Epworth United Methodist Church

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
Nov. 29, 2009
Luke 21:25-36

Attentiveness

This Thanksgiving holiday has been an eye-opening one for me.

Everywhere I have gone, from stores, to a favorite breakfast restaurant I visit about once a month, has led to people sharing with me how they are affected by the holiday “blues.”

In some ways I was relieved, because I thought it was only me, or only me and my family experiencing this sense of sadness, depression, as I watched hoards of people in traffic, in stores, and in the media apparently really happy and full of joy by this “holiday season,” especially as they poured onto the highways to shop on ‘Black Friday.’

Secretly I wondered who was so enthralled by the ads and the glitz when everything I see and hear and read speaks of economic and social depression.

Personally, my life is currently overwhelmed with the plight of a former parishioner who has just been convicted of first degree sexual assault and now facing a mandatory confinement of six and ½ years in the Wilsonville prison, having to leave her own family behind.

This is a woman I know to stand up for the rights of immigrant people who, as it turned out are the very people accusing her in hopes of obtaining a “green card” through their ten year-old daughter’s accusations…

This is a Christian whom I argued with from time to time because she seemed so judgmental towards her own Caucasian people that she endangered us with her politics; it seemed unfair to me- now she is accused and convicted by the very people she so sought to empower…

It took me back.

It took me back to days when I never had to consider the possible accusations from youth when I took them home from events;

I never had to think about a counseling appointment alone in my office with a troubled parishioner or member of the larger community.

It took me back to a time of trust…

Today’s gospel reading reminds me that Jesus warned us that there would be days like this.

When you read from Luke 21 it is clear that there is anxiety all over the place, and people attempting to make money on this anxiety.

Last week I talked about the bookshelves in a recent Barnes and Noble Bookstore I visited, filled with 12-21-2012 prophecies.

I have a young family member whose life is filled with stress about the possible end of the world in the next three years.

I do my best to console him, telling him there have always been those who try to predict the end of the world as we know it.

The point is, that Jesus reminded us that there would always be times like this.

First, you have your natural signs, which are always around because natural catastrophes are always present on this planet.

Whenever there is an earthquake or a tsunami you have those who “will be confused by the roaring of the sea and waves” [Vs.25]

These verses seem to be describing what we have witnessed in recent years, such as the roaring of the seas and waves of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

Faced with these interpretations, it is really important for us to remember that apocalyptic language is meant to be more symbolic than literal in its interpretation.

When I thought about today’s gospel reading I was reminded of the story of a television evangelist who was hawking is book on the radio; it was a book about the end of the world.

“Buy this book”, the evangelist said, “and you will learn how to read the signs of the times so you may know that Jesus is coming very soon.”

On impulse, I called this evangelist’s toll-free number and asked the representative to please send me a book for free.

She said she was sorry, but she could not do this.

Then she said that if I complied by giving her a current credit card number she would send me the book for a mere $15.95.

So I said, “Well, you do not understand. I cannot understand why you are asking for money at all if you really believe Jesus is coming before the end of this year. You won’t need money and should be giving these books away!”

Suddenly, the operator was no longer standing by to place my order.

The point is that there are always natural catastrophes, and human created ones, that tempt us to say the world’s end is near, or that the world’s end SHOULD be near.

Still, life goes on and when it will all end, God only knows.

In this gospel story, I believe Jesus is asking us to stand among those who stand for what is right and just and spiritual in the interim: “stand up, stand up and raise your heads.”

In this morning’s gospel passage Jesus challenges us to face today and tomorrow with faith rather than with fear.

Jesus says, “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

The earlier fig tree parable really reminded the disciples to really look around for the signs of God’s realm in their midst, the signs of justice, mercy and love rather than focusing constantly on the anxiety of the daily news, filled with calamity and disaster.

The truth is that when we can identify and name the fears, anxieties and distractions of the people around us, then we can begin to offer them and ourselves hope and help through a journey with Jesus the Christ.

If our anxiety is setting off alarms everywhere we go, maybe it is time for us to step back, take a deep breath and offer a prayer to the One who will make all things new.

There is no better way to lower your heart rate, your blood pressure and your body temperature than to do a breath prayer….

It is one way to slow down, communicate with Christ- remembering, as Jesus reminds us, it is our God who is in charge, not COSTCO, Walmart, or anyone who is asking us to focus on spending money as the reason for this season.

Let’s do a breath prayer together this morning. I hope it is something you can utilize in the days and weeks of stress that are sure to come this season, along with all the joy and celebration:

As you breathe in, I invite you to pray, “Thank you God for being with me….

And as you exhale, continue the prayer saying, “in every season of life.”

Let’s do this together one more time: inhale, “Thank you God for being with me…

Exhale, “in every season of life…”

So, why think about the end times at all?

Maybe for this reason:

Many of us have a clock radio on our bedside table. Every evening upon retiring we are faced with a choice.

We can set the radio for “music” or “alarm”.

Of the two, music is by far the most pleasant; then our favorite radio station will arise and ease us into wakefulness- a process that can take some time, as I have experienced.

On the other hand, it is a process that may not happen at all!

Many of us, myself included, have learned that the music setting is just a bit unreliable.

The morning concert may be so relaxing that it just works its way into our dreams and we oversleep..

So some of us have learned that if you really want to wake up at a special time there is no substitute for the “alarm” setting.

We may hate it when the thing goes off in the middle of our deep sleep or wildest dreams.

It might sound raucous, and it might make us jump.

Still, it forces us to make a choice, doesn’t it?

Do we want the alarm of waking up to this day and what it asks of us?

Or, do we want to remain asleep, when the consequences of staying asleep are simply too costly, in the long run?

The Scripture passages that sound the warning of an impending change to all that we know are a lot like our radio alarm clock.

No one likes them; their message is disturbing, especially in the middle of the darkest time of the year.

Still, this is exactly why they are in our Scriptures: their very function is to disturb us, to shake us up and blast us into the most precious time of the year, when the new light of God’s creation comes to us in the form of a newborn child we have come to name as Jesus, the Christ.

Let’s close together with our breath prayer once again: “Thank you God for being with me….in every season of life.”

Amen.