What Will You Ask?

Texts: Matthew 1:18-25 and Isaiah 7:10-16

Advent is a time of remembering the birth of Jesus as well as anticipating his return. We have been waiting for Jesus for a long time. If Jesus had returned when it was assumed he would, none of us would have been born. The early church was disappointed and eventually had to decide how to cope with the fact that they were still alive on earth, still dealing with poverty and illness, and still being subjected to political and religious abuses of power.

This delayed Parousia disappoints us as well. After all this time we still face poverty, illness, and abuses of power. It is difficult to know what to believe about the legend of Jesus’ birth as well as what it means that he will return. Will he return? When? What will it look like? How will it feel? Will we know it when it happens?

According to the gospel stories Jesus will return like a thief in the night and yet it will be as apparent as lightening flashing from the east to the west. We are to wait for it but not sit and wait ... we are to keep busy continuing the ministry of Jesus.

Yearly we remind ourselves about Christ’s humble beginnings and we celebrate his birth which foretold a shift in power. We talk about Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. We start our new church year and begin again actively waiting for Christ’s return.

Each year Advent and the celebration of Christmas mean more to me than the year before. In spite of the fact that Jesus has yet to return and that we are still fighting the same old battles for equality, I am comforted remembering that Jesus was born under trying circumstances for the purpose of freeing all people and inspired at the hope that of the Parousia. When I hear the story of Mary and Joseph making their trek to Bethlehem; the angels making their declarations; the shepherds hearing and believing the tidings of great joy; and the Magi following a star to find a baby king, I think to myself, “Yes, I can continue.” It doesn’t seem rational or logical, but in my spirit/gut I am grateful to be a part of this story.

That doesn’t mean that I’m not disappointed or confused. In our Isaiah text we hear the prophet railing against Ahaz because he refuses to ask God for a sign. Ahaz claims that he does not want to put God to the test, however Isaiah believes this is a cover up. I have to say that in this vignette I identify with Ahaz. After years of asking God for help, believing God to change things, and waiting for God to return I’m not always sure I have the strength for more disappointment. It is hard to take the risk to ask for one more thing when so many other requests feel ignored or denied.

And yet, the story of Jesus’ birth rings in my soul. This is the sign that we cling to. Our souls can nestle into the certainty of a babe born to a young woman even while we wait for the Parousia – the second coming – the eventual and final shift of power toward true liberty and wholeness for all. Not wholeness for which we lobby, either to our God or to our political leaders; not liberty for those born in a certain country or of a certain economic status; but wholeness and liberty without question or compromise.

In the Isaiah scripture, the prophet speaks a word of God to Ahaz saying, “Don’t be afraid. Yes it looks like your enemy will devour you but quiet your heart. I won’t let this happen. Ask a sign of me so that you can be certain.” But Ahaz will not ask for a sign. Ahaz is too afraid and cannot quiet his heart enough to believe these words. Isaiah says that Ahaz wearies God.

Let us not weary God. As we consider the birth of Jesus to an unwed mother, the birth of a babe that will lead his people through healing and feeding rather than violence, let us ask God for a sign. Let us ask God to help us believe that we can make it through the next conflict, whatever it is.

What will you ask? Can you quiet your heart to believe the words of the prophet? And when the results we are looking for don’t come the way we had hoped or in the timing that seemed right, can we still believe, quiet our hearts, and ask for a sign? This faith thing takes risks. It also takes not knowing what is going to happen, how it may happen, or when it may happen. It takes quieting our hearts when it looks like we will be devoured.

Friends, I adjure you to look to the comfort and hope of Jesus born to Mary and Joseph, and to look to the strength of Mary and Joseph. We wait and sometimes we are disappointed with the results. We wait and sometimes the waiting is long. We wait though, for a promise that is at the intersection of this earthly existence and transcendence. We wait for a mystery. We wait together, actively, continuing the ministry of Jesus.