A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 6 December Second Sunday in Advent, by Revd Bud Carroll. The scripture readings that day were Isaiah 40:1-11 and Mark 1:1-8.
Bing
Crosby was one of America’s most popular male singers in the mid-20th Century. His
”I’ll be home for Christmas” is still an annual favorite heard around
the world. “I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan on
me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the
tree. Christmas Eve will find me, where the love light gleams. I’ll
be home for Christmas – if only in my dreams.”
As I prepare to leave
Hong Kong, countless old friends have written, “Oh, how wonderful you’re
finally going home,” and I say to myself, “No, off and on over the
past 55 years, HK has been my home, heart and happiness.” I’m not
going home, I’m returning to my Land of Birth basically for more affordable and
accessible health care.“
Several
of you are exiled in Hong Kong. Unlike me, you are probably wishing
if/when safe, you COULD return home – not in your dreams, but in
person. In today’s OT lesson, Isaiah writes about the Israelites
returning to Jerusalem after years of Babylonian exile. They were “going
home”, not in their dreams; not for the holidays, but for
good. Never mind none of them had ever been to
Jerusalem. They were born in Babylonia. Just like most of KUC’s
young people who were born here in their parent’s Hong Kong exile!
Isaiah colorfully wrote
about their anticipated return: the mountains would be leveled; the
valleys raised up, pathways across the desert and any and all barriers to
getting home would be removed. But guess what? Their return home was NOT filled with
happiness and joy. There was a longing and yearning to be “at
home with God;” to be closer and more faithful to God; to
experience God’s long-held promise to redeem them and give them New Life.
Centuries
later came John the Baptizer. Called by God, he set out baptizing
hundreds of people. Mark’s description of John suggests he was not
the kind of person many of us would welcome into our homes – much less into our
places of worship. But Mark’s account of what would eventually become Advent;
Christmas, the Cross, Easter and Christ our Risen Lord - begins with
John. Not with Three Wise Men; not with shepherds watching their
flocks by night; no bright, shining star; no manger, no angels. Rather,
with this utterly strange and unique man running around town shouting “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near!” “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
On
this Second Sunday of Advent, as we re-visit the coming of Christ into our
lives, let me suggest two ways how we can be HFC. Not in our dreams,
but in every day reality.
Firstly: Affirm God
in Christ as the heart and center of our lives. Centuries ago
some Chinese scholars were upset to learn there was a body of water below
Southern France and Italy and North of Africa – called the Mediterranean
–Middle of the Earth Sea. Impossible they said because we, Zhong Guo
- the Middle Kingdom are the center of the earth. There cannot be
two centers. Correct! Only one, and that center
is the presence of God. Home for Christmas is less about blood
family, nation or geography; but more about our relationship with God in Jesus
Christ.
And
the first step of this journey demands significant change. Before baptizing
people, John first called them to repent. I know this is a very
uncomfortable word, especially for many of us so-called progressive or liberal
Christians. Hey! Get over it!! Repentance
is not an option – it’s at Square One in our faith journey. Simply
put, repentance means, “turning around.” It’s both a spiritual and
highly encouraged U-turn; our willingness to be “at one” with God.
During
Advent we focus on the coming of Christ into our lives. Well,
that’s partly true and partly false. Yes, Scripture talks about the return of
Christ; but it also reminds us that God in Christ is always with
us. Immanuel. When we don’t feel the presence of Christ
in our lives, guess whose moved.
Pray
tell, when do we ever talk about our going to live with Christ in
His life? Leaving behind whatever has kept us from a
closer relationship with God? Repentance and HFC mean leaving behind lots of
baggage. Advent is a time to re-assess our gratitude attitudes and
actions. Repentance and HFC include God’s leveling whatever mountain
experiences keep us from being who/what God wants us to become. It
means letting God mold and transform us into a servant people. “Take my
life, my heart, my hands, my moments, my days and will… and let them be holy
consecrated Lord to Thee… Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee.”
Secondly HFC
includes our accepting Christ’s invitation to be agents of positive change. I
fear far too many Christian groups focus more on filling church pews with warm
bodies instead of caring hearts. Christian Evangelism is clearly important
but how can new followers of Christ become light, salt, and yeast to a hurting,
thirsty and hungry world – unless they learn from us? John was fearless. He
spoke against corrupt Roman rulers and deceptive religious leaders. His
fearlessness eventually led to his death; but his life was filled with Christ
and compassion for others.
During
WWII, the German bombings of Strasbourg, France, appeared to have totally
demolished the Catholic cathedral. Later, as people began clearing
away all the rubble they found an unharmed statue of Christ– except both his
hands were missing. When rebuilding of the cathedral
began, a sculptor offered to carve new hands. Church officials met to consider
his friendly gesture but replied something like “No thanks…If Christ has
no hands to minister to the needy or feed the hungry or enrich the
poor—except our hands. He inspires. We perform.”
As we
celebrate this Advent Sunday and receive the gift of Holy Communion, Let us
rejoice in anticipation for Christ’ coming - even as we celebrate his presence
among us. Let us never forget we are also called to be his hands – to reach out
to a world of injustice and abuse; and pain and suffering; to repent; to turn
around and make our way to his loving arms of grace.
HFC? You
bet! Not in our dreams, but right here, right now. Amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, December 06, 2020
