Advent 2 A + Know that you are holy + 12.8.19

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Isaiah 11:1–10; Ps. 72:1–7, 18–19; Romans 15:4–13; St Matthew 3:1–12)

In the song, All the Poor and Powerless, by All Sons & Daughters, a verse goes

“And all the hearts who are content
And all who feel unworthy
And all who hurt with nothing left
Will know that You are holy.”

Know that you are holy! This verse speaks of God, but it also speaks of us. As children of God. We are all welcome here in God’s presence.
I experienced a profound sense of this, what I like to think of as Jesus’ welcome, this summer when I visited Manoppello, Italy and specifically the Volto Santo or image of Jesus there. As I have mentioned to you all before, one of the truly God-things that happened as we visited that image of Jesus is that we met the author of the book that had beckoned us there.
And when we met, Mr. Badde and the nun who showed us around, Sister Pietra Maria, invited us to attend mass the next day and to see the image and the museum at the church. They asked what religious background we were from and we explained that we were Episcopalian. And we said we would be happy to attend worship but just wanted to know if we would be able to take communion. And they said yes. And Badde said “He doesn’t care if you are a Jew or a Muslim or a Christian. He just loves everyone!” And I have always felt that way about Jesus. Jesus doesn’t look at some of us and say yes and to others no. He lets us all in the door. Know that you are holy.

In the passage we read from Romans today, the Jewish Christians are a bit out of sorts in Rome. They understand that the door was opened for Greeks, or the gentile Christians, but they feel a bit pushed to the side. What faith community that has opened its doors for others hasn’t run into that feeling from time to time? It is not convenient. We don’t understand each other. Interestingly, Paul does give the Jewish Christians pride of place in this letter (unlike in some of the other epistles) perhaps because they are feeling a bit unsure of themselves. But then Paul reminds them, we welcome others because Jesus welcomed us first. We don’t welcome because we are such great people, but because Jesus showed us how to welcome. How let everyone in. The stump of Jesse, that root that looked like it had ceased bearing, is now green-leaved again in Jesus and all can be nurtured from this reborn root!

Paul reassures the Jewish Christians but then he tells them the truth. They still need to welcome others. No staying in the comfort zone forever. Jesus calls us out to welcome. Not to the point that we are unsafe or feel unvalued, but just enough to live into his love. Know that you are holy.

John the Baptist also tells the truth. And it stings! Last week Father Manny Edgar-Beltran preached to us about Advent 1 and World AIDS Day and it was a beautiful sermon. And he emphasized that God is not primarily interested in judging us as much as in loving and welcoming us. And that is true. And…yet… here in Matthew we see a strong trope about judgment. What do we do with it? It is clear that, as we hear in the Nicene Creed, that a part of our Triune God’s role is judgment. Jesus does turn over the tables of the money-lenders, and so forth. He doesn’t put up with abuse of others, or any of that nonsense.

So what is this judgment about? Speaking of judgment in the book of Matthew, theologian Matt Skinner says that “judgment … begin[s] in truth-telling, not longing to punish … but to make sure the truth is known.” He says that “sometimes that is bad news… and sometimes that is good news for us… both can be painful” but the idea is that truth-telling is ultimately healing and restorative for all.[1]

Wow, truth-telling. That is big in our culture right now. Several of the thanksgiving cards I read for Thanksgiving services mentioned gratitude for truth being shared in our country and in our churches right now. Interestingly, truth telling is a big theme in both the liberal and conservative parts of our national dialog. And this is also important generationally. Millennials and the next generation don’t want any fakers in their midst and, after being raised on ads, often sniff out inauthenticity faster than any prior generation. It is interesting to note that our generation and the next still relies a lot on filters in social media– what is that about?

Advent invites us to truth telling. To engage in truth telling in our communities, yes, but also to look into ourselves and see what our truths are. To take a moment away from the holiday bustle. To listen to someone you wouldn’t normally take seriously or listen to, as one of the Way of Love prompts went this week. To listen to yourself. And when the truth is painful, whether it seems good or bad news to you, Know that you are Holy. And that the Holy One is walking with us, and will show us a way.

A way to welcome each other and to feel the true warmth of Jesus’ welcome as we look to that day of restoration mentioned in Isaiah today. A day when the lion and the lamb will be able to be together without harm. Joy J. Moore points out that this passage implies not that certain groups who might harm others will be cast from the earth, but that the purifying presence of the Triune God will cast the sin and harm out of them.[2] I trust and pray this will be so for our culture, too. A time when our Psalm, which speaks of just leadership in our world, will become truth. For our nation. For our world.

So that all will sing out

Hallelujah

And we will cry out Hallelujah!

(All Sons & Daughters, “All the Poor and Powerless”)

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[1] Matt Skinner, “Sermon Brainwave #694- Second Sunday of Advent,” for December 8, 2019, https://www.workingpreacher.org/brainwave.aspx?podcast_id=1201.

[2] Joy J. Moore “Sermon Brainwave #694”.