Advent Begins - Are We Alert, Ready? For What?

Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5  •  Psalm 122  •  Romans 13:11-14  •  Matthew 24:36-44

We begin the new Lectionary Year A with the first Sunday of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation, a time of expectancy for the light which breaks through the darkness, a time of hope for the kind of peace which turns spears into plowshares, and swords into pruning hooks.  In  "Why Advent Is The Hardest Time For Faithful Christians" The Rev. Canon Catherine A. Caimano discusses what we must take off to put on the armor of light mentioned in Paul's letter to the church in Rome.

In " Like a Thief," Debie Thomas explores what Jesus means when he says we must be alert and awake for the life giving birth and coming of the Son of Man.  What is coming for us? What is life giving? What is not? 

Tired of all the talking heads giving us their  opinions and predictions, telling us what to think? What should we be doing now and for our future? Read Amy Frykholm's "Our Hidden Future - The First Sunday In Advent."

Christ the King - A King Like No Other

 Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 1:68-79  •  Psalm 46  •  Colossians 1:11-20  •  Luke 23:33-43

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King Sunday as we close Lectionary Year C and enter the Advent season in Lectionary A. What images come to mind when you think of "King of Kings?" Luke's gospel depicts Christ the King like no other. A king who is mocked, forgives those who are crucifying him, and receives a thief on another cross into paradise. Unlike any concept of royalty ever formulated.

What kind of King is Jesus? What does this mean for us? Read Debie Thomas' "A King Like No Other." Think about this as we enter the season of Advent.

When Temples Fall

 Scripture: Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 12  •  Malachi 4:1-2a and Psalm 98

  •  2 Thessalonians 3:6-13  • Luke 21:5-19

This week as we hear Jesus tell us about the destruction of the temple, and what many have called the "end times," we learn to not invest ourselves, our lives, our hopes and dreams in transient things, but in that which endures, and lasts forever - even when and as "temples fall."

The passage from Isaiah tells of the creation of a new heaven and new earth. When no longer shall the sound of weeping be heard, or the cry of distress. When infants shall live longer than a few days, and the young shall live out a lifetime. When people will no longer labor in vain, but enjoy their work, and children will no longer be born only to face calamity.

These passages are truly apocalyptic, which means a "revealing" in Greek. They are not just about the end times. Why does Jesus tell his disciples, who are admiring the splendor and grandeur of the temple, that no stone will be left standing? In what, or whom, do we place, or misplace, our hopes, dreams, and aspirations? In what, or whom, have we given up, or  resigned ourselves into a malaise or cynicism? How can we realize what Jesus is telling us? What questions should we be asking?

Read Debie Thomas' "By Your Endurance," and Janet Hunt's "New Heavens, New Earth...", The Rev. Dr. Marshall Jolly's "Apocalypse! "

Energizing Hope

 Scripture: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98  •  Job 19:23-27a and Psalm 17:1-9  •2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17  •  Luke 20:27-38

As we continue our studies of "faith living," our Scripture readings speak of the resurrection. This week we will discuss "resurrection living."

The Sadducees in today's gospel do not believe in the resurrection. They try to trick and ridicule  Jesus with their absurd and extreme examples about marriage partners in heaven if people married more than once. Jesus did not treat them with scorn, but with patience and assurance in his answer. What was his answer? 

What do you think about resurrection? Especially in a post modern, empirical verification based age? How does that compare with life two millennia ago. Read Debi Thomas' "Children of the Resurrection."

Walter Brueggemann says the prophet Haggai energizes hope in a hopeless situation. Read Dan Clendenin's account of Haggai in the rebuilding of the temple in the midst of Israel's exile and captivity in  Haggai and the Politics of God . How does this relate to the gospel and the passage from Job?