12-06-2009
Sermon for 12-6-09
So, one of the most common things people say when they decide to read the Bible from start to finish, is wow there sure are a lot of lists of names in the Bible…Jehosavat begat Barsubbius and Barsubbius begat Elkiniah… and the like… And then often people say something like, well I just kindof skimm through em… The important names anyway are: Jesus, Moses, and Abraham. Right? But then, sometimes the names mentioned, have stories behind them… And by the way our First reading from Malachi which says, See I am sending my messenger, I bet you didn’t know that the name Malachi, actually means messenger, in Hebrew. And Malachi- the messenger, is the last book of the Old Testament…, there, it announces the coming of the Lord, which we read about in stories from the New Testament. Which is why it’s intriguing to get this list in the Gospel today, filled with all kinds of names and places, before it even mentions John the Baptist. Which is when I noticed something interesting…all of the people mentioned in this passage, before John the Baptist- the son of Zechariah, have something in common. They all we in high positions of power and authority, but a hint about their legacies… not a single one of these folks comes out looking good at the end… For example, Pontious Pilate- where have we heard that name before… oh yeah, in the Creeds…and he was crucified under Pontius Pilate… maybe not the best thing to be remembered for… Herod,,,oh good ol King Herod this is the one who was responsible for chopping John the Baptists head off and serving it on a platter to his daughter… Hmm… (oh yeah, and it was his Father who sent armies to kill all the innocent babies when Jesus was young, remember that story, it’s why they fled to Egypt… And then also King Herod… who also ended up killing his brother Philip- who’s mentioned, because Philip had an affair with King Herod’s wife… Are you getting the picture??? These people have stories, but Jesus has a better one… How then about this sentence… During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas… well high priesthood sounds pretty good, right, until that is, we remember that these two priest guys were responsible for the Jewish church in their day persecuting Jesus to death… All of these people had something in common, they used their positions of power and high authority to essentially leave life stories of destruction and pain in their wake. They’re each known for all kinds of religious and political persecution. Which is when our reading finally comes to hear about John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness, who we also know as John the Baptist… and this is where the story changes… And, It changes for the Good, and in fact this change- John’s story, was actually prophesied, it was foreseen in a vision by the prophet Isaiah, this event was going to change the list of failures before it, John was going to Prepare the way of the Lord, making his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill be made low and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough ways made smooth… Which is when I started thinking, what does this prophecy of hills and crookedness have to do with all these people just mentioned at the beginning of the reading… What do high mountains have in common with people in high government offices like King Herod…or with high priesthoods of Caiaphas and Annas And what do crooked ways have in common with any of these folks… And that’s when it struck me, This prophecy isn’t just about mountains and valleys, it is about how God levels the playing field for everybody; whether- kings in high offices with lots of power, or People who are in valleys of the shadow of death. God creates an equal level for the power of forgiveness. One doesn’t have to be a high priest, the way to God is made plain for everybody,,, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God, it says… The king of the hill, isn’t one who is necessarily closest to God… we are all at an equal level, to both be judged by God for repentance, and to be baptized by God for forgiveness. God in person is the great equalizer. Everyone, from low to high places of power and authority are made straight through him. So in contrast to the list of usual suspects and their stories, instead of being known for all kinds of religious and political persecution, what is this Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ, known for? Well, Jesus Christ is known for the forgiveness of sins- the salvation of God. Jesus offered his forgiveness to all of those who persecuted him, everyone of the people named at the beginning were and are offered forgiveness through the resurrection power of Jesus-Jesus the great equalizer for all human sin and sinners. The truth is that the living Word of God can come to all people—to John in the Wilderness and not just to high priests or Pilates, or Emperors, or Kings, The word of the Lord has come to you, it was the water and the Word which Baptised you, the Word of God has touched your life already. And again this Advent, Christ is coming again into your lives, in the same way Christ have come into people’s lives for the last 2000 years Christ keeps coming again in faith, born anew for us each Christmas, and born anew each Easter… Christ coming again into our lives to even us out, to cool us off when we get hot under the collar, to bring us humility when we get too high on our pedestals, to make us straight again when we have had crooked temptations, to smooth our ways, when relationships get rough… It is our Lord Jesus who keeps coming to our help. Jesus who forgives and loves everyone Jesus who Forgives all Despite their rank, level, class, race, gender, all of life’s- so called- differences…. God evens things out for us, God gives us grace And thank God… Thank God… For Everyone shall see… “The salvation of God.” Because God Loves You… And Also You… Amen
