Rector's Sermon - Sunday, December 2, 2001

First Reading	Epistle	Gospel
Isaiah 2:1-5	Romans 13:11-14	Matthew 24:26-44

       I've never looked forward to doctors' exams, where one waits undressed in a cool exam room, under bright lights to be poked and made to cough. But the eye doctor's is different. You sit subdued, in a quiet, darkened room, as drops are put in your eyes. Like a trip to the barber, the wait can serve as a break from the usual pace of the day. Last week, I went for my eye exam, and was ushered into the customary room. The first drops were put into my eyes and as I blinked I looked toward the wall. Incredibly there was a magazine rack on the wall with a large print Readers Digest. "Outrage! Incredible stories", the heavy headline screamed. I sighed, feeling a tenseness develop inside me. Even in the exam room, I just couldn't escape the tragedy of September. The technician came in and swung the eye apparatus in place. I began saying A or B according to what lens seemed clearer. Apparently I didn't make too many mistakes, for the technician said I behaved well and was reasonably helpful. Then more drops were put into my eyes and I inadvertently looked back at the magazine rack again. I blinked again, for the headline didn't say outrage at all. It said courage, incredible stories of courage! Quickly I felt more relaxed again, and my trip to the eye doctor was not spoiled. I realized that I desire more courage and less outrage in my life.
     
      There is an Advent story here, for one of the gifts of this four week season, is the opportunity to diffuse a sense of outrage and transform it into courage. The passage read today from the Prophet Isaiah is virtually identical to one found in the prophet Micah. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." It is suspected that neither prophet actually wrote these words, but that they were quotes from a much older tradition. It's true, the words have been widely scorned by the world, nevertheless they testify to a tradition that could have very easily justified expressions of profound bitterness and pleas for the total annihilation of enemies. Instead, these words for centuries and across every continent on earth, have inspired courage and hope, and offered a steady moral compass in bleak wildernesses filled with false poles.

      Advent does not so much prepare us for God who will be coming, but for God who enters our world. As in the time of ancient Israel's prophets, it takes courage to live with integrity in this age. Advent dampens that anticipation of great things that we tend to load on the coming Christmas, and that's a healthy thing. For inevitably when we expect so much to change at a certain time in the future, we continue to fill it so full, that when it finally comes, it rarely meets our expectations

      There is a folk tale about a visitor to a Zen master who requested. some spiritual nourishment. The Zen master set down and began pouring a cup of tea for the visitor. As the cup became nearly full, the visitor said, "Thank you that's enough," but the Zen master kept on pouring, and the hot tea water began running all over the cup, onto the table and dripped down on the floor. "Stop, stop,"exclaimed the visitor, "it is full, too full; the cup can't possibly hold any more." "Precisely," replied the Zen master. "When you are too full, you can't possibly hold any more. How can I offer you any spiritual insight if you are way too full to accept it ?"

      Jesus doesn't say to his disciples, "Let me tell you a lot of stories about how great it will be on a certain day in the future." Rather Jesus offers arresting images of a sudden flood, an abduction, and a thief. Part of what Jesus is conveying is for us not to abdicate from life by filling our-selves with dreams about the future, but to take courage and observe what is happening now. For signs of God's arrival can be as sudden as a flash flood on the desert plain, or as unpredictable as a bandit on horseback appearing out of the night. Jesus is saying that we should seek signs that open hearts and help us to grow. This day, this night, seek the roads and openings that lead to future blessing

      Advent offers us signs as varied as a cup of tea or a trip to the eye doctor, to interpret. All, in some way, help to ease the tension and pressure of fullness or provide a little more space for hope. Our expectations, combined with memories of hurts and slights, can turn into painful indigestion. Advent offers us a choice to do something about our outrage, our fullness, our anger. Some Fall, I'd like the Sunday School to design Advent banners in the shape of large antacid tablets - giant representations of rolls of tums, rolaids and bottles of bromo seltzer, to hang along the aisles for the four weeks before Christmas. It might help remind us that medicine for settling our stomach is related to our disposition and appetite for Good News.

      And I offer this to you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen