Isaiah 2:1-5 (Ps 122; Matt 24:36-44; Rom 13:11-14)
I don’t have anything to tell you. I only have questions to ask in the hope that questions can prod each of us to search our own hearts and minds, listening for what they may have to tell us.
The 70’s-80’s band, Chicago, sang: Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care about time?
Do you know what time it is? Do you know what day it is?
What time is it in this season called Advent? What time is it for this generation? for this day that the Lord has made? Can you see, can you hear what’s happening in this time and day? Soon we will be singing that Christmas song: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? What do you see and hear? Do you sense that it is time for Immanuel? time for God to be with us? Are you looking for and expecting to see signs of Immanuel? Are you listening for words from Immanuel?
The scripture lesson from the prophet Isaiah speaks of the word that Isaiah saw. I usually HEAR words and SEE visions but here we have…
THE WORD ISAIAH SAW CONCERNING JUDAH, AND JERUSALEM
CONCERNING THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD
Read now, Isaiah 2:1-5, and try to see what Isaiah saw.
In a word, what is this a picture of for you? Do you picture some far off mountain in the Middle East? Do you picture confusion? something in the future? a picture of heaven? the second coming when Messiah comes? Does this word that Isaiah saw have anything to do with us; the dwelling place of God where all nations stream and flow together? where people seek and desire to be taught the ways of God? where just and right mediation is made? where peace abounds?
And when will this be? Did it already occurred in Isaiah’s time? Isaiah said, in days to come. When are these days that are to come? According to the gospel writers, Jesus said that, no one knows about that day and hour, not the angels of heaven, nor the son, but only God. He says, you must be ready, for the son of man is coming at an unexpected hour. (Matt. 24:26-44) The Apostle Paul said, You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake up from sleep. (Rom. 13:11-14) Which is it? Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anyone really care about time? (Chicago)
What day it is? What time it is? Let’s clang some pots and pans and play the trumpet revelry! It’s time to wake up!!! Let’s sing:
Awake, Awake and greet the new morn
or Awake from your slumber! Arise from your sleep!
A new day is dawning for all those who weep.
And, To us, to all, in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes a-singing,
Now is the time to wake up, to both hear and see that Immanuel is here even now, not only in an Advent past or second coming in some unknown end times. There are all kinds of signs of Immanuel around us if we would only wake up, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to be receptive. Advent is a wake up call to see all the signs of Immanuel, to recognize the hope of the world who is with us.
And should we wake up, how shall we begin to recognize God who is with us? What signs should we look for. Perhaps a first sign is one small, lit candle. This first Sunday of Advent, we light a candle, a candle of HOPE.
To light an Advent Candle is to say in the face of all that suggests the
contrary, that God is still alive, still Lord of this world, and because of
that all will be well.
(Rev. Ron Rolheiser, OMI – www.thetidings.com: Advent 1, 2004)
A candle lit in the darkness brings hope, brings comfort. The Christ candle lit in sanctuaries, a sign of God with us, is much more than ambiance or decoration. Dare we sit in the silent stillness and wonder a single flame in a holy place? It is a reminder that we too are a people of hope, and that our Hope, Immanuel, is here. Do you look for such simple and profound signs such as these? When we look for, listen for, see or hear any signs of HOPE, in spite of notions contrary to it, we see Immanuel, God who is with us. Whenever we choose to live in the light, living into hope, we participate in God’s presence and transforming reality here and now.
Are you a hopeful person? Do you have hope that God is not finished with us yet? Do you have hope for 2011? Our world? our nation? all nations? Do you have hope for the economy? Hope for clean air, pure water, the earth to be made well? Do have hope for the Afghanistan? Iran? Pakistan? China? Palestinians and Israel’s living side by side? Do you have hope for our present leaders of nations? Do you have hope that Jews, Moslems, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, that those with faith and those without faith can come to understand and live together in respect and peace? Do you have hope that Republicans and Democrats might be able to work together for the good of our nation? Do you have hope that someday the rich and poor might come closer together in community rather than move further apart?
I am usually pegged as being a pessimist, not an optimist. I tend to see what is missing or wrong more often than what is present and good. It was my daughter, Bekah, who received the “Optimist Award” in 4th grade, not me. But I am not alone. When Henri Nouwen was asked if he was an optimist he answered; No. I live by hope, not by optimism.
Hope is a vision of life that guides itself by God’s promise, irrespective of whether the situation looks optimistic or pessimistic at any given time, Rev. Ron Rolheiser, OMI said. Hope is not based on whether the evening news is good or bad, whether things are getting better or worst, whether the stock market is up or down, whether the unemployment increases or decreases. Hope does not fluctuate with the present military death toll. Hope is based on living into and out of a vision of God’s promise to be with us without denying reality or the facts. Hope trusts in a God who is still present, not just coming sometime, or soon, or in the days to come, or at some unexpected future, but who is already here.
I want to be a person of hope; a person waking up each minute of every hour and day. I want to live by hope; looking for and listening for whatever signs and promises there may be of God who is with us, Immanuel. I want to participate in the activities of God that are signs of hope, like
lighting candles in the dark;
having dreams or visions as Isaiah did who could hear and see the word of God in which all nations and people came streaming together to learn the ways of God, learning the ways of justice, turning instruments of war and destruction into tools for feeding one another and caring for the earth;
as Judas Maccabeus’ 8 days of miraculous Hanukkah light in the temple;
having the light of truth that enabled Dietrich Bonhoeffer to offer hope in a Nazi prison camp;
a song of hope in our child’s voice or de-light in their eyes;
as a man standing beside the highway in his business suit and trench coat
holding a peace sign at rush hour during times of war;
taking one simple even if incomplete step toward justice where injustice dominates;
offering a hand or a hug, a home, dignity;
being that neighbor rushing out to protect another’s child in harm’s way;
or saying, yes, when asked to give, even when we think there is little to offer;
when enemies shaking hands in commitment to work together for peace;
or planting a trees on vacant lots, knowing full well that it will be others in future years who will enjoy their beauty or fullness.
Profound and simple ways of participating in and planting hope.
Signs of hope are signs that Immanuel is among us. Can you see, can you hear, any signs of hope? In what signs of hope are you participating? How are you a sign, a word, a vision of hope for your family, friends, and community? Now is the time to wake up, says Paul and to live in the light of God with us. Are we awake yet?
Emmet Fox, early 20th century spiritual teacher reminds us to
Look where you are going because you will inevitably go where you are looking. Where your attention is, there is your destiny. Attention is the key to life. Whatever you really give your attention to, you become. Whatever you really concentrate upon will come into your life.
May we set our attention on God who is with us, and become people of hope, bringing hope to an oft times hopeless and sleeping world; a world so loved by God.
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