Fourth Sunday of Advent - A
David Kalas
Schuyler Rhodes
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Romans by identifying himself as one who was "set apart for the gospel of God." The underlying Greek word, which we traditionally translate "gospel," is euaggelion.
The "eu" prefix is familiar to us. We know it from English words like euphemism, eulogy, and euphoria. In biblical Greek, as in our contemporary usage of the prefix, "eu" means "good."
The next part of the underlying Greek word -- aggelion -- may not seem so familiar at first blush. The repetition of the gammas -- or the letter "g" in our transliteration -- had the effect in Greek of creating an "ng" sound. Consequently, what looks like aggelion is actually pronounced "angelion." And with that adjustment we begin to see something familiar: "...
The "eu" prefix is familiar to us. We know it from English words like euphemism, eulogy, and euphoria. In biblical Greek, as in our contemporary usage of the prefix, "eu" means "good."
The next part of the underlying Greek word -- aggelion -- may not seem so familiar at first blush. The repetition of the gammas -- or the letter "g" in our transliteration -- had the effect in Greek of creating an "ng" sound. Consequently, what looks like aggelion is actually pronounced "angelion." And with that adjustment we begin to see something familiar: "...
On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving the little box began to appear. Every day, in the same place, with only a minor variation. Early on the box engendered no real excitement or enthusiasm, but within a couple of weeks the significance of the box grew well out of proportion to its size. And after three weeks the box produced an anxiousness that seemed universally contagious.
The box was located on the front page, in the lower right-hand corner, of the daily newspaper. It simply read, 30 Shopping Days Until Christmas. Then 29, 25, 20, 14, 10; and by this time no Mercury or Gemini countdown could have been more exciting -- especially to the eight-year-old whose previous interest in the evening paper was limited to the comics page.
The box was located on the front page, in the lower right-hand corner, of the daily newspaper. It simply read, 30 Shopping Days Until Christmas. Then 29, 25, 20, 14, 10; and by this time no Mercury or Gemini countdown could have been more exciting -- especially to the eight-year-old whose previous interest in the evening paper was limited to the comics page.
The central issue for this week's pericopes is the question of whether God is faithful to God's promises. Whether God can be trusted is a question some people ask when to all appearances it might seem that God turns a deaf ear precisely when we need God urgently. Can God be trusted to hear our prayers for someone we love? Can God be trusted to "be with us" in the worst of times?"
In the passage from Isaiah we see the rule by a Davidic king from Jerusalem placed in jeopardy. The issue of kingship is so important because kingship is connected to the promised reign of God, and the Messiah to come must be of Davidic descent. Can God be trusted to keep the promise about the Davidic king?
That Jesus' descent is connected to the lineage of David and Isaiah's prophecy talks...
In the passage from Isaiah we see the rule by a Davidic king from Jerusalem placed in jeopardy. The issue of kingship is so important because kingship is connected to the promised reign of God, and the Messiah to come must be of Davidic descent. Can God be trusted to keep the promise about the Davidic king?
That Jesus' descent is connected to the lineage of David and Isaiah's prophecy talks...
If you are an "Advent purist," one who refuses to preach Advent sermons that lapse into the Christmas season, this day -- December 24 -- presents a challenge! Fortunately, the texts for the day give you the freedom to "stand on the edge" between the two seasons. The lessons from Isaiah and Matthew are so full of the promise of the One who is to come that you cannot help but shout, "It's all about Jesus!" We like to move along linear time lines, from event to event. In the Advent season that has meant a steady mounting of theme upon theme as we prepare for the glorious message of Christmas. This Sunday is, as it were, our last chance to prepare our hearts for his coming. But from God's eternal perspective time has a quality that transcends event that follows event. The fulfillment is...
In the play St. Joan, obtuse King Charles is ranting to Joan of Arc about the source of her revelations that have made her a hero and him a source of ridicule. "Oh your voices! Your voices! Why don't the voices come to me? I am King and not you." Joan, in an attempt to satisfy him, replies, "They do come to you, but you do not hear them. You do not sit in the field listening for them. When the angulus rings you cross yourself and have done with it. But if you listened to the thrilling of the bells in the air after they stopped ringing, you would hear the voices as well as I!" Does God's voice come only to the rare individual who for whatever reason is especially tuned to hear it? Or does it come to all of us, only to find that it is just that rare soul that is listening for it who...
Wayne Brouwer
Last winter, I had to attend a meeting in Ontario, Canada. The trip from our west Michigan home took approximately four hours on the way out, with dry roads and little traffic. A strong storm blew in during the day, and by the time I headed back, ice, sleet, blowing snow, and whiteout conditions made the driving nearly impossible. It was a drive I did not want to make on a road that no one wanted to travel.
There are other roads none of us wants to take. When my brother-in-law died suddenly, and tragically, I did not want to travel down the road that would take us to his funeral. When someone I love dearly was locked in prison, I did not want to take the road that led me to a face-to-face confrontation with her. When one of my staff committed a social indiscretion requiring...
There are other roads none of us wants to take. When my brother-in-law died suddenly, and tragically, I did not want to travel down the road that would take us to his funeral. When someone I love dearly was locked in prison, I did not want to take the road that led me to a face-to-face confrontation with her. When one of my staff committed a social indiscretion requiring...
Wayne Brouwer
As one congregation went through years of great growth and expansion, it became obvious that there could not be any more additions to its current facilities. A massive new capital campaign was launched, a ten-acre property was purchased, and architects began to design a new ministry center. Members of the church were involved at every step of the way, and many good ideas were incorporated into the layout and decorating schemes.
Wayne Brouwer
Some gifts we receive are simply add-ons to the polite niceties of the relationship. For instance, a man might give a woman a book as a Christmas gift. He knows she likes to read and this happens to be a best-seller she has not yet gotten into, so he gives it to her as a reflection of his thoughtfulness.
At a second level, however, other gifts might more directly tie into their relationship. He might buy a bottle of expensive perfume. When she opens the gift she is not only aware of his care, but also enters a conspiracy with him toward a deepening level for their friendship. She applies the perfume to her body, and its scent becomes part of their special language of love. When she uses the perfume she thinks uniquely of him. When he smells the perfume he thinks solely of her....
At a second level, however, other gifts might more directly tie into their relationship. He might buy a bottle of expensive perfume. When she opens the gift she is not only aware of his care, but also enters a conspiracy with him toward a deepening level for their friendship. She applies the perfume to her body, and its scent becomes part of their special language of love. When she uses the perfume she thinks uniquely of him. When he smells the perfume he thinks solely of her....
Mark Ellingsen
The difference the coming baby makes is the overall theme of Advent 4. The texts prod consideration of new behaviors and attitudes that having Christ in our lives provides.
Isaiah 7:10-16
Frank Ramirez
The truth is out there, if you’re willing to see it. God spoke to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah when he was trying to solve a political conundrum, to the point where God was willing to grant any sign Ahaz asked for, but with the divine insight in sight, Ahaz looked away.
The whole story of salvation, the Good News “concerning his son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection of the dead” was “promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures….” The insight’s in sight. One early Christian evidently paused in the middle of working in his ledgers, to practice his handwriting by painstakingly copying these very verses from the opening of Paul’s letter to...
The whole story of salvation, the Good News “concerning his son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection of the dead” was “promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures….” The insight’s in sight. One early Christian evidently paused in the middle of working in his ledgers, to practice his handwriting by painstakingly copying these very verses from the opening of Paul’s letter to...
Over the years, I grow more cynical about Christmas and just about everything that
goes along with it. I have not become a scrooge, although the advancing years have made
me more careful with my pennies. It is not that I cannot be moved by the lights, the
music, and the fellowship of the holidays. I have not become an insensitive, unfeeling
clod. My problem is that the language and the images and the music seem to have fallen
short in expressing what must have been the feelings of the real human beings going
through the events recounted in this story.
The icons and the medieval works of art portray a serenity and tranquility that does not jive with any birth that I know about. For the most part, Mary looks just like she has gotten back from the hairdresser. Most of...
The icons and the medieval works of art portray a serenity and tranquility that does not jive with any birth that I know about. For the most part, Mary looks just like she has gotten back from the hairdresser. Most of...
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