Musings for Advent 1

Sunday, November 27, 2011
First Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Gary lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Stir up your power, and come! The psalmist's plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to save, to restore. When we hear Jesus describing the coming of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven, it can sound dire and horrible, not like anything we would ever hope for. But when we really look at the suffering of people God loves, we can share the hope that God would tear open the heavens and come.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 64:1–9

This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40–55, have not been realized. Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence —
²as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil —
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
³When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
⁴From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
⁵You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
⁶We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
⁷There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
⁸Yet, O LORD, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
⁹Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD,
and do not remember iniquity forever.
Now consider, we are all your people.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19

Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)

¹Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph ^| like a flock;

shine forth, you that are enthroned up- ^| on the cherubim.

²In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, ^| and Manasseh,

stir up your strength and ^| come to help us.

³Restore ^| us, O God;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved.

⁴O LORD ^| God of hosts,

how long will your anger fume when your ^| people pray? R

⁵You have fed them with the ^| bread of tears;

you have given them bowls of ^| tears to drink.

⁶You have made us the derision ^| of our neighbors,

and our enemies laugh ^| us to scorn.

⁷Restore us, O ^| God of hosts;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved.

¹⁷Let your hand be upon the one at ^| your right hand,

the one you have made so strong ^| for yourself. R

¹⁸And so will we never turn a- ^| way from you;

give us life, that we may call up- ^| on your name.

¹⁹Restore us, O LORD ^| God of hosts;

let your face shine upon us, and we ^| shall be saved. R

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:3–9

As the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus, Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritual gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind —⁶just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you — ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOSPEL

Mark 13:24–37

In today's reading, Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

²⁴But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
²⁶Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. ²⁷Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
²⁸From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
³²But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake — for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Reflection

Have we lost Advent or has our society not heard about it? Advent is such an important season at Atonement, but when we leave and “re-enter” society, we are into the Christmas season!! How much are we into Advent during the week or are we part of the Christmas celebrations – buying, wrapping, decorating, baking??? Advent isn’t really about preparing for Christmas. It is about preparing for the coming of Christ. And, yes, in a few weeks Advent will shift to the coming of Christ in a manger in Bethlehem, but Advent always begins with preparing and waiting for Christ to come again.

A question that I often pose to the students in confirmation is: Would you recognize Christ when he comes again? This question goes unanswered but there is an important outcome from the conversation. We might not know His appearance, but we can be alert to his coming. Waiting. Watching. Will Christ come to you this Advent season? Keep alert.

Pray for:

· Those who do not or cannot see Christ in others.

· Those who keep Advent in their lives during the weeks leading up to

Christmas.

· The impatient ones who have difficulty waiting.

· All to keep alert!

· For the imprisoned who wait.

Quote:

“A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes – and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German Lutheran Pastor and Theologian) His involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to his imprisonment and execution.

Musings for Christ the King Sunday

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Christ the King

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus' great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet awaiting the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.

Prayer of the Day

O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

Since Israel's kings proved to be bad shepherds, Ezekiel declares that the Lord will assume the role of shepherd in Israel. The Lord will also set over them a shepherd-messiah, "my servant David," who will feed and care for the people.

11For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Psalm 95:1–7a

We are the people of God's pasture and the sheep of God's hand. (Ps. 95:7)

1Come, let us sing | to the LORD;

let us shout for joy to the rock of | our salvation.

2Let us come before God's presence | with thanksgiving

and raise a loud shout to the | LORD with psalms.

3For you, LORD, | are a great God,

and a great ruler a- | bove all gods.

4In your hand are the caverns | of the earth;

the heights of the hills are | also yours. R

5The sea is yours, | for you made it,

and your hands have molded | the dry land.

6Come, let us worship | and bow down,

let us kneel before the | LORD our maker.

7For the LORD | is our God,

and we are the people of God's pasture and the sheep | of God's hand. R

Second Reading Ephesians 1:15–23

In this passage, God is praised for revealing ultimate divine power in raising Jesus from the dead. The resurrected, exalted Christ is Lord both of the church and the entire universe, now and in the age to come.

15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel Matthew 25:31–46

Jesus compares himself to a king who moves among his subjects to see how he is treated: what is done for the least of those who belong to his family is truly done for him.

31When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' 45Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Reflection

We’ve come to the end of another church year somehow, where the time has gone I don’t know but it has. Much has occurred both in the congregation and the world as we find ourselves at a much different place than we did on this day in 2010. For us, however, this is New Year’s Eve as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.

One of the major festivals of the church year, this day looks backward as well as forward as we reflect on what has been and hope for what might be. Jesus centers us quickly in both directions by asking us what we have done for the least and what we will do in the future for the same population.

I often wonder if the process gets in the way of the people. Do we spend so much time planning and preparing in order to execute those plans accordingly that we miss the mark?

As we move through life do we really see Jesus in others? I know from personal experience as I move through times of volunteering that it’s difficult if not impossible to see Jesus in those who abuse the system, find ways to work beyond the parameters and abuse opportunities. Then I am reminded that I am not called to judge but to offer, offer what has first been given me as well as to look beyond what appears to be and see in others the image of God, face of Jesus, presence of the living Christ.

Unfortunately our prejudices and past experiences stand in the way but Jesus won’t hear any of that; the call is to be with and for the least. Not a bad agenda to set as a community of God’s people in life and in love. Care to join me?

Let us pray

• To be Christ’s presence to those in need
• To see Christ in others
• For those who cannot afford their mortgage payments
• This country as we live in these challenging times
• All who struggle with day to day life

Quote

“Nobody gets to heaven without a letter of reference from the poor!” Matthew 25:31-46. Rev. James Forbes:

Musings for All Saints Sunday

All Saints Sunday

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord's table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING Revelation 7:9–17

The book of Revelation is written to seven churches in western Asia Minor during a time of great oppression. Today's reading is a response to the question asked in 6:17: "Who is able to stand?" The writer gives the faithful the assurance of God's protection and a vision of victory.

9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

PSALM (ELW) Psalm 34:1–10, 22

Fear the LORD, you saints of the LORD; for those who fear the LORD lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9)

I will bless the LORD | at all times;

the praise of God shall ever be | in my mouth.

2I will glory | in the LORD;

let the lowly hear | and rejoice. R

3Proclaim with me the greatness | of the LORD;

let us exalt God's | name together.

4I sought the LORD, who | answered me

and delivered me from | all my terrors.

5Look upon the LORD | and be radiant,

and let not your faces | be ashamed.

6I called in my affliction, and | the LORD heard me

and saved me from | all my troubles. R

7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who | fear the LORD

and de- | livers them.

8Taste and see that the | LORD is good;

happy are they who take ref- | uge in God!

9Fear the LORD, you saints | of the LORD,

for those who fear the | LORD lack nothing.

10The lions are in want and | suffer hunger,

but those who seek the LORD lack nothing | that is good.

22O LORD, you redeem the life | of your servants,

and those who put their trust in you will | not be punished. R

SECOND READING 1 John 3:1–3

A saint is one who has been set apart by God for God's purposes. God, out of divine love, set us apart to be the children of God. Our holy hope is that we shall see God as God really is.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

GOSPEL Matthew 5:1–12

In the beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God's favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection

2Beloved, we are God's children now. These words from the second lesson ground me and I hope us. They may seem an odd choice for reflection on this All Saints Sunday yet they remind us where our hope lies and whose we are in this life and the life to come.

Luther’s language around who we are certainly focused on us a children of God yet on this Sunday it may be most appropriate to remember his use of the phrase “Simul Ustus Et Peccator”; we are one and the same time saints and sinners, living in the tension of this world and the world to come.

This day we certainly celebrate those who have gone before us in the faith; mentors and heroes who have taught us about Jesus and lived a life that modeled that. I recall in the opening of the eulogy I offered for my mom at her funeral these words, “My dad taught us about Jesus but it was Gloria who brought us to Jesus.” In both of my parents I found models and examples of the faith that stood me well during their life and continue to do so following their death.

I give thanks for them and for all, known and unknown, who heard the call and followed our Lord, not always an easy task as you know. As this day approaches take time to pause and remember those who have been instrumental in your faith journey and then give thanks that they were and are a part of who you are this day. They were saints as are and for that we give thanks for the grace and wonder of God’s incredible love.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest we say and sing, Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let Us Pray

With thanksgiving for those who have been formative in our lives

That we might be formed into Christ’s love and life

That those affected by natural disasters might find the help they need

For children who have no home

For all for whom love is a stranger

Quote

God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners. Soren Kierkegaard