[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 2B

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Dec 3, 2011 10:29 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Advent 2B


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “John the Baptist” and deals with the
gospel (Mark 1: 1-11).  Here it is:

This morning we heard about one of the strangest characters in the
Bible- John the Baptist.  He was the last of the Old Covenant prophets
and had the job of preparing the way for Jesus.  Even his beginnings
were unusual.  John’s parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were childless
and way too old to have children.  Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin and
Zechariah was a priest in the temple.  One day, Zechariah was doing
his job in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared and told him
that he and his wife would have a baby, who was to be named John.
Zechariah doubted the angel, so he was struck dumb.  Shortly after
this incident and against all odds, Elizabeth became pregnant.  It’s
obvious that Zechariah and Elizabeth were accepting, compassionate
people because after the Virgin Mary became pregnant, she spent some
time with them- probably to gain courage to face everyone when she
began to “show.”  Well, in due time the child promised to Zechariah
and Elizabeth was born; and when he was circumcised and presented in
the temple, everyone was about to name him “Zechariah” after his
father.  It was the custom of the day to name children after a
relative.  Zechariah still could not speak, so he communicated by
writing, “His name is John.”  Immediately, Zechariah’s speech
impediment vanished.  Those watching these happenings wondered what
kind of a man this “John” would turn out to be.
	They were wise to wonder, because this “John”, actually “John the
Baptist” was truly unusual- many must have wondered about his sanity.
While others lived in comfortable houses, he lived in the desert.
While others dressed fashionably (or at least comfortably), he wore an
itchy camel skin.  While others ate fish and bread and occasionally
some meat, he ate what he could find- usually locusts and wild honey.
He spent his time baptizing people in the Jordan River, giving them a
second chance to enter the Promised Land following God’s way.  As you
recall, Jesus (John’s second cousin) was baptized by John.  When he
wasn’t baptizing, he was preaching.  He encouraged the common people
to repent and return to God, but he infuriated those in power by
calling them “snakes”- not a very good way to get ahead.  When King
Herod married his sister-in-law, John condemned the whole affair.
Needless to say, he had many enemies in high places.  Herod was so
angry with John’s meddling that he threw him in prison.  While John
was there he must have experienced a period of doubt, because he sent
some of his followers to ask Jesus if he was really the Messiah, or
was he going through all of this imprisonment for nothing.  Jesus sent
them back with the message that the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame
walk, and the poor have the good news preached to them- in other
words- the Jubilee message.
One of John’s most dangerous enemies was Herodias, the sister-in-law
whom King Herod married.  One day, Herod threw a party.  After all the
men at the party were drunk, Salome (daughter of Herodias) really
turned them on with her dancing.  Herod was so impressed that he
promised her anything she wanted, even half of his kingdom.  Salome
asked her mother what she should request, and the answer came back
clearly: “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  Since
Herod didn’t want to look like a fool in front of his friends by going
back on his word, that’s just what happened.
Out of the strange life of one of God’s greatest prophets, what’s the
message for us?  How can this help us get ready for the birth of Jesus
in a few weeks?  Here are four thoughts:
1)	John didn’t follow the crowd and neither should we.  Don’t worry
what everyone expects you to do to prepare for the holiday.  In all
your rushing around, don’t forget Jesus.
2)	As busy as you are this year, don’t miss Jesus when he comes to
you.  How is this possible?  Look, if John the Baptist walked in here
right now, I’m here to tell you that we’d probably get a little
nervous because (to put it mildly) he’d look different.  Actually,
we’d probably wonder if we had a crazy man in here!  If we didn’t take
him seriously, we would have missed one of the holiest people in the
Bible.  Remember, Jesus comes to us in other people.  (“Whatever you
do to the least of these, my sisters or brothers, you do to me.”)
Don’t diminish anyone just because of how he looks or talks or what
she wears.
3)	If you meet people who aren’t quite sure about this “Jesus event,”
be kind.  Remember, even John had his doubts when times were hard and
he was in prison.
4)	Finally- remember who we’re preparing for.  Yes, I know that Jesus
was born a precious little baby in a manger made of hay; but he didn’t
stay that way.  He grew up to be a wonderful, powerful man who
suffered, died, and rose for our sins.  One Advent, a church that will
go nameless had one of those cute sayings on the sign in front.  It
says: “Xmas is Christmas without Christ.  Don’t “X” Him out!”  I’m
sure you’ve heard people talk like that- saying it is unchristian to
substitute the “X” for the “Christ” in Christmas.  My sisters and
brothers, they’re well-meaning, but very wrong.  The “X” is the Greek
letter Chi, for “Christ.”  That “X” is also the way you make a Roman
cross, so “X” stands for a cross.  “Xmas” is a way of saying “Mass for
the Holy One who died on the cross.” “Xmas” reminds us that the baby
who was born at ChristMass grew up to be the man who died on the cross
for our salvation.  “XMass” or “CrossMass” reminds us, as we prepare
for the birth of our Savior, to take up our own cross and follow Him.
Some years ago, a friend gave me this statue of Santa kneeling at the
manger.  That’s the Christian priority.  Remember that this is Jesus’
birthday.  We’re preparing for him.  The Santa component is fun, but
the true ChristMass is Jesus and his birth.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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