Advent Garments*

Yes, Christmas is coming. We know that, even in the church, where it is only the second Sunday in Advent. No greens and red ribbons for us, still time for the purple vestments and the dreary skies (well, I have to admit, that’s the weather, not the church). Still, out there in reality land it is time to get ready for Christmas. It is time to stop practicing and get on with real life. It is time to turn expectation into balance, and to turn balanced expectation into love that overflows, with the sudden grace of salvation realized among us, within us, between us, with God. These are the themes in this week’s scripture—balance, expectation, and the suddenness of God.

Expectation—this is a time of expectation, because it is a time of hope, which is expectation that refreshes the soul. Balance—this is a time of balancing the already with the not yet, because it is a time of justice. It is in creating justice that we make the not yet Into the already, It is in creating justice that we make our love overflow more and more and more until God’s kingdom is visible here among us. And, too, there is the suddenness, in the realization that God is with us, in the knowledge and insight that if God is with us there can be no more sin, there can be no more disconnectedness there only can be love that overflows.

I suppose only a proper gay person would look at the reading from Baruch and see an lgbt Christmas “Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction” it begins, “put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God, put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting.” Whoa!

If that isn’t a set of instructions for a party I don’t know what is. Expectation is realized, salvation is ours, in the glory that is our lgbt reality, created by God to be celebrated. Balance the already with the not yet by letting your love overflow more and more (see Philippians 1), and in the glory of this ever overflowing love balance the crown of glory of the Everlasting. And, justice, swiftly and already given as the product of righteousness—wear that as the robe of your newfound happiness.

Christmas is coming. Time to get ready.

*2 Advent Year C 2012 RCL Baruch 5:1-9 Canticle 4 or 16 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6

©2012 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

God’s highway

When I was a boy there was no Interstate highway. About the best thing we had were US routes, like route 66, and of course local roads–two-lane roads with lots of curves and intersections. I remember when I was about nine we had to move from Missouri to California. Off we went in that old station wagon. We saw  people everywhere,  and sights—everything from road signs to the Grand Canyon—all of it out the window of the car–all that way on one ribbon of highway.

Jesus deals with the hopes and expectations of poor and downtrodden people who have been flocking to John the Baptist. John has told them it was a beginning, like setting out on a trip, but also that it was a long way to the kingdom. Jesus is angry, irritated that though the people see with their own eyes yet they do not believe. He asks them “What did you expect to see?” Did you expect a prophet? Then you have found him—John is the one who was sent to prepare the highway for the coming of salvation.

What about the highway? Well, that is Jesus’ point. Too often in life we choose to remain with the things that oppress us, because they are familiar. Too often we are afraid to set out on a road, a long road, to something new and better. Jesus says we have a choice. We can be stuck, or we can set out for God’s kingdom. To choose the kingdom is risky, the first step on a long journey. But once we set out we will see that God has prepared for us a highway for our journey. A beautiful road, straight and swift, raised up above the nonsense of selfish lives, flowing swiftly through all of God’s creation, taking us to a new place.

Isaiah said: “The land will bloom and a highway will appear and it will be called The Holy Way; it is for God’s people and not even fools can go astray.” He means that God’s way, God’s highway (if you will) is life, new life. The highway is in our hearts, the highway is our hearts … open and alive and loving and moving swiftly toward God’s kingdom of love. And not even fools can go astray.

I love that line. GLBT folks live with lots of fools. What would it mean if suddenly God’s highway appeared and not even those who oppress us could go astray? It would mean that all people would live in love, and move swiftly together toward the kingdom. It would mean all of the baggage of oppression would be behind us. Isaiah also says the ransomed of the Lord will return—that means us—we will return and love in peace in God’s kingdom. And all it takes is for each one of us to take that first step, to set out on the highway toward the kingdom, one step at a time, with love as fuel. James, tells us to be patient too … all things happen in God’s time. Amen.

© 2010 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

*Third Sunday of Advent Year A (Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:4-9; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11)