Christmas Monday

 Our lectionary propers for next Sunday continue the Advent theme of apocalyptic nightmare at the imminent coming of the great and terrible Day of the Lord, a day of darkness, not light; and warning us to prepare. Like stirring our own memories of days and times and Christmas with those we loved, at my age most of whom have gone on to whatever God has in mind for us after this mortal life, it's a wonderful Time of year to hear the old stories and read the magnificent poetry, especially of Isaiah and Psalms, and immerse ourselves in their worldview, with their fears and hopes and beliefs and knowledge that are so very different from our own. 

I remember the Christmases of 1966 and 1967, after moving CONUS from Japan, living in Northern Virginia our house on Wakefield Chapel Road, then still semi-rural, across the road from a long-abandoned farm, putting my little beloveds to bed, Malinda was eight, Joe six, pausing to listen as if "hark!", and asking if they heard it too, the sound of sleigh bells. Then, having their excited attention, kissing them goodnight, turning the light off, closing the bedroom door; going out the front door and, from the front steps just outside their bedroom window, jingling a little strap of sleigh bells, 

and hearing the excitement in their room, then the "shhhhhh" and silence as I jingled the bells again. Oh my God, I loved them so, and do. 

Years later in Pennsylvania, shivering in the still cold car, heading to Christmas Eve service, driving in deep snow ruts, snow dropping from trees overhead, past houses darkened except for Christmas tree lights inside as families waited expectantly and knowingly for the beloved myth to come true again.

Times have changed, children have long grown up to have their own children and grandchildren; generations pass into centuries and ages, and what the people knew who wrote our cherished old Bible stories, is no longer what we know. 

I remember years ago, Margo, a kind woman who helped me in the church office, her heritage was Native American, and she loved to tell me their stories, "our Indian myths" she called them. Some were right outlandish, and one time I asked her about that. She said we know they're not history, but "they're true for us". I know how that is. We have our wonderful stories too. I know the stars aren't going to fall. The heavens aren't going to burst open as an army of angels is led through the clouds to earth in apocalyptic restoration of God's will and rule. In our annual Christmas pageant, a teenager climbs a ladder and dangles a star over the manger while angels come up, and adorable little shepherds crowd around the manger in awe to see the baby, and sheep gather 'round adjusting their ears so they don't fall off, and three wise men arrive bringing gifts. We know what's going on, I know for sure, because I'm always sitting right there beside it, hoping the teenager doesn't slip and fall off the ladder. But none of what we know for sure diminishes the truth in our hearts. I even found out last year that the real shepherds who saw the angels on that midnight clear were probably not the old men I'd always thought, at all, but likely children just like the children in front of me. I love them so. I see the star dangling on a string from a long stick, but I know how it really was in olden times. And will be again. What we think we really know doesn't outshine what we truly love.  

The Collect

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people,

says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

    and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

    that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

    double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all people shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All people are grass,

their constancy is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades;

but the word of our God will stand for ever.

Get you up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good tidings;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,

lift it up, do not fear;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Here is your God!”

See, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms,

and carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead the mother sheep.

The Response

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13c Benedixisti, Domine

1 You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, * you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.

2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people * and blotted out all their sins.

8 I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, * for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.

9 Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, * that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth have met together; * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring up from the earth, * and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, * and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him, * and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

The Epistle 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

The Gospel Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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