Year C Advent
Advent 1
November 28, 2021
Be a lert; the world needs more lerts!
This cliché could be found in a 1960s comic strip or just as likely on a t-shirt or coffee mug. It even had its own Facebook page, albeit one with only 34 likes… 35 including me. What is the opposite of alert? Careless, thoughtless, unaware, indifferent, lazy, stupid and foolish all fit the bill. Does anyone want to be any of those? Does anyone actively choose thoughtlessness, foolishness and carelessness? It seems the failure to be a “lert” is not one of choice but one of motivation, focus, skill development and training.
Luke 21:34-36
Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape
all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Here, Jesus gives the instruction to be alert. On its own, it is offered simply as a choice. Either be "a lert" or don't be. I remain convinced that some people are simply more naturally gifted with alertness, and some others have had the fortune to receive training and support in developing the skill. Whenever we fall into the trap of crediting ourselves for what is a gift, we may well lose our alertness. It is common for folks to express entitlement to their income based on the strength of their work ethic. I work harder so I should be paid more. But, our work ethic is influenced by genetics (such as eye color) and by environment, and by literacy level. Whether or not se see work ethic as a gift or skill, we still have the responsibility to nurture and nourish that ability.
Advent 2
December 5, 2021
You can't unscramble an egg
A similar phrase is "you can't unring a bell." Both appeal to the logic and observed reality that some things are irreversible. It can be used in a variety of contexts from a caution not to do something that is irreversible to, after the fact, telling someone not to bother trying to do the impossible.
Philippians 1:6
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you
will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Like and egg can’t be unscrambled God’s plan for creation remains in God’s hands. God’s creation is ongoing and moving forward, not backwards. All things work towards completion. There are positive and negative influences and good and bad ways but the destiny of creation remains in God’s plans and caring.
Advent 3
December 12, 2021
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
A more vivid expression is “He who repairs not his gutters repairs his whole house.” It talks about the value of investment up front. It is akin to politicians advocating for funding for social needs such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. The follower of this advice invests in the present, to avoid greater costs in the future. The expression implies that the pound of cure is 16 times the worth of an ounce of prevention. While not to be taken literally, it implies the decision should not be a difficult one. For those who are confused with weights and measures outside of the metric system, this phrase can be shortened to “prevention is far better than cure.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
While the Bible certainly contains many verses about the value of forbearance, there are also many that seem to tell people not to plan ahead, to live in the moment instead, because God will provide. There is a fine line between prudent planning and worthless worrying. Often we cannot even tell the two apart. And the advice of others may not always be clear either. My yoga teacher describes her preparation as "Plan plan plan, pray pray pray.” One does not have to set up planning and praying as opposites. God can be in both our thoughts and our plans, and we can commit those to God in prayer. Animal rights activist and yoga teacher Sharon Gannon says, “My practice is something I do for God. Period.” With these words she overcomes the false dichotomy of prayer and preparation.
Advent 4
December 19 , 2021
Pride goeth before a fall
Aesop tells the story of two fighting cocks: After winning a battle over the other, one flew to the top of the house and began to crow in glee. This attracted an eagle which flew down, scooped the fighting cock and flew him back to his nest. This allowed the other fighting cock to take his place on top of the henhouse. Pride went before the fall. The very line that we read above is a slight abbreviation of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Luke 1:51-52
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins constantly identified within the scriptures. While verse 51 speaks explicitly of pride preceding a fall, verses 52 and 53 speak of success in the political and financial realms. It is as if pride is just assumed (as a natural byproduct of success). It is as if the teaching is more about the transient nature of earthly rewards more than about the sin of pride. Or, perhaps, we are being told that pride is so insidious that we cannot ever assume we can enjoy success without its presence. In all cases, we are to be careful, mindful and corrective of our pride.
November 28, 2021
Be a lert; the world needs more lerts!
This cliché could be found in a 1960s comic strip or just as likely on a t-shirt or coffee mug. It even had its own Facebook page, albeit one with only 34 likes… 35 including me. What is the opposite of alert? Careless, thoughtless, unaware, indifferent, lazy, stupid and foolish all fit the bill. Does anyone want to be any of those? Does anyone actively choose thoughtlessness, foolishness and carelessness? It seems the failure to be a “lert” is not one of choice but one of motivation, focus, skill development and training.
Luke 21:34-36
Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape
all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
Here, Jesus gives the instruction to be alert. On its own, it is offered simply as a choice. Either be "a lert" or don't be. I remain convinced that some people are simply more naturally gifted with alertness, and some others have had the fortune to receive training and support in developing the skill. Whenever we fall into the trap of crediting ourselves for what is a gift, we may well lose our alertness. It is common for folks to express entitlement to their income based on the strength of their work ethic. I work harder so I should be paid more. But, our work ethic is influenced by genetics (such as eye color) and by environment, and by literacy level. Whether or not se see work ethic as a gift or skill, we still have the responsibility to nurture and nourish that ability.
Advent 2
December 5, 2021
You can't unscramble an egg
A similar phrase is "you can't unring a bell." Both appeal to the logic and observed reality that some things are irreversible. It can be used in a variety of contexts from a caution not to do something that is irreversible to, after the fact, telling someone not to bother trying to do the impossible.
Philippians 1:6
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you
will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Like and egg can’t be unscrambled God’s plan for creation remains in God’s hands. God’s creation is ongoing and moving forward, not backwards. All things work towards completion. There are positive and negative influences and good and bad ways but the destiny of creation remains in God’s plans and caring.
Advent 3
December 12, 2021
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
A more vivid expression is “He who repairs not his gutters repairs his whole house.” It talks about the value of investment up front. It is akin to politicians advocating for funding for social needs such as education, healthcare and infrastructure. The follower of this advice invests in the present, to avoid greater costs in the future. The expression implies that the pound of cure is 16 times the worth of an ounce of prevention. While not to be taken literally, it implies the decision should not be a difficult one. For those who are confused with weights and measures outside of the metric system, this phrase can be shortened to “prevention is far better than cure.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
While the Bible certainly contains many verses about the value of forbearance, there are also many that seem to tell people not to plan ahead, to live in the moment instead, because God will provide. There is a fine line between prudent planning and worthless worrying. Often we cannot even tell the two apart. And the advice of others may not always be clear either. My yoga teacher describes her preparation as "Plan plan plan, pray pray pray.” One does not have to set up planning and praying as opposites. God can be in both our thoughts and our plans, and we can commit those to God in prayer. Animal rights activist and yoga teacher Sharon Gannon says, “My practice is something I do for God. Period.” With these words she overcomes the false dichotomy of prayer and preparation.
Advent 4
December 19 , 2021
Pride goeth before a fall
Aesop tells the story of two fighting cocks: After winning a battle over the other, one flew to the top of the house and began to crow in glee. This attracted an eagle which flew down, scooped the fighting cock and flew him back to his nest. This allowed the other fighting cock to take his place on top of the henhouse. Pride went before the fall. The very line that we read above is a slight abbreviation of Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Luke 1:51-52
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins constantly identified within the scriptures. While verse 51 speaks explicitly of pride preceding a fall, verses 52 and 53 speak of success in the political and financial realms. It is as if pride is just assumed (as a natural byproduct of success). It is as if the teaching is more about the transient nature of earthly rewards more than about the sin of pride. Or, perhaps, we are being told that pride is so insidious that we cannot ever assume we can enjoy success without its presence. In all cases, we are to be careful, mindful and corrective of our pride.