Judgment and Hope
Monday, December 6, 2010 -- Week of 2 Advent, Year One
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c. 342
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 936)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28
Isaiah addresses the elite and powerful today: "Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field... whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine... Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood... Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight! Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant at mixing drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of their rights!"
It is a familiar theme. In the Name of God, the prophets speak truth to power, demanding that those who are given wealth and power use their authorities with an eye toward the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Theologians speak of "God's preferential option for the poor."
Isaiah is part of a long line of prophets who speak of God's priorities in our social and political life. God intends for the powerful and wealthy to make provision for the care and thriving of the weak and poor. It doesn't get any clearer than that. The prophets demand honesty and ethical behavior -- a society ruled by virtue not by bribes.
I'm praying for a political party that will embrace the priorities of God as articulated by the prophets. I live in a nation that seems to be running away from God's values as fast as it can. The wealthy and powerful create policies that make them wealthier and more powerful. Wealth and power have become remarkably concentrated.
Isaiah and the other prophets always spoke judgment and woe to elite and wealthy systems of government and commerce. Our reading today stops at the edge of that judgment, but we will hear it tomorrow.
Underneath the dire warnings the scriptures always speak a word of hope -- hope grounded in God. After cataclysm and judgment, God will bring redemption.
The prophecies we read in Luke today speak of a time "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near." Luke's readers have already experienced this. They live after the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE. The Jewish Historian Josephus claimed more than a million people were killed, most Jewish, and 97,000 captured or enslaved. The glory of Israel, the massive Temple mount, one of the architectural wonders of the world, was destroyed. Pilgrims today visit the western wall to pray at the only part that remains from that battle.
The Gospel of Luke is written in the shadow of that catastrophe. Yet hear the hope that shines through the darkness. "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Paul speaks of a time "When they will say 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!" Don't be surprised, says Paul. These days come like a thief in the night. But then Paul turns the whole metaphor on its ear. The thief is Jesus. Paul speaks hope: "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ... Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
Encourage and build up, especially in dark times. Do not lose hope. When the wealthy and powerful set us on paths that we know can only lead to catastrophe, "stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Even if the worst happens, and the worst may the the judgment God pronounces on our folly, there is hope. God always brings a new shoot from the stump. Resurrection is always God's final answer.
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c. 342
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 936)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-23
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Luke 21:20-28
Isaiah addresses the elite and powerful today: "Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field... whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine... Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood... Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight! Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant at mixing drink, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of their rights!"
It is a familiar theme. In the Name of God, the prophets speak truth to power, demanding that those who are given wealth and power use their authorities with an eye toward the needs of the poor and vulnerable. Theologians speak of "God's preferential option for the poor."
Isaiah is part of a long line of prophets who speak of God's priorities in our social and political life. God intends for the powerful and wealthy to make provision for the care and thriving of the weak and poor. It doesn't get any clearer than that. The prophets demand honesty and ethical behavior -- a society ruled by virtue not by bribes.
I'm praying for a political party that will embrace the priorities of God as articulated by the prophets. I live in a nation that seems to be running away from God's values as fast as it can. The wealthy and powerful create policies that make them wealthier and more powerful. Wealth and power have become remarkably concentrated.
Isaiah and the other prophets always spoke judgment and woe to elite and wealthy systems of government and commerce. Our reading today stops at the edge of that judgment, but we will hear it tomorrow.
Underneath the dire warnings the scriptures always speak a word of hope -- hope grounded in God. After cataclysm and judgment, God will bring redemption.
The prophecies we read in Luke today speak of a time "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near." Luke's readers have already experienced this. They live after the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 70 CE. The Jewish Historian Josephus claimed more than a million people were killed, most Jewish, and 97,000 captured or enslaved. The glory of Israel, the massive Temple mount, one of the architectural wonders of the world, was destroyed. Pilgrims today visit the western wall to pray at the only part that remains from that battle.
The Gospel of Luke is written in the shadow of that catastrophe. Yet hear the hope that shines through the darkness. "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Paul speaks of a time "When they will say 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!" Don't be surprised, says Paul. These days come like a thief in the night. But then Paul turns the whole metaphor on its ear. The thief is Jesus. Paul speaks hope: "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ... Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."
Encourage and build up, especially in dark times. Do not lose hope. When the wealthy and powerful set us on paths that we know can only lead to catastrophe, "stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Even if the worst happens, and the worst may the the judgment God pronounces on our folly, there is hope. God always brings a new shoot from the stump. Resurrection is always God's final answer.
Lowell
__________________
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| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See our Web site at www.stpaulsfay.org Our Rule of Life: We aspire to... worship weekly pray daily learn constantly serve joyfully live generously. Lowell Grisham, Rector St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fayetteville, Arkansas |
posted by Lowell @ 8:01 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Hi Lowell,
Maybe Presiding Bishop Katherine could be raised up as a candidate for this party - at some point. I read the other day that Washington D.C. is the most educated (most degrees) space (per capita) in the U.S. I guess it isn't so much about educating ourselves as in how we use it. Peace, Janet
Saw the new documentary "Inside Job" at Fiesta Square. It's a very alarming illustration of the greed behind the current financial crisis. I was the only person in the theater!!! Guess if we collectively turn a blind eye, it isn't happening????
I've been so disappointed that President Obama has not stood up for the hope and ideals that he campaigned for. Maybe it is tilting at windmills, but I can't imagine caving in on extending tax cuts the the wealthiest. We seem to have lost our moral compass.
And speaking of moral compass, I read a review of "Inside Job." Sounds fascinating. Some time before the crash, Kathy talked with someone who had been working in the packaging and trading of high-risk loans. He had been doing the business in Colorado and then in New York City. He described how it worked -- and how it was a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Crazy, he said. Greed run amok. He said he got out. It's got to crash like a house of cards. All legal. All wrong.
The prophets know about this stuff. How is it that we haven't learned in 28 centuries?
Lowell
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