Reflections for Lessons and Carols 2022 (Year A)

Reflection for Lessons and Carols 2022

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection for Genesis – Creation and Covenant

Our first gift: Creation: beginnings. These stories from Genesis remind us that all were created by our Creator and given bountiful gifts in a beautiful garden we call Earth.  God gives us the task of stewardship over this creation – these gifts. Remember that you are a child of our Creator and have been given so much. 

Another of our gifts is the covenant with the Holy One.  Covenants mean relationships, and relationships means sharing. Covenants, especially with God, help us to understand our purpose; that we are meant to be here in this place and in this time. 

God is there all the time. That covenant remains even when we fail.  So when you are looking for answers or solace, find God ready to help.  As well, part of our covenant means to be there for others around us – to share. So what do you do with your gifts?  How do you share your gifts? 

Reflection for Micah and Psalm 103 - God of Peace and Justice.

Peace, justice, compassion and forgiveness - gifts from God.  Yet for us,  in order to understand peace and justice, we must practice compassion and forgiveness. When we do, we might grow to be what we are meant to be. Thus, when we ask God to forgive our debts let us also be willing to forgive our debtors. Else we are weighed down by our broken misery and angers. 

From a broken world searching for meaning, God’s mission for us is not one of wealth and power but peace and loving kindness for all people: friends, neighbor, or foe. Why because God loves us so much. 

Beloved, we are God’s children and the gifts of compassion, forgiveness, peace and justice are ready for you. When you practice compassion and forgiveness, you will find peace and justice flourish around you.  When you realize this, then you receive wisdom, another gift of God.

Reflection for Birth – Matthew 1: 18-25 

Birth is beautiful and messy. Even when adopting, the first day, the first moment, We come into being. This is full of excitement and realization. There is also a change for those witnessing the birth - chance for renewal themselves.

Whether an animal or person, there is a parent and youth; there is a family with many possibilities and worries. This is a beginning for some, and yes, for some, this is renewal. God gives a chance for newness in birth. For we were created in darkness, and through Christ, we are born into new life with so much possibility. 

Each moment, we begin something new together, (and we cannot go back to the past.)  Each moment is a chance for rebirth as we consider where we are, where we have been and where we go from here.  That is anxious, scary, breathtaking, and full of exhilarating joyfulness all the same.  How can we renew and embrace the joy of birth – the gift of life!?

Reflection for Luke 2:8-16 and Matthew 2:1-11 - Shepherds and Foreigners.

Beloved, Fear not for good news is with you! Angels appear to the shepherds (those who tend flocks) and are given a sign that they follow – in order to witness -To witness Christ born into our world.

Foreigners come to the land with hopeful hearts following the Christmas star to witness. Like my own foreign exchange student, they teach us about our land and gifts we have when we first welcome. So observe all the beauty around us and most importantly, welcome with God’s love in your hearts.

Shepherds and foreigners were drawn together because our Shepherd, Jesus, was born this day to teach us and to lead us. These are gifts to remind us that our witness begins with welcome.

Reflection for Hebrews 1 and John 1 – God’s Promise Made Flesh.

The Gospel of John opens with a mystical spell that echoes Genesis’s beginnings. John leans into the notion of divine presence being everywhere and in everything. Thus, if you look into your heart, realize that you too were brought into this world through the breath and love of God. Find that presence manifest all around and in you. 

For It is God’s word that gives life and is a promise for us. 

In Genesis, we read about God’s promises for us, and through Jesus, the promise is revealed to us. That God lives among us and is with us. God is speaking to us even when we don’t hear and even in darkness. 

God’s promise is life. Our covenant and for our ancestors then is to honor that gift and that promise.

With that promise of divine love and life, we can look into the future, the new year, the new day with hope, peace and joy of Christmas each day because we express and breathe our part of that promise in us. 

St Paul tells us in Romans that nothing can separate us from that divine love. Why because we grow together when we welcome and let God work with us. That love is our bond. Of all of the gifts, we can trust God, and we can trust in these gifts, unlike many other material gifts we may get in our lives.  

Still, we are want to trust God only when our bank accounts are doing ok, people are healthy, or there is calm in the air.  Yet, when bills are difficult, pandemics are ugly, when you feel your back is up against the wall (trying to figure things out), take heart that nothing can separate us from the love and promises from God.  

We may fail and we may falter, but God will be with us always and always forgiving.

Renew and witness birth – newness before God’s abundant grace and God’s promise for you.

That is the Christmas promise: that hope is real and God is here. Renew yourself in the love of God as we share in the light of Christ.

Taking Responsibility - Matthew 1 - Advent 4A

Taking Responsibility

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 7: 10-16, and Psalm 80

Opening prayer

There are moments in our lives when we are at forks in the road - decisions to be made.  What do we do ?  How do we proceed? What do we use to help us make that decision? 

This could be something simple as voting. It could be “do I go McDonalds or go on the diet?” “Do I drink another glass of whatever or be sober?” 

Like me a couple years ago, I looked at the road ahead with a lot of uncertainty and wondering if sticking around ministering, preaching and leading was the right decision or should I think “this isn’t my responsibility” And leave “well enough alone.”

Something happened, something I didn’t anticipate or expect. God happened. I got a call. 

I questioned if I had authority, proper education, or even the right perspective. I prayed and listened to the spirit speaking - not sure what the result was going to be, and for me, to be sure my ego was not interfering so that I, ultimately, do what God wants. 

I listened for the spirit’s guidance, regardless of broken human institutions, failed processes, and flawed traditions that hurt me, to take responsibility with this intervention: God’s intervention in my life (in our lives.) This was God’s call.

I leaned into faith and a result revealed a path before us: God gave me and gave the people around me so much. Thus, God called to us. God put me with people to move them to the Spirit, and the result was that we grew together. Yes, we had our challenges, but through our challenges and a hard pandemic, we grew as we witnessed the spirit working. 

Friends and family saw the spirit working and leaned into what was happening as well. They, with all of us, witnessed what failed processes didn’t.

We didn’t have the gift of foresight or a book telling how to do this. With faith and the spirit working with us, taking responsibility was the right decision. It was the right decision each day thereafter because taking responsibility is not “just a one and done” thing but a daily and hourly challenge; that despite all odds, isolation, broken systems or failing hierarchies, we walk with faith in the responsibility that God has given us. 

I think that is bit of what is happening here.  

Matthew’s account of the birth is different than the Luke version because Matthew attempts to expose the broken traditions and social pressures that Jesus comes into this world though Mary and Joseph.  

It is still a birth narrative, and we all know that birth is beautifully messy when that “new” comes into being. There is an interruption of traditions, of family, and of processes. There is a new life, and a fundamental change to those here.

Birth can also be a beginning after a long trial. That is a restoration of possibility and path to salvation.  Birth and the anticipation of birth forms comes with questions of what do we do and how shall we proceed? Do we take responsibility or something else?

We see this clearly in what Joseph does and doesn’t do. Joseph is trying to understand what is happening and what to do, and by the norms of that tradition as a”righteous man”, he intends to do follow that.  This can put Mary into an awful position because she is a young woman with child and without a husband in a society rigged against her. It is a system that is favored towards tradition. 

Something however remarkable happens here.  Can anyone guess why we read the Bible?  Who do we learn about in the Bible ?? God!

God happens! Isn’t that just like God too? Just when you thought you knew everything, had all the ducks in a row, had plans laid out, God shows up to put a wrinkle, a wrench, a surprise, a question that does more than tickle our faith.  

As last week, we saw how God is with us “Emmanuel” always, but when we get cozy or nonchalant, God tends to reveal holy presence more dramatically - not quite a Hollywood entrance but real and sometimes dramatic. 

That is part of the narrative that Matthew sets before us with Jesus.  What does Jesus do best - transcend the tradition and social norms! Where did Jesus get this? 

Good parents.

So this birth is foreshadowed with a decision about tradition - a decision about family - a decision about responsibility. At any point, Joseph could easily walk away, wipe hands and disappear. Yet unlike others in Jesus’s lineage that we read in the earlier part of Matthew, Joseph has a dream that persuades him to accept responsibility to witness.  He stays. 

Why because God showed up and God made it be known that God wills it. 

Guess what, not only did Joseph stick around and take responsibility, but God stuck around too and continues to. God didn’t just show up to the young couple and leave them out to dry.  God didn’t show up to me and to the people around me and leave us out to dry like failed systems have. Although I (and we) can still shake finger at failed and broken processes, God doesn’t fail us.  Unlike untrustworthy human processes or faulty people, God sticks around guiding and working with the couple because Joseph took responsibility to truly witness “Emmanuel” with Mary.

Thus, Beloved, when you are at the proverbial fork in the road, the unsure decision, the question of what is right - lean into your faith and lean into God. 

God is lighting paths for you and me every day, in many different ways.  Let God be with you, and let God interrupt you to show you the possibilities. Find that God is with us and God will help you do the right thing. 

Beloved, God is with us! Emmanuel! And we say… 

Thanks Be to God

What Have You Seen? - Matthew 11 - Advent 3A

What Have You Seen?

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon Matthew 11:2-11, Isaiah 35:1-10, James 5:7-10

Opening prayer

Happy third Sunday of Advent! We light the pink candle, and like John in our lesson, we have questions: why and what for?

When I lost my job, I found myself in serious distress and blaming, and the person that got it the worst was my own and boy did I. For in these moments, when things have been rattled, when our world has been upended and rugs taken out from underneath us, we question everything, what we did, could do. We question our foundations, our connections and our faith.  

As I have said before, I will always be my worst critic, and when I fail, that critic is standing there saying “I told you so” and pointing an unforgiving finger, regardless of how unhelpful or belittling that action is. Regardless of whether it was justified or there was anything we could do different, we have to wrestle with the harsh change. 

That isn’t to say we can’t be hard on ourselves, but it is time for us to refocus and reinvent ourselves, (no matter how much we want to wrestle with God about what has happened.) Our future may look bleak, but in those moments, we ought and should ask ourselves what have we seen. 

I say these bits, not to gain sympathy, but because I think John, in today’s lesson, must be feeling something like that. 

John, who has been preaching from the wilderness, is now stuck in an awful prison.  John is suffering in prison because Herod doesn’t like what John has said. (Hopefully, our politicians don’t try to throw people into jail simply for speaking minds -or truth to power.)

It becomes natural for us, in moments like these, to question, “did I do or say the right things?” In fact, John raises serious doubts and is questioning Jesus. Ever done that?

Whether it is a need for confirmation or wondering how we got where we are, Jesus provides an answer through Isaiah. (Specifically to the disciples of John,) Jesus answers by praising the work of John, and calls upon John to witness again the power of Messiah through the beatitudes.

Still, John is questioning and Jesus answers as he does, with another question. “What have you seen?” What did you witness?

That is a great question! What did you witness and did you see and feel in your hearts?

That is the question that rises to the top in these moments because we question our faith and wonder if God is there for us. We question all that has transpired and whether it was real and whether we had our hearts in the right place. We have doubts.

From this lowly place, we can pick up the words of Isaiah to “be strong, do not fear!” God has been there, is there, and God will be there for us in the future.  If you look back on past trials, you will find that God has been there, and in this moment, this time, God is here - You are not alone!

Isaiah implores us to “strengthen weak hands and …feeble knees” despite how broken I feel today. The prophet tells us God will open our eyes and ears to witness with our full senses to find the joy of God is right there waiting. 

Beloved, that is what we need and that is what God provides for us. Whether in those lowly moments or just the moments of of our daily living, we can find God is there the whole time showing up in ways we didn’t think possible. 

Thus, we have a safe place, a safe way to go find ourselves and find our place in the realm of God. We have a safe place to bring our doubts and questions because God is big enough to hear them all, and God hears them all.

Yet the answer to our questions of whether we did what we were supposed or whether we said the correct things, the question remains for you and for me, “What did you see? What did you witness?”

So Beloved, take your doubts and questions with you and then find God there. Receive the holy spirit to relieve you and calm you today! Be full of love and grace of God!

“Be patient therefore beloved…Strengthen your hearts…”. God is near and ready to lift us from our depths and to help us see again and witness again the grace and love that has been pour out for us and be healed with God’s forgiveness. 

That Beloved is, 

Thanks Be to God

Lessons and Carols - Year A (Matthew)

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24 Dec 2022 | 5:30 PM | Christmas Eve “Lessons and Carols”

Opening Prayer 

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory Forever and ever. Amen.

Assurance 

Lighting the Christ candle.

Hymn 132 (NCH) / 270 (Celebration): Joy to the World.

First Lesson: Creation - Genesis 1:1-5 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ² the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness God called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Hymn 116 (NCH): O Come O Come Emmanuel (2 verses). 

Second Lesson: Covenant - Genesis 9:12-16

¹² God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ When I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Reflection for Genesis 1,9 – Creation and Covenant

Hymn: O Come O Come Emmanuel (refrain). 

Third Lesson: Compassionate and Forgiving God – Psalm 103: 1-8

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all awesome benefits— ³ who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, ⁵ who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ⁶ The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. ⁷ The Lord made known divine ways to Moses, and gracious acts to the people of Israel.⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Hymn 133 (NCH)/250 (Celebration): O Little Town of Bethlehem. 

Fourth Lesson: God of Peace and Justice – Micah 5:2-5; 6:6,8

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,   who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me  one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,    from ancient days. ³ Therefore he shall give them up until the time  when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return   to the people of Israel. ⁴ And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great  to the ends of the earth; ⁵ and he shall be the one of peace. 

⁶ With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? ⁸ Listen here mortal: God has told you what is good, And what YHWH requires of you; to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God; Then your name will achieve wisdom.”

Reflection for Micah and Psalm 103 - God of Peace and Justice.

Hymn 131 (NCH) / 251 (Celebration): It Came upon the Midnight Clear.

Fifth Lesson: Birth – Matthew 1: 18-25 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³ “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife ²⁵ but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.

Reflection for Matthew 1: 18-25 - Birth

Hymn 148 (NCH) /281 (Celebration): What Child Is This. 

Sixth Lesson: Shepherds Visit – Luke 2:8-16 

⁸ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹ to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

Offertory:

Hymn 125 (NCH) / 278 (Celebration): Angels We Have Heard on High.

Seventh Lesson: Foreigners Visit – Matthew 2:1-11 

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise ones from the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise ones  and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Reflection for Luke 2:8-16 and Matthew 2:1-11 - Shepherds and Foreigners.

Hymn 139 (NCH) / 265 (Celebration): The First Noel.

Eighth Lesson: God’s Promise Through Jesus - Hebrews 1:1-4 

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by the Promised One, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. ³ He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hymn 132 (NCH) / 249 (Celebration): O Come All Ye Faithful. 

Ninth Lesson: Word Made Flesh - John 1: 1-5 (Inclusive version)

In the beginning, there was the Word, and the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. ² The Word was present to God from the beginning. ³ Through the Word, all things came into being, and apart from the Word, nothing came into being that has come into being. ⁴ In the Word was life, and the life was our light-- ⁵ Light that shines in the darkness, Light that the darkness did not overcome.

Reflection for John 1:1-5 – God’s Promise Made Flesh.

**Lighting the Candles 

Hymn 134 (NCH) / 253 (Celebration): Silent Night.

Benediction:

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* Please rise as you are able spirit and body. 

** Please make you way to perimeter of the Church for lighting the candles, sharing the light of Christ, and singing of Silent Night.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, ©1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Priests for Equality. 2007. The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation. Sheed & Ward: Lantham, MD.

Wren, B. 2008. Advent Christmas and Epiphany, Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship. Westminster John Knox Press: Louisville. Reproduced with permission.

An Unexpected Hour - Matthew 24 - Advent 1A

An Unexpected Hour

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon Isaiah 2: 1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, 

Happy new church year and happy Advent!  May your journey through these next few weeks be inspiring and uplifting as we prepare for the celebration of birth.

Advent typically follows some theme for each other weeks as we light candles around the wreath. Today’s candle theme is meant to be “hope”

Today’s lesson however feels a little more ominous than hopeful. Yet if we look deeper there is hope captured in these texts. What does Jesus mean by “you must be ready … for… an unexpected hour."

Maybe the word, for today, is not ominous but readiness - in other words preparation and watchfulness. Why do we prepare ? Who needs to be prepared and what does that give us?

It should come as no surprise to any of us that some day, we will just stop breathing and meet our maker. For all of us are mortal and all of us who are born into this life, will, one day, leave this life. The question then is for us, how do we prepare for what is inevitable?

When we say before worship, “let us prepare our hearts and mind”, there is a reason for this.  We are not just saying rhetorical phrases just to hear them from our mouths, but preparing our hearts and minds to hear and witness the Word made flesh. We prepare to transcend with that Word and spirit in our hearts. We prepare our hearts and minds and our bodies to call upon the spirit and to receive the spirit. 

When we do this, we can witness that Spirit and the Word become what we need to hear and feel in our bodies. When we offer food or clothes to the needy, are we preparing our gift for ourselves or for them and God.

That is preparation that is different than planning to make a cake or dinner for Thanksgiving because it is preparing ourselves to be open to the potential because yes as Jesus says, the unexpected hour is always near.  

So readiness is not just out of fear, but preparing to receive something - something so spectacular and amazing, you will be moved, minds will change as the spirit pours out upon you.

Isn’t that something that feels like hope?  Readiness for surprises is to be prepared for the day when things are going south. Readiness is for us to be prepared for the day after another shooting at a queer club or a Walmart or a mall, or when one country provokes war and violence like how Russia illegally invades Ukraine. Preparing is not making sure we are packing when we go out, but that our hearts and minds are ready for the coming of our Lord.

As well, this preparation is not just for us to anticipate all the materials, wrapping paper and pretty bows we see on Christmas, for we have plenty of reminders of the consumerism in our culture regardless of inflation before, during and well after the season.  

The season of Advent is for us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive the spirit in our celebrations so when that unexpected hour arrives, we won’t have to wonder if we did enough to be good with God.

The answers to our broken world ways are not more government or more toys around the tree, or more guns in pockets, but the answer for us can be found in the promise that God has given to us, the rainbow as a reminder of that promise and Word of the Lord that teaches and gives life - the Word made flesh in Jesus.

So let us discern the spirit among us this Advent, and let us find what we really need and want. Find healing, home and grace in the message given to us through the Gospel of Matthew, and let Jesus show you a way beyond our world’s divisions. 

So beloved, for Advent, let us walk in the light of the Lord and prepare our hearts with the hope of God’s promise and peace guiding us. 

Beloved, “Peace be within you.”

Thanks Be to God.

Worthy of Repentance - Matthew 3 - Advent 2A

Worthy of Repentance 

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Sermon based upon Matthew 3:1-12, Psalm 72, Romans 15:4-13, Isaiah 11:1-10

Opening prayer

Happy second Sunday of Advent.

When reading our texts, a few things came to mind. Particularly, I am drawn to Matthew where John tells us to be “Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” What does it mean to be “worthy of repentance?”

When walking the trail with Reno in early autumn, it was a great day - some leaves on the side, leaves in the tree still and Reno checking all the wonderful smells along the trail until..

Something moved in the grass ahead of us.  The dog and I were startled. We came upon a snake slithering away from us towards the creek. I didn’t want to go any further, but Reno was curious and wanted to check it out.  

I have always been uncomfortable around snakes.

I know they have purpose, but I am like Indiana Jones when it comes to snakes. (And why do websites have clickbait featuring these in my news feed?)

I think however that part of Isaiah’s message to us is precisely a vision of peace that endures and surpasses natural fears of things like this.. where wolf is living with lamb, cow with a bear or a person sitting next to a snake without fright.

How is this vision possible (a vision of a “zoo,” as one commentator called it, where no cage is needed and no one gets hurt or scared) and how do we get to that state of things?

That is an interesting analogy because a zoo has many animals in artificial settings divided away from each other under captivity that causes anxiety in the animals. Eventually, the captivity changes the animals and numbs their wild senses. 

Doesn’t that sound a bit like our world? Hmm our world - a zoo! 

Our worldly “zoo”: where we divide ourselves between have and have-not, borders between cultures and unequal judgments that bread hostility. We are captive to fear and fear-mongering leaders. We are in our own artificial designs with artificial flavorings and virtual escapes that placate and divide us even more. We have created a wilderness of this artificial way so that we become numb to reality and truths around us. People become hostile to the truth and to each other.

We read, in Matthew, John the Baptist delivering this sermon to people from the wilderness.  

There is something about wildernesses that force us to recognize truths, and John delivers truths that need to be heard (even if those who hear it don’t want to.) Know anyone that has refused to hear or acknowledge truths - “Oh, I don’t need to hear that?” 

Funny how each of us can envision someone - that is not us…

Matthew is particular in describing John’s diet and clothing, but what is Matthew doing here ?  

Matthew is setting the stage for the message by distinguishing those in power from those on the fringe: Those in the comforts of life and status versus those without.  

Think about who were “all” people going to - Not  to those in comfort but to the person in the wilderness that looks like this. They go because he speaks the truth, and does not pull punches - does not sugarcoat truth with ignorance, tradition, or “plausible deniability.” 

John quotes from Isaiah 40 to remind people from where they and their community have come. He reminds people of their rich history: reminding that they have come from a wilderness in captivity as well. John reminds us that judgment is best left to God like the Psalmist writes because God’s judgement is with justice, deliverance and wonderfulness in all things, instead of the divisive “zoo” with creepy snakes we live.

John calls the leaders, those, who are to help people follow this God, "brood of vipers” because they have gained at the expense of others. John isn’t here to make friends but to bring the truth, and the truth is his message. 

They respond to John’s challenge with their claim, “we have Abraham…” Yet, what does it mean for them and for us here today? What does it mean for you and I who claim our heritage? Where is my good practice that acknowledges that heritage - You and I, who live in relative comfort? We and our leaders who claim lineages of great nations, what are we doing to keep and perhaps earn that privilege? What are we doing to make our nation, our world, (our zoo) be welcoming and a place that transcends differences, divisions and borders?

Heritage is mere rhetoric if we, who today are gifted from the efforts and grace of that lineage, do not recognize that all people are children of Abraham, of God.

This, Beloved, is the start of being worthy of repentance in our world that is our zoo because in the difference in God’s truth/realm, there are people of differences and heritages where fear does not need to rule and people have no need to be scared of one another. 

Being worthy of repentance is thus a call to confession for people of power and for us, individually. This is a challenge with what we do with our time and our responsibility. It is a challenge for us to be the forgiveness as much as to be forgiven.

Do we just go each day: put on our nice clothes, in our comfortable homes, and mouth the prayers we have been given?  For what purpose do we have these, if forget those around us? For what purpose do we live, if not for our Creator? 

Be the forgiveness that God wants you to be and witness how God’s zoo doesn’t need cages or borders but gives opportunities to have wolf lay with lamb because judgement belongs to God, not us.

Acknowledge that and be with all people in the community - help those who need food to eat, who need clothes on their backs or who need a place to live - lest you are a viper.

If you are a viper, know that I walk with the strength and courage that God gives to go beyond fear. Let God remind you, be with you, teach you and help you be who you ought to be.  If I am one, may God’s justice reveal to me, to us. May God transform me and heal as needed. May you forgive me for my ignorance.

Beloved, we live in a broken world and we have to face the wildernesses, the tests, of our lives to find the truths -to recognize where we have been, what we have done and what we ought to be doing.  

That is truly an “agile retrospective” to recognize our mistakes and where we can improve. that is the start of redemption. Dont let it end there. In that recognition, we can see the possible of and be the peace of Christ - in God’s realm where child can play (or this child can walk) near the snake and not be afraid because God has blessed us and continues to bless us. 

Be worthy of repentance and live in that peace.

That Beloved is …

Thanks Be to God