting in San Bernardino on Dec. 2 and the upcoming anniversary of Sandy Hook)
The source of Joy is God
different from the springs of destruction in Genesis 6-9
Individual Joy is transformed into communal joy
The subject changes from the author, “I will give thanks”, “I will trust” to the communal exclamation: “Give thanks”, “Proclaim” “Make Known” “Sing Praises” “Shout aloud”
This hymn is not a denial of hardship of the present reality, but a declaration of hope that refuses to give in:
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation,
I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation;
Thro' all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?
Thoughts and Question
What is it like to preach of such hope amidst great spiritual or national tragedy (Violence in the US- esp. the mass shooting in San Bernardino on Dec. 2 and the upcoming anniversary of Sandy Hook)
Brueggemann (Isaiah 1-39, Westminster Bible Companion) calls Isaiah 12, “an act of buoyant and determined hope that refuses to give in to debilitating present circumstance”. In a world besieged by terror attacks, rejection of refugees, fear of others and outsiders and escalating violence - what will be our advent “act of buoyant and determined hope that refuses to give in to debilitating present circumstance”?
Thanks to our Psalms correspondent, Richard Bruxvoort Colligan (psalmimmersion.com,@pomopsalmist). Thank you to Scott Fletcher for our voice bumpers, Dick Dale and the Del Tones for our Theme music (“Misirlou”), Nicolai Heidlas (“Sunday Morning”,"Real Ride"and“Summertime”) and Bryan Odeen for our closing music.