Second Sunday in Advent 2006

A sermon preached at Westminster Presbyterian Church By Paul Ransford

Old Testament Lesson: Malachi 3:1-4

The Gospel Lesson: Luke 3:1-6

The Epistle Reading: Philippians 1:3-11

Title: Be Prepared!

  When I was a kid in the sixth grade, we had a major event in our town of Charlotte, North Carolina.                  

   Charlotte was still a sleepy southern town in those days where some stores closed for part of the afternoon in the summer time because of the heat, and none of them were open on Sunday. No traffic jams or skyscrapers.

   We were told that the President of the United States was coming to visit our city. Yes ma'am. President Dwight David Eisenhower. And not only that, but that he was going by motorcade to Freedom Park which meant that he would be passing within a block of my house in the Dilworth area of Charlotte. The PRESIDENT of the United States, one block away. Think of it. This was a really big deal, and my status at school jumped because I lived so close to the parade route. I was hot stuff—until—I learned that a visit from the king or the president meant a lot of work to get ready for the arrival. For example, You just don’t circle December 25^th on the calendar and then wait around for the big day unless you’re like some folks that I’ve heard about who wear t shirts that say, “All I Want For Christmas is January.”

  Malachi, the prophet reminds us this morning that we are to prepare for the coming of the Lord. More specifically, both he and our New Testament writer tell us to look for the messenger of purification who comes before the Lord. Purification, now what is that about?

  When the good folks in Charlotte got the news of the visit, they all went, "Yeah!" There were news articles, and it was on the radio, and they talked about it at the barbershop.

   Lots of excitement. And Then, after the 'yeahs!' they looked around our city and they said, "O, my.” We are not ready for a visit from the president. Look at how shabby we are. We must clean up our city.” And so began a very industrious time of clean up which also served a major damper on any excitement I had about this event because it meant that I was one of the shock troops to get things ready—specifically, everything between the sidewalk and the street—where nobody ever looks anyway. I had to sweep the gutters in the street (the street?) no leaf blower…only a broom, and then I to got a screwdriver out and got the grass from between the cracks in the sidewalk—who’s going to see that!!? Is the president going to stop and personally check out my sidewalk. My dad wouldn’t answer that. And my best friend had to help paint his porch, and he lived three blocks away from the parade route. When he complained to his mom she said, ”Well, you never know. They may take a wrong turn off of East Blvd.”

 On the second Sunday of Advent, our first response as a faithful congregation when we sing, “People Look East” is one of exhilaration and anticipation. The second counsel from this carol  is to “make your house fair, Love, the guest is on the way.” Be prepared.  

   In our gospel lesson this morning, Luke picks up themes explored centuries earlier by the prophet Malachi.

   Luke is an ideal Advent book. Luke recognizes that if we do not walk the Advent road in preparation then the destination loses half its meaning. He knows that our time of anticipation is not one of idleness. All of the gospels are in agreement. There is no advent without preparation. To reach the manger, we must be prepared.  This time of preparation can be as painful for us as was the time on hands and knees digging up weeds in the sidewalk for a grumpy sixth grader. It’s also a time of purification.

   As our commentator says about our passage today”…the good news of God’s justice for the weak may entail judgment of the strong—those who require purification.

   In Charlotte, there was a new sense of neighborhood as folks met at the ends of their driveways, brooms in hand, to discuss the route, the time of the parade, where they were going to stand and how much more they had to get done before his arrival. All kinds of messages and rumors flew back and forth. Again, those of us sweeping the gutters had to eaves drop in order to get any information.

    In the same way  there are messages for us to heed to prepare for the coming of the Lord in this Advent season. The messengers make straight the way.

   It is not always easy to know the prophets, to know the true messengers.

   You can trust  the lessons and carols of the church year as faithful carriers of the hope and the judgment of Christmas.

  In our day and time, it is unfortunate that the church itself seems to be turned inward in all of its denominational varieties. There is  infighting and loss of a hopeful vision to propel God’s people. For me the voice of the messenger has been given over to Hollywood’s B Movie apocalyptic visionaries.

To ex-presidential candidates waking us to the judgment of the stewardship of the earth and climate.

To high school kids who instead of doing the senior beach bacchanalia bought a cam-corder and trekked through Dafur filming child militias creating a documentary that galvanized world opinion.

To billionaire buffalo ranchers who have become tree huggers and prophets of stewardship.

To rock stars like Bono and unlikely spokespersons such as Madonna.

   Malachi and Luke say, ”Listen for the messenger. Heed the messenger.” Is there evil in my house? Are the gutters swept clean. This is our work in Advent. Would you believe that this is more important than the orgy of mall hopping and parking lot roulette?

   Let me underline this.

   In our Christmas mythology, we tend to think that the Bethlehem event was a total surprise. For those who had waited for centuries, who had studied the stars, who followed the prophecies, it was not a surprise. It was an AHHHHH moment. “Ahhh”, said the shepherds, “he has come.” “Ahh,” said Zechariah, “the messenger has come.” “Ahh,” said the wise men, “the signs are right.”

One wag has said, ”We would all like to save ourselves for the senior prom. But many of us forget that somewhere along the way, we must learn to dance.”

And our dance, Westminster faithful is to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. Then the day of the Lord will not catch us unawares.

Shall we dance?