December 9, 2007
| Advent 2, 2007 | Isaiah 11:1-10 | |
| Romans 15:4-13 | ||
| Matthew 3:1-12 |
THE POWER OF GOD
There is a famous prayer called the Serenity Prayer.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
This prayer has become a mainstay of Twelve-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, and other recovery programs. But it did not begin as a prayer about addiction. It is so broad that anyone can pray this prayer about any circumstance.
In this passage about John the Baptizer we have something that calls us to consider the question: what can we change, and what can we not change?
John preached a baptism of repentance. This was a one-time baptism, not the kind of ritual washing that was repeated over and over in Jewish religious life. Once for all time. John wanted people to be serious about renouncing sin, injustice, and oppression. John wanted changed lives, not just lip service, but reality.
Where do we need repentance? It's a touchy question. Sins of commission are many, but I suspect the sins of omission are far more legion. What COULD we do that we simply don't?
For the sake of the poor, for justice for the marginalized, and for the care of the earth?
Are we ready to change how we live? Once for all? Will we do Christmas giving that is genuinely charitable? Will we volunteer so we see the actual face of someone hurting? Will we arrange our daily lives so we really are using less energy, creating less pollution? Will we raise our voices against injustice? There are a thousand ways we could improve the lot of others, or help preserve the earth. Of all the things I could do, what will I do?
John wanted people whose faith in God mattered materially to others. Not one word of his preaching should be ignored. So what next?
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
I want to point out something in the text. John the Baptizer appears in all four gospels. But the cloak of camel's hair is in only two of the gospels. The brood of vipers remark is only in two gospels, the image of the wheat and chaff is on only two gospels.
Is there anything about John that is in all four? Two things. That John is the voice in the wilderness- Prepare the way of the LORD. And that the one coming after John is mightier.
When the early church remembered John they remembered different details. Some stories of John the Baptist survived in one place and other stories survived in other places. But wherever the church remembered John the Baptizer, they always remembered this. John pointed to Jesus. John pointed to Jesus.
All four gospels record John saying after him comes one who ranks before him- someone whose sandal John was not worthy to untie. John pointed to Jesus.
Pointing to Jesus is the core task for preachers ever since John the Baptist. The four gospels answer the question "Who is Jesus?" The gospel writers pointed to Jesus. The writings of the Apostle Paul proclaim and interpret Jesus Christ. In First Corinthians Paul writes,
"but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1st Cor. 1:23-24)
Every preacher worth his or her salt since then points to Jesus Christ. That is the intent of this sermon. That has been the intent of every sermon Pastor Amy Thoren preached, and we both agree that even today- even as we say Godspeed to Amy, the sermon must point to Jesus. Just like John.
John's vision is a vision of righteousness. It still resonates. What a wonderful world it would be if everyone truly pursued righteousness- not some dusty religiosity, but real justice, real mercy, real compassion.
What a world it would be! It would be a world like that of Isaiah's vision in our first lesson- it would be a world without predators- no predatory lending practices. It occurs to me that when Isaiah says "A little child shall lead them" it might mean that if everyone lived the Golden Rule then leadership would be so easy a child could do it.
But we don't live in that world.
The message that things could be better is not new. A rather large portion of the world has seen and heard the Ten Commandments, some places it has been a rather long time now, and we still don't see the lion lying down with the lamb.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
John's exhortations are right on the money. But knowing what would be right, and having the will and the courage to follow through- those are two different things.
John pointed to Jesus. John could only baptize with water and chide people to do the right thing.
Jesus comes with the Holy Spirit, and fire. The breath of God, and the refiner's flame.
John lays down the law and we can see what is right. But Jesus comes with the power to transform. When we listen to John we find out how far we are from real righteousness. This awareness is part of the problem. The law kills. The Spirit revives.
John pointed to Jesus, because we need more than a set of do's and don'ts.
We need the liberation of forgiveness, so that we can leave the broken past behind. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to awaken in us the WILL to do what is right.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Preachers must point to Jesus Christ. The power of God and the wisdom of God. We cannot change our own hearts. WE cannot change our self-will. But Christ can create a new heart, and in this life we can bear Christ to others by the ways we live and give. This is where new life begins. And God is at work, even here, even now, bringing in the peaceable kingdom.
Farewell and Godspeed To Pastor Amy Thoren \