Rector's Sermon - Sunday, 19 November 2006

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Daniel 12:1–3	Psalm 16	Hebrews 10:19–25	Mark 13:1–8

        The first scriptures for Christians were the precious inheritance from Judaism. The Holy Scriptures that fed Jesus and his first followers were those taught, read, and honored in the local synagogue.  Later, Christians reflected on the greater meaning of Jesus, the resurrection, and all his teachings. They also realized that as the church grew larger and beyond those who had heard Jesus firsthand or even knew the first disciples firsthand, it was necessary to organize and compile the communities’ experiences and insights to share with those who would come to know the Good News through the testimony of still others. By in large, the church was careful to guard against pitting the scriptures the Christian community wrote, over those the Christian community had inherited. The writings of the people of Israel and the writings of the earliest Christians, complemented each other and through both, God is known. To be sure the early Christian writers would interpret and refer to the earliest writings in terms of what they had experienced in Jesus. For example, Jewish-Christians continued praying the psalms, not only thinking that some passages spoke profundly to something in their own lives, but also discovering passages that seemed to apply to something Jesus had taught or had experienced.  That is why the writings of the ancient prophets did not so much predict the future as stimulate readers’ minds to reflect on what was happening in the present. 

       One of the ways we are better to understand the writings of the Bible is to ask, “for what community was this particular book or certain passage written? Why was this book written for them, what questions did it seek to answer and what fears did it set out to alleviate?”  Once we are able to formulate some reasonable answers to such questions, often the writings seem more accessible and we are not as apt to read into passages assumptions that were never there.  In addition, the more we learn about the people and the setting of a passage, the less tempted we will be to use the Bible as a simple answer book to confirm our own prejudices rather than discerning what the word of God is telling us. It is always more tempting but far less constructive to argue over what the Bible says than to honestly reflect on what the Bible means for our lives today.

       For example, the Book of Daniel was written during the cruel reign of a Syrian ruler who in 168b.c., decided Jerusalem should be rid of all Jews and colonized by foreigners. All male Jewish inhabitants of the city were killed or expelled.  Soldiers entered the Temple, vandalized it, and erected pagan idols. All practice of Judaism was forbidden. Because the present looked so bad, The writer of the book of Daniel looked back to an earlier time centuries before, when the Jews were also under severe persecution, and tells the story of Daniel and his friends, heroes who refused to yield and refute their faith, and who made a real difference in history. Daniel and his friends’ integrity, served as a pledge of God’s ultimate victory. Perhaps it such stories which inspired Judas Maccabeus to finally lead the successful revolt against the Syrian despot and cleanse the Temple. Incidentally the holiday of Hanukkah or Feast of Lights that is celebrated for eight days near Christmas commemorates this rededication of the Temple when a one-day supply of holy oil for the temple miraculously lasted eight days.

       We do not know what Christian community the letter to the Hebrews was originally intended. The name Hebrews was given after an early commentator believed that it was originally written in Hebrew for Jewish Christians but there has never been any textual or historical foundation for the name. But it seems to have been written sometime after the first followers of Jesus had died and persecution of the members of the church was continuing for an extended period. Weariness and resignation had set in, and significant number of the community was drifting away. They were not supporting each other and hence the fire of the Gospel was not being fed and was burning low. The author reminds them of their initial enthusiasm. Hold on, don’t give up, the author exhorts them. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (11:1) 

       The Gospel passage from Mark complements the themes of Daniel and Hebrews. The setting appears to be as on the slope of the Mount of Olives overlooking the Temple. Nearing the very end of his teaching ministry in Jerusalem, Jesus is talking to his close disciples. Jesus knows well the Temple is not going to be the focal point for Christians in the future. Holy Week will bring traumatic change and a sense of utter desolation. Yet nothing will be gained by escaping from reality into irresponsible behavior, be it recrimination, violence, or some bizarre denial of the world. That is the point Mark wishes to make. It is so easy in times of stress, for false leaders to arise and desperate people to follow for the sake of following and not having to think. Many of the Biblical writers have realized that the signs of the supposed end of the world have occurred over and over again. Later in this passage, Mark will use references from Daniel, Isaiah, Joel, Deuteronomy, and Zechariah, stirring up the example of those ancestors in faith who had held on against temptation against giving up and losing hope. Mark directs one to look at history as he warns against using the demise of worldly institutions, even religious institutions, as sure signs of the final end of human history. 

       This morning on our ingathering Sunday, a week before Thanksgiving, two weeks before the preparatory season of Advent, it is very legitimate to ask why in this world, sorely troubled by war, AIDS, hunger, exploitation, racism, and poverty, should one give time and talent to St. John’s? Because St. John’s is a witness to the Gospel of mercy, hope and peace. Why is the Christian enterprise worthy of our efforts in this time? Because we know that God uses our piles of rubble and turns it into fresh soil for new birth. Why should we hang in there despite cataclysmic changes in the world, in an age of declining religious influence and sense of loss of spiritual energy and direction? Because the people of God have been there before and we know God does not abandon the people of earth to their own fate.

      And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.