Sermon, Advent III
SERMON
at
Christ Church, Watertown, Connecticut
Advent III
December 13, 2009
by
The Rev. Stanley C. Kemmerer, AHC
Every time Advent rolls around, and this Gospel is appointed, and it falls to me to read it, I think of Charlie Scott, my college chaplain, my friend, and a dear brother priest. One of his friends nicknamed him “Colussus.” He certainly was that to me: A giant in the formation of my ministry as well as a physically imposing man.
Charlie was Presbyterian minister who, my first year in college, jumped the fence and became an Episcopal priest. He loved the liturgy with the passion of Canterbury, Scripture with the passion of Geneva. He drilled into us that it was not enough just to read a passage of Scripture; we owed a duty to ourselves, our congregations, and our Lord, sufficiently to understand it that our oral interpretation, how we read it, would be consistent with what it meant.
So I think of him when I speak in John the Baptist’s voice the opening words of this morning’s Gospel and place in my mind’s eye this giant of the Faith. To experience John the Baptist was not to experience comfort. He didn’t speak; he bellowed. He was rough, unkempt. His hair would have known no comb, his person no deodorant. His food was locusts and honey.
And his message, oh his message---like a stun gun. No “Peace on Earth, Good will towards men” in this. Rather, Dies irae, the wrath of God. And no escaping: who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruits, and do not think of telling yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father…” =We’re the Chosen.
This is a pretty cold shower for the crowds who had come out to hear him, attracted by his reputation as a charismatic preacher. He’s preaching to the choir, isn’t he? Because they’d come out, after all, to be baptized, to be washed of their sins in the Jordan River. Why is he treating them like this?
He’s treating them like this because he believes they don’t fully understand the extent of the sin they’ve committed and are continuing to commit. As his directions for what they must do, later in the passage, demonstrate, they need to address systemic sin as well. And they need to address it in the context of their present lives. He addressed three specific audiences:
That failure, the failure to recognize and repent of systemic sin, is what makes them a brood of vipers. It’s what makes us a brood of vipers. For example:
In the time since 9/11 many voices have been raised about the loss of innocent lives in that tragedy. Other voices have been raised to justify that attack on the grounds that, in a democracy, no one is innocent because we all elect our leaders.
We may voice our own version of “We have Abraham for our father,” in the form of the objection we, personally, did not vote for the winner, or that we, personally, do not approve of the behaviors for which the terrorists are “punishing” us. And, technically, that may be true.
But were we like the twenty-something aide who did the prep for a recent medical appointment I had.? She was making conversation, asked how I was. I happened to be in a somewhat smart guy mood that day (Which I somehow, now, am inclined to think might have been put there by the Spirit!) and, instead of offering a simple, “Fine,” commented I was preparing for my every few month political discussion with my doctor (He’s a Republican; I’m a Democrat. So, it’s always good natured, but lively.). She retorted, “I don’t get involved in politics.” Wrong answer! I fired back, “You should! Because in a free society it’s the responsibility of every citizen to participate. And, if you don’t, you’re very likely to wind up the victim of those who do. You’d better think about that!”
This diocese recently held a Day of Repentance for its complicity in the institution of slavery. There was a resolution on the subject at Diocesan Convention. Among the speakers was one who was offended at the observance. Neither she nor her family had ever supported slavery. It was quickly pointed out that, while that may have been true, they benefitted and continue to benefit from the societal structures built up around it.
Men have benefitted from practices that disadvantage women and mothers, and have remained silent.
We have witnessed invasions of other countries and the slaughter of innocents in them, countries who have not attacked us, and have remained silent. We condemned the German and Japanese people for doing that!
It would be a rare person among us who could examine his or her personal and professional life and not find injustices of which they were aware, about which they could do something and who has not remained silent. I know I can find numerous instances. And speaking out doesn’t have to involve any more than quietly voicing an opposing opinion while listening to other viewpoints with an effort to understand and learn.
If the Gospel is the Good News, where is the good news in all of this?
Scripturally, it’s found in the appointed Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Epistle:
The Zephaniah passage is from the “Promises” section of that book. Zephaniah was a reform prophet. He lived during the reign of King Josiah, who outlawed pagan religion, had pagan artifacts destroyed, had pagan priests killed, destroyed pagan altars and images. The Torah was rediscovered during his reign. He had it read in the public squares for all the people to hear. His is regarded as the most major housecleaning in the history of Israel. Zephaniah prophecies that after condemnation and repentance comfort comes:
Yahweh has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
Yahweh, the king of Israel, is in your midst;
you have no more evil to fear.
The Apostle Paul tells the Philippians he so praised in last week’s Epistle what they have to look forward to, as a result of their own repentant lives:
the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is
anything you need, pray for it, asking for it with prayer and
thanksgiving, and the peace of God, which is so much greater
than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts…
Even John, as abrasive as he is, makes his own promise: …someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
The gospel message we hear again and again: Yes, much is demanded. But we do not do it alone. We do it by the grace of God. And what of it we are able to do, counts. So, as we hear Advent messages of standards and judgment, it is equally important to keep before us: