First Sunday In Advent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle B
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 64:1-9 (C); Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1, 3b-8 (RC); Isaiah 64:1-9a (E)
What a profound expression of overwhelming awe in the presence of a sense of God. That the ñmountains might quake'' and ñthe nations tremble'': what a picturesque display of repentance and hope. We preachers can learn much just realizing the parade of visual pictures which move before us as we read these words. The writer „ possibly a disciple of second Isaiah? „ prays for mercy and help for his people, and he understands that the conditions for a favorable response require repentance for oneÍs sins, and a realization that God might very well have justifiably gotten rid of these unfaithful people. But instead, using the analogy of the potter, Isaiah declares that God has mercifully elected to give his people another chance. As the people have returned from exile and now face the rigors of the reestablishment of their community, this writer thus pleads for mercy on behalf of his people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (C, RC); 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (E)
Paul begins his letter by complimenting the recipients for their confirmation of the ñtestimony to Christ'' evident among them. He reminds them that the ñspiritual gifts'' they have received are just that „ gifts. God has been gracious to them and will continue to be so, because they were ñcalled into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.'' This is interesting since we know that the Corinthian people had something of a reputation as carousers and rabble-rousers. One has to believe that God can, indeed, do miraculous things in human lives if he was able to turn some of these folks into people of whom it could be said they were ñenriched in him with all speech and knowledge.'' Since we know that there was quite a bit of dissension within the Christian community of Corinth, it would seem that Paul is laying the groundwork for a bit of gentle scolding. Nonetheless, Paul loved these people and, like loving parents, tended to see the best in them.
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 (C); Mark 13:33-37 (RC); Mark 13:(24-32) 33-37 (E)
This is certainly vivid verbal imagery. Apocalyptic, a rather threatening version of the end of time. Of course we donÍt have to interpret this literally. I donÍt personally anticipate that Jesus will return in quite the manner described here. Rather, this is undoubtedly an effective way to get the attention of any listener. I once heard the guy across the street scold his little boy something like this: ñIf you do that one more time, IÍm going to boil you in oil. Then IÍm going to hang you by your thumbs overnight. After that, IÍm sending you to Africa to live with the monkeys until your thirtieth birthday. Not only that, you get no television tonight. Now get in here.'' Not a very loving way to talk to your kid, but one thing was sure „ that boy knew his dad was serious (actually, they had a great relationship and both were smiling). But sometimes we resort to such imagery to emphasize a point. So what was Jesus really saying by these words (or at least by MarkÍs version of what Peter must have reported to him)?
We donÍt know how long the universe will last, but logic tells us it wonÍt last forever. Jesus may have been predicting the destruction of the Jewish Temple and of Jerusalem itself. Also, each of us as individuals will encounter our own individual Parousia, or end-time. It may be that Mark literally expected a fulfillment of history in his own time. However, he quotes Jesus as saying not all of his own generation would pass away before this all happened, and if Mark was writing in 68 A.D. give or take a couple years, and if Jesus died somewhere around 30 A.D., and if average longevity was in oneÍs thirties, then it should have been apparent to Mark that either what Jesus was predicting had already taken place, or that the timing was somehow off. Or, Mark may have understood this as figurative language designed to warn the people of the Church that God is at work and there are moral rules to this universe with severe consequences when they are broken. Whether the world or history will literally come to a specific conclusion or not, each one of us will and we are therefore warned in advance to prepare ourselves for that eventuality. Be ready. Watch. Your time will come, but you need not be afraid if you are faithful to the calling which God has set forth in Jesus Christ.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñLittle By Little''
Text: Isaiah 64:4
Theme: Isaiah speaks here of those ñwho wait for him.'' Patience. In the midst of sometimes terrible events, the people are encouraged to believe that if they will wait patiently, God will, at the right time, save them. ThatÍs a word many of us need to hear today. Ours is such a fast-paced time in history. Most of us get irritated when we have to wait. I do. My wife will tell you that I donÍt do well with traffic lights, airline check-in desks „ even trying to get the computer up and working is irritating to me. Patience does not come easily to me and, unless I miss my guess, the same is true for many of you. I remember going into an ice cream store with an older minister and, when the young lady dipping ice cream seemed too slow to him, he grumped at her, ñJust forget it,'' and stormed out. It didnÍt speak well for my friend, but he fortunately had other qualities which somewhat offset this unpleasant characteristic. Most of us have to learn patience.
1. God works at his own pace. ItÍs easy to become discouraged in our prayer life when it seems that nothing is changing despite our prayers. God knows far better than we do what is best for us. When I was a kid I wanted roller skates. I finally got them, but it was two years later than when I first began to ask. Mother and Dad knew that I could very well have hurt myself at the earlier age. God knows all these things.
2. We grow through difficulties. There are times when we wish God would hurry up and help us overcome some of our problems, but we are destined to learn later that some of these problems were blessings. I well recall losing a job which I loved. My self-esteem was demolished, I felt sorry for myself, and I wondered why this had to happen to me. Years later, I realized that it was because of that job loss that I moved to another city, and it was there that I met Christ.
3. Jesus promised that our patience will be rewarded. Sometimes things change bit by bit, little by little. We may not even realize that our prayers are being answered until much time has passed. IÍm indebted to a friend and preacher, T. Garrett Benjamin of this city, who preaches to many hundreds every Sunday in one of this countryÍs largest African-American Christian churches for this concept that God more often than not answers prayers through the small changes that occur day by day and we must patiently wait for GodÍs plans for us to unfold, little by little. They always will.
Title: ñStanding Tall''
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Theme: Two aspects of the Christian faith stand out in these words of Paul. First, a lofty standard is held before us. ñYou have become rich in all things,'' wrote Paul. Now the truth is that thereÍs a lot of evidence to make us question this high praise. In the very verse following our text, Paul appeals to these people to avoid divisions among them. He knew them pretty well, and was aware that some of them could be pretty contentious. Referring to Corinth, William Barclay acknowledges her greatness when it comes to economics and culture, but he also notes, ñBut there was another side to Corinth. She had a reputation for commercial prosperity, but she was also a by-word for evil and immoral living.'' What Paul was doing was commending some of these people in order to hold a high standard before them. Just as a wise parent commends a child for any merit and thus encourages the child to be even better, so Paul knew that these people would not want to disappoint him or, more importantly, Jesus.
In preaching on this, I would probably digress and make the point that when we let people realize we regard them highly, they usually rise to those expectations. Likewise, God knows all the good in us and summons us to be kind and moral people.
The second aspect which stands out here is the promise that when we set ourselves to become better people, God will help. Paul refers to the ñgrace that has been given you.'' This is certainly an important word for anyone wrestling with addictions, or with bad habits. The parent who too easily loses her temper, the man who consistently argues that ñjust one more canÍt hurt,'' can find through the power of the Holy Spirit that there is help. So too, in any worthwhile endeavor, Paul assures us that ñhe will also keep you firm to the end.''
Title: ñChristmas Presence''
Text: Mark 13:29
Theme: I prefer to avoid the negative approach here. There is a dire warning in this passage, to be sure. But knowing Jesus, the loving interpretation is the right one. Jesus would urge us to be watchful for the advent of divine presence in our lives.
1. I must prepare myself for the advent. I recall a story of a woman who, following a divorce, went into seclusion. This was years ago when people were not very understanding of divorce. However, after a year or so, she decided to renew old friendships. She invited several former friends to a party. On the appointed day the woman had a wonderful meal prepared, decorations in place, music gently playing. Then she settled down to wait for her friends to arrive. But the hour came and went and no one arrived. Devastated, the woman once more retreated from her friends. Years passed. Elderly now, the woman chose to move to a retirement home. As the movers picked up a desk from the corner of the bedroom, a pack of envelopes fell out. They were the invitations the poor soul had failed to mail for her party a long time ago. So we too must invite Jesus into our lives.
2. I do this by making time for quiet expectation. The holidays, fun though they are, easily make us all so frantically busy that we often fail to make time for that which in the long run will have been most important. I will include below a helpful bit of advice from Scott Peck on this point.
3. I thereby build up memories for the future. Ask yourself what you remember from Christmases past. Presents received? I donÍt. I couldnÍt list even half a dozen presents. I remember visiting GrandmaÍs house, dinners mother used to make, my dadÍs laughter as he carved the turkey, the search for a Christmas tree. I remember the candlelight service where I realized I was called to ministry. What are you doing this year to create treasured memories?
4. Jesus will make himself known to me in his way if IÍm open to his arrival. By including loving relationships, worship, acts of charity in my advent activities, I make this arrival a certainty.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Ann Landers recently printed a letter from a woman who had lived outside the United States, in four different countries, for several years. Finally returned to the States, she said she was delighted to be home at last. But she said one thing dismayed her when she returned. Let me quote part of her letter: ñI watched children in Algeria play all day with sticks and old wheels. They were thrilled to death with the beanbags we made for them. Now IÍm back home, and watch American children scream and grab toys in discount stores, while their mothers push shopping carts piled high with gadgets.''
____________
Have you read Scott PeckÍs splendid book The Road Less Traveled? He told me once that he is convinced that he didnÍt write that book by himself, that much which is in there was given to him by a higher Spirit. He wrote something in that book which struck home with me, since it underlined one of my bad habits. He described himself as a total klutz when it comes to mechanical things, and described how, when he opens something which needs to be assembled, he throws away the directions as being unreadable, hurries to the point of exasperation, then ends up with extra parts which were supposed to belong somewhere. Since IÍm the same way, I was interested in PeckÍs advice.
He was out walking one day and passed a neighbor who was repairing his lawn mower. He remarked to the man that he wished he could do stuff like that. The man said: ñScott, you can do it. You just wonÍt take the time.'' Scott Peck reflected on this, and said a few days later a patient of his (heÍs a psychotherapist) left his office, only to return and report that her car wouldnÍt work. He said he went to look at the car, leaned down under the dashboard, and admitted that ordinarily he would have reached up among the many wires, jiggled them ineffectually, then called a wrecker. But remembering what his neighbor had said, he got comfortable, and began to study all the wires and levers, which made no sense to him at first. But he said that as he logically viewed the wires, they began to make sense. He finally saw a lever which looked out of place, flipped it, and the car worked. All because he patiently took the time to do it right. Surely this applies to the Christmas season as well.
____________
One night we were all having dinner around GrandmaÍs dinner table in Portland. It was dark, snowing outside. Suddenly, Grandpa shouted, ñLook.'' My brother and I turned and saw for just the briefest instant a white-bearded man in a red cap looking in the window. Immediately he was gone, so quickly we werenÍt even certain weÍd seen someone. But Grandpa had us all step out into the snow and there, already disappearing in the falling snow, were huge footprints. They just had to have been SantaÍs. Can you guess why I loved Grandpa so much?
____________
A very old lady, facing Christmas with only her memories, wrote this:
ñWhat do I want for Christmas?
Not anything to wear,
I want no jewels or perfume.
But something far more rare.
Standing in Doctor Dentons,
Clutching a well-loved toy,
A tousle-headed, sleepy-eyed,
Trusting little boy;
Excited about Christmas,
The source of all our joy.
If I could have one wish tonight,
„ Bring back that little boy.''
____________
Ellen Goodman, writing for The Boston Globe, wrote this:
ItÍs only a few days before Christmas and I am wandering the exotic and bewildering aisles of Toys-R-Us waving my magic wand.
I wave it over the bar code of a Power Talker Voice Changing Mask. Zap! I pass it by the brow of a virtual pet. Zap! I move onward and upward to a Star Wars gift set. Zap! Zap!
This thing in my hand is not, strictly speaking, a magic wand. ItÍs an electronic scanner. Nor is it strictly speaking for anyone in my age category no matter how much I might like a virtual pet „ named Buddy, of course.
What I have here is the latest, most seductive gift-gouging gadget created since children began wanting more for Christmas than their two front teeth. With this zap gun even those too young to e-mail the North Pole can now graze through Toys-R-Us adding every whim, fantasy, and passing desire onto their personal list of the gift registry. They even get a printout to send to Grandma.
Gift registries for children? What we have here in the aisles between AnastasiaÍs Dress-Up Set and TinkerbellÍs Face Paints is the latest in the long desultory and wildly successful process of turning a childÍs wonder into demand, and surprise into entitlement.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (C); Psalm 80 (E) „ ñLord of hosts, restore us.''
Psalm 84:8 (RC) „ ñLord God of hosts, hear my prayer.''
Prayer Of The Day
Open our hearts, O God, to the incoming of your Spirit. Sometimes our days are long and we grow tired. Too often, we go for long periods of time with very little attention to your Spirit. Deep within us, though, is a hunger for the richness of that presence. Overcome in us, we ask, our dullness of mind, that we may know your presence and its saving power. In JesusÍ name we pray. Amen.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 64:1-9 (C); Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1, 3b-8 (RC); Isaiah 64:1-9a (E)
What a profound expression of overwhelming awe in the presence of a sense of God. That the ñmountains might quake'' and ñthe nations tremble'': what a picturesque display of repentance and hope. We preachers can learn much just realizing the parade of visual pictures which move before us as we read these words. The writer „ possibly a disciple of second Isaiah? „ prays for mercy and help for his people, and he understands that the conditions for a favorable response require repentance for oneÍs sins, and a realization that God might very well have justifiably gotten rid of these unfaithful people. But instead, using the analogy of the potter, Isaiah declares that God has mercifully elected to give his people another chance. As the people have returned from exile and now face the rigors of the reestablishment of their community, this writer thus pleads for mercy on behalf of his people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (C, RC); 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (E)
Paul begins his letter by complimenting the recipients for their confirmation of the ñtestimony to Christ'' evident among them. He reminds them that the ñspiritual gifts'' they have received are just that „ gifts. God has been gracious to them and will continue to be so, because they were ñcalled into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.'' This is interesting since we know that the Corinthian people had something of a reputation as carousers and rabble-rousers. One has to believe that God can, indeed, do miraculous things in human lives if he was able to turn some of these folks into people of whom it could be said they were ñenriched in him with all speech and knowledge.'' Since we know that there was quite a bit of dissension within the Christian community of Corinth, it would seem that Paul is laying the groundwork for a bit of gentle scolding. Nonetheless, Paul loved these people and, like loving parents, tended to see the best in them.
Gospel: Mark 13:24-37 (C); Mark 13:33-37 (RC); Mark 13:(24-32) 33-37 (E)
This is certainly vivid verbal imagery. Apocalyptic, a rather threatening version of the end of time. Of course we donÍt have to interpret this literally. I donÍt personally anticipate that Jesus will return in quite the manner described here. Rather, this is undoubtedly an effective way to get the attention of any listener. I once heard the guy across the street scold his little boy something like this: ñIf you do that one more time, IÍm going to boil you in oil. Then IÍm going to hang you by your thumbs overnight. After that, IÍm sending you to Africa to live with the monkeys until your thirtieth birthday. Not only that, you get no television tonight. Now get in here.'' Not a very loving way to talk to your kid, but one thing was sure „ that boy knew his dad was serious (actually, they had a great relationship and both were smiling). But sometimes we resort to such imagery to emphasize a point. So what was Jesus really saying by these words (or at least by MarkÍs version of what Peter must have reported to him)?
We donÍt know how long the universe will last, but logic tells us it wonÍt last forever. Jesus may have been predicting the destruction of the Jewish Temple and of Jerusalem itself. Also, each of us as individuals will encounter our own individual Parousia, or end-time. It may be that Mark literally expected a fulfillment of history in his own time. However, he quotes Jesus as saying not all of his own generation would pass away before this all happened, and if Mark was writing in 68 A.D. give or take a couple years, and if Jesus died somewhere around 30 A.D., and if average longevity was in oneÍs thirties, then it should have been apparent to Mark that either what Jesus was predicting had already taken place, or that the timing was somehow off. Or, Mark may have understood this as figurative language designed to warn the people of the Church that God is at work and there are moral rules to this universe with severe consequences when they are broken. Whether the world or history will literally come to a specific conclusion or not, each one of us will and we are therefore warned in advance to prepare ourselves for that eventuality. Be ready. Watch. Your time will come, but you need not be afraid if you are faithful to the calling which God has set forth in Jesus Christ.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñLittle By Little''
Text: Isaiah 64:4
Theme: Isaiah speaks here of those ñwho wait for him.'' Patience. In the midst of sometimes terrible events, the people are encouraged to believe that if they will wait patiently, God will, at the right time, save them. ThatÍs a word many of us need to hear today. Ours is such a fast-paced time in history. Most of us get irritated when we have to wait. I do. My wife will tell you that I donÍt do well with traffic lights, airline check-in desks „ even trying to get the computer up and working is irritating to me. Patience does not come easily to me and, unless I miss my guess, the same is true for many of you. I remember going into an ice cream store with an older minister and, when the young lady dipping ice cream seemed too slow to him, he grumped at her, ñJust forget it,'' and stormed out. It didnÍt speak well for my friend, but he fortunately had other qualities which somewhat offset this unpleasant characteristic. Most of us have to learn patience.
1. God works at his own pace. ItÍs easy to become discouraged in our prayer life when it seems that nothing is changing despite our prayers. God knows far better than we do what is best for us. When I was a kid I wanted roller skates. I finally got them, but it was two years later than when I first began to ask. Mother and Dad knew that I could very well have hurt myself at the earlier age. God knows all these things.
2. We grow through difficulties. There are times when we wish God would hurry up and help us overcome some of our problems, but we are destined to learn later that some of these problems were blessings. I well recall losing a job which I loved. My self-esteem was demolished, I felt sorry for myself, and I wondered why this had to happen to me. Years later, I realized that it was because of that job loss that I moved to another city, and it was there that I met Christ.
3. Jesus promised that our patience will be rewarded. Sometimes things change bit by bit, little by little. We may not even realize that our prayers are being answered until much time has passed. IÍm indebted to a friend and preacher, T. Garrett Benjamin of this city, who preaches to many hundreds every Sunday in one of this countryÍs largest African-American Christian churches for this concept that God more often than not answers prayers through the small changes that occur day by day and we must patiently wait for GodÍs plans for us to unfold, little by little. They always will.
Title: ñStanding Tall''
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Theme: Two aspects of the Christian faith stand out in these words of Paul. First, a lofty standard is held before us. ñYou have become rich in all things,'' wrote Paul. Now the truth is that thereÍs a lot of evidence to make us question this high praise. In the very verse following our text, Paul appeals to these people to avoid divisions among them. He knew them pretty well, and was aware that some of them could be pretty contentious. Referring to Corinth, William Barclay acknowledges her greatness when it comes to economics and culture, but he also notes, ñBut there was another side to Corinth. She had a reputation for commercial prosperity, but she was also a by-word for evil and immoral living.'' What Paul was doing was commending some of these people in order to hold a high standard before them. Just as a wise parent commends a child for any merit and thus encourages the child to be even better, so Paul knew that these people would not want to disappoint him or, more importantly, Jesus.
In preaching on this, I would probably digress and make the point that when we let people realize we regard them highly, they usually rise to those expectations. Likewise, God knows all the good in us and summons us to be kind and moral people.
The second aspect which stands out here is the promise that when we set ourselves to become better people, God will help. Paul refers to the ñgrace that has been given you.'' This is certainly an important word for anyone wrestling with addictions, or with bad habits. The parent who too easily loses her temper, the man who consistently argues that ñjust one more canÍt hurt,'' can find through the power of the Holy Spirit that there is help. So too, in any worthwhile endeavor, Paul assures us that ñhe will also keep you firm to the end.''
Title: ñChristmas Presence''
Text: Mark 13:29
Theme: I prefer to avoid the negative approach here. There is a dire warning in this passage, to be sure. But knowing Jesus, the loving interpretation is the right one. Jesus would urge us to be watchful for the advent of divine presence in our lives.
1. I must prepare myself for the advent. I recall a story of a woman who, following a divorce, went into seclusion. This was years ago when people were not very understanding of divorce. However, after a year or so, she decided to renew old friendships. She invited several former friends to a party. On the appointed day the woman had a wonderful meal prepared, decorations in place, music gently playing. Then she settled down to wait for her friends to arrive. But the hour came and went and no one arrived. Devastated, the woman once more retreated from her friends. Years passed. Elderly now, the woman chose to move to a retirement home. As the movers picked up a desk from the corner of the bedroom, a pack of envelopes fell out. They were the invitations the poor soul had failed to mail for her party a long time ago. So we too must invite Jesus into our lives.
2. I do this by making time for quiet expectation. The holidays, fun though they are, easily make us all so frantically busy that we often fail to make time for that which in the long run will have been most important. I will include below a helpful bit of advice from Scott Peck on this point.
3. I thereby build up memories for the future. Ask yourself what you remember from Christmases past. Presents received? I donÍt. I couldnÍt list even half a dozen presents. I remember visiting GrandmaÍs house, dinners mother used to make, my dadÍs laughter as he carved the turkey, the search for a Christmas tree. I remember the candlelight service where I realized I was called to ministry. What are you doing this year to create treasured memories?
4. Jesus will make himself known to me in his way if IÍm open to his arrival. By including loving relationships, worship, acts of charity in my advent activities, I make this arrival a certainty.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Ann Landers recently printed a letter from a woman who had lived outside the United States, in four different countries, for several years. Finally returned to the States, she said she was delighted to be home at last. But she said one thing dismayed her when she returned. Let me quote part of her letter: ñI watched children in Algeria play all day with sticks and old wheels. They were thrilled to death with the beanbags we made for them. Now IÍm back home, and watch American children scream and grab toys in discount stores, while their mothers push shopping carts piled high with gadgets.''
____________
Have you read Scott PeckÍs splendid book The Road Less Traveled? He told me once that he is convinced that he didnÍt write that book by himself, that much which is in there was given to him by a higher Spirit. He wrote something in that book which struck home with me, since it underlined one of my bad habits. He described himself as a total klutz when it comes to mechanical things, and described how, when he opens something which needs to be assembled, he throws away the directions as being unreadable, hurries to the point of exasperation, then ends up with extra parts which were supposed to belong somewhere. Since IÍm the same way, I was interested in PeckÍs advice.
He was out walking one day and passed a neighbor who was repairing his lawn mower. He remarked to the man that he wished he could do stuff like that. The man said: ñScott, you can do it. You just wonÍt take the time.'' Scott Peck reflected on this, and said a few days later a patient of his (heÍs a psychotherapist) left his office, only to return and report that her car wouldnÍt work. He said he went to look at the car, leaned down under the dashboard, and admitted that ordinarily he would have reached up among the many wires, jiggled them ineffectually, then called a wrecker. But remembering what his neighbor had said, he got comfortable, and began to study all the wires and levers, which made no sense to him at first. But he said that as he logically viewed the wires, they began to make sense. He finally saw a lever which looked out of place, flipped it, and the car worked. All because he patiently took the time to do it right. Surely this applies to the Christmas season as well.
____________
One night we were all having dinner around GrandmaÍs dinner table in Portland. It was dark, snowing outside. Suddenly, Grandpa shouted, ñLook.'' My brother and I turned and saw for just the briefest instant a white-bearded man in a red cap looking in the window. Immediately he was gone, so quickly we werenÍt even certain weÍd seen someone. But Grandpa had us all step out into the snow and there, already disappearing in the falling snow, were huge footprints. They just had to have been SantaÍs. Can you guess why I loved Grandpa so much?
____________
A very old lady, facing Christmas with only her memories, wrote this:
ñWhat do I want for Christmas?
Not anything to wear,
I want no jewels or perfume.
But something far more rare.
Standing in Doctor Dentons,
Clutching a well-loved toy,
A tousle-headed, sleepy-eyed,
Trusting little boy;
Excited about Christmas,
The source of all our joy.
If I could have one wish tonight,
„ Bring back that little boy.''
____________
Ellen Goodman, writing for The Boston Globe, wrote this:
ItÍs only a few days before Christmas and I am wandering the exotic and bewildering aisles of Toys-R-Us waving my magic wand.
I wave it over the bar code of a Power Talker Voice Changing Mask. Zap! I pass it by the brow of a virtual pet. Zap! I move onward and upward to a Star Wars gift set. Zap! Zap!
This thing in my hand is not, strictly speaking, a magic wand. ItÍs an electronic scanner. Nor is it strictly speaking for anyone in my age category no matter how much I might like a virtual pet „ named Buddy, of course.
What I have here is the latest, most seductive gift-gouging gadget created since children began wanting more for Christmas than their two front teeth. With this zap gun even those too young to e-mail the North Pole can now graze through Toys-R-Us adding every whim, fantasy, and passing desire onto their personal list of the gift registry. They even get a printout to send to Grandma.
Gift registries for children? What we have here in the aisles between AnastasiaÍs Dress-Up Set and TinkerbellÍs Face Paints is the latest in the long desultory and wildly successful process of turning a childÍs wonder into demand, and surprise into entitlement.
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (C); Psalm 80 (E) „ ñLord of hosts, restore us.''
Psalm 84:8 (RC) „ ñLord God of hosts, hear my prayer.''
Prayer Of The Day
Open our hearts, O God, to the incoming of your Spirit. Sometimes our days are long and we grow tired. Too often, we go for long periods of time with very little attention to your Spirit. Deep within us, though, is a hunger for the richness of that presence. Overcome in us, we ask, our dullness of mind, that we may know your presence and its saving power. In JesusÍ name we pray. Amen.
