Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Readings: Psalm 5, 6; Psalm 10, 11, Amos 3:1-11; 2 Pet. 1:12-21; Matt. 21:12-22

2 Peter 1:19 - So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Years ago, St. Francis hosted an interfaith conversation and a rabbi came to lead a discussion about Judaism.  After several minutes of polite “Q & A” someone asked a question that shocked me.  “Why don’t Jews believe that Jesus is the Messiah?”  I couldn’t believe it!  How could someone be so bold as to ask that question?  But the rabbi’s response is one I haven’t forgotten.  He told us, basically, that the world has not yet witnessed the ushering in of the messianic age.  Well, we certainly have not beaten our swords into plowshares or our spears into pruning hooks, and we still study war (Isa 2:4).  The earth is not yet full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isa 11:9).  I guess it’s hard to argue with that.

Today’s Old Testament readings are filled with judgment and punishment along with cries for mercy and deliverance.  They remind us of the painful state that our world is still in.  The Gospel reading shows us an angry Jesus who clears the temple and then seems to take out his frustration with the chief priests and scribes on that poor fig tree.  Where’s the peace?  Where’s the harmony?  Isn’t that what the Messiah was supposed to accomplish? 

And then we have Peter, who tells us with such certainty that the prophetic message has been confirmed.  There is a light shining in the dark place.  The world isn’t free of darkness yet, but there is Hope.  That is the theme for our first week of Advent.  That’s what Jesus has given us - a morning star that will rise in our hearts.  We will do well to attend to that. 

As Advent unfolds, may we all be filled with hope, peace, joy and love!   

(Sue B)

Monday, November 28, 2011

“ The Lord judges the peoples; judge me O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is within me.”  (Psalm 7:8)

“ …because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals-they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and push the afflicted out of the way…” (Amos 2: 6b-7a)

I’m not ready. I’m not even close to ready.  I’m not talking about the shopping,  the baking, the wrapping or the decorating; although none of that’s ready either.  I’m talking about me.  I’m not ready to ask my Lord to do what the Psalmist so bravely asks.  I’m especially unprepared to do so when I look at my life through the lens of Amos.  Of course I’ve done no literal selling of the needy, or trampling of poor,  or pushing of afflicted, but my guess is our prophet friend was speaking metaphorically.  And although sandals aren’t on my list, my purchases do count.  Where and how I spend my money count.  How I choose to do so, and how heavily I choose to live on this earth, impact the needy, the poor and the afflicted; regardless of my rationalizations and justifications.  No, I am most definitely not ready.  But, thank God, that’s what Advent is for.

(Robin) 

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. (First Thessalonians 5:11) 

Advent begins with reflections on the end of human history, and a reminder that it not only Christ's first coming as a child that we are preparing for, but his second coming as "lord of lords." In my notes for our parish newsletter, I recently wrote some reflections about eschatology. I suggested that a "theology of the end times" that is rooted in stirring up more fear and anxiety is not of Christ. I was writing about Mark 13, the gospel reading for this day from the Eucharistic lectionary that we'll hear in worship. But I think the same insight applies to these words that Paul wrote to the Church in Thessalonica.

Francis of Assisi, we are told, was asked one day while hoeing a row of beans what he would do if this were the day the world was to end. Francis very calmly responded, "I think I'd like to finish hoeing this row of beans." 

All created things have a beginning and an end: human beings, institutions, nations… only God is immortal. Only God is without beginning or end. Everything else, even the sun and moon and stars, will one day come to an end.How then, should we in the Church contemplate endings? I think the first day of Advent is a cosmic version of the first day of Lent, when we remember that we are dust. The whole cosmos is dust! 

What do we do in the face of that reality? We get busy living! We keep encouraging each other! We build up the Body of Christ! We do the work God has given us to do!  

As you are already doing! 



(Rich Simpson)

Peace, Love, Hope, and Joy

Advent is the beginning of the church's liturgical year and comprises the four weeks before Christmas. The word "Advent" is derived from the Latin word adventus which means "coming." This season of preparation dates back to the fifth century.The preferred liturgical color is royal blue, in part to give Advent it's own unique themes, rather than simply treating it as a "little Lent." (Some congregations still use purple, the Lenten color focused on penitence.)

Some recurring themes that you will notice in the readings this month (and therefore can expect to see in the meditations that are shared) include:

• hope
• darkness/light
• repentance
• watchfulness
• preparation
• expectation of the incarnation of Christ on Christmas
• anticipation of the fullness of time at Christ's second coming

In addition to this parish resource, if you are looking for additional online resources to help with your own devotions or perhaps for use around the supper table as you light an Advent wreath, a good place to begin is here: Episcopal News Service Article on Advent Resources

Praying the Daily Office, in Advent and Beyond

Four very short forms of "daily devotions for individuals and families" can be found on pages 137,138, 139, and 140 of The Book of Common Prayer. These forms follow the basic structure of the Daily Office of the Church. The longer forms of these liturgies are found, respectively, beginning on page 75 (Morning Prayer), page 103 (Noonday Prayers), page 115 (Evening Prayer) and page 127 (Compline). 

Along with this rhythm of daily prayer is something called The Daily Office Lectionary. If you click to this page, you'll find a section called  Daily Office and Daily Eucharistic Lectionary which will give you all of the readings for the season that lies ahead. The more old-fashioned way to do this is to use the lectionary on page 937 of the Prayerbook. (On the first Sunday of Advent we will begin Year 2.) 

The meditations, then, that will be shared are based on these readings of the day. Obviously the meditations can be enjoyed on their own. But if you wish to begin "reading along" then Advent I is a good time to begin learning how to use this two-year lectionary. The readings for Sunday, November 27 will be: Psalms 146, 147 (Morning) and Psalms 111, 112, 113 (Evening) and Amos 1:1-5, 13 - 2:8, I Thessalonians 5:1-11, and Luke 21:5-19.

I want to thank all who have agreed to write meditations in the season that lies ahead. At this point I still have four remaining slots available for persons who are interested in writing. I know that I can turn to some folks who would be happy to write two, so I'm not worried. But my personal goal this year was to try, in addition to encouraging former writers to write again, to encourage some new voices to join this "choir." So as we begin and as we move through the first week of Advent, if you are reading along and feel, "hey, I can do this..." then please let me know! 

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in the season that lies before us.  

(Rich)

Signing Up For Emails This Advent

You can, of course, simply plan to check this blog daily. Or you can link the RSS feed to your homepage. If you prefer to receive emails, try "Feed My Inbox" as a way to deliver these posts directly to your email account.

Simply go to: http://www.feedmyinbox.com/  and type in this blog's URL http://stfrancisholden.blogspot.com/  and your email address to set it up. Good luck!

Invitation to Write Advent Devotions

Friends,
It is that time again...or almost that time. I am trying to line up writers for Advent Devotions which will appear on this blog, starting on Sunday November 27 and continuing through Christmas morning, December 25. If you are a past writer, or reader who would like to write this year, please send me an email as soon as possible at stfrancis_rector@charter.net.
Peace in Christ,
Rich