December 18, 2005
READING 2: Romans 16: 25-27
GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38
A man was sitting in a waiting room. Another, older man with a cane sat down next to him. The old man looked up at the ceiling and exclaimed, “Oh my God, I am so thirsty.” The first man heard it, and concentrated on his lap top. Then, the older man rolled his eyes upward and exclaimed again, even louder, “Oh my God, I am so thirsty.” The first man turned to look at the old man just as the older man rolled his eyes upward and for a third time exclaimed, “Oh my God, I an so thirsty.” So, thinking this is likely to go on non-stop, the first man gets up, sets his lap top down on the chair and goes to the back of the room to the water cooler and fills one of those cone shaped cups with water. He starts back with the cup and gets about half way, then he stops, thinks a moment, and turns back to the water cooler. He fills a second cone shaped cup to the brim and returns to his neighbor with both cups. He offers the old guy a cup of water. The man takes it, says, “Thanks,” and delightedly drinks the whole cup in one gulp. Then the younger man offers the neighbor the second cup. The old guy takes it and drinks it and says, “Thanks again.” A few minutes later the old man rolls his eyes upward and exclaims, “Oh my God, I am drowning in all this water.” This is the story of the people of God. God calls Moses and tells him He has heard the cry of His people and that God wants Moses to lead them out of slavery. First they say to Moses, so who are you, some murderer we should stick our necks out for? Finally through several miracles, the people are ready and the Pharaoh lets them go. The Egyptians are so glad to be rid of them, they give the people carts and horses, household goods and even jewelry. Then, just after God does the penultimate miracle of the Old Testament, parting the Red Sea for the people and closing it back upon Pharaoh’s army, the people say, “So there were not enough graves in Egypt , you had to bring us into this desert to die?” God blessed them with miracle upon miracle and the people kept complaining. “We’re hungry.” We’re tired of this food.” We’re thirsty.” But, somehow, finally, the slaves discovered that maybe it made more sense to accept the challenges and responsibilities necessary for freedom than to try to be comfortable as slaves. Centuries later, King David, as we heard today, won all his battles and defeated all his enemies. He built a capital city and a magnificent palace. He had it all; but he wasn’t happy. God reminded him that he was blessed as he could expect to be. David had reason to be grateful. There was promise. If he needed more than that to be happy, he had to work on himself. Centuries later, the people were ruled by the Romans and their own harsh religious leadership. There was an enforced peace, but total discontent. Even the wealthy and the leaders of the Temple were complaining, fighting amongst themselves, longing for rescue. God sent the ultimate antidote for the people desires: God’s own Love enfleshed in Jesus. Jesus came to proclaim trust in God is the only answer to our human limitations. People can have confidence, not insecurity in every circumstance this world generates. People don’t have to be afraid. People complained. “He eats and drinks.” “He socializes with sinners.” “He heals on the Sabbath.” “His disciples don’t fast.” “He drives demons out of the man and into the swine. Those swine are how we make our living.” “He goes to sleep, unconcerned that we are in a stormy sea.” “We don’t have enough food to feed all these people.” “We have twelve baskets left over.” “Listen to how he speaks. Isn’t this the son of the carpenter?” Like spoilt children on Christmas morning, the people could not be satisfied with God’s great gift. But then, there was a shift in the way people thought. A few began to believe they were not inferior to the Romans or to the religious authorities. Some started a war against Rome that culminated in defeat in the year 70 A.D. Others went out into the world and proclaimed the message of peace and freedom that Jesus had taught them. Two thousand years later and this is the world of newness: This new game, this new toy, that new invention, this revolutionary idea; always something new and presumably better. For years, the new and the novel have captured the energy of our culture. In the bountiful world of television there are fixes for every human defect: Fixes for runny noses, stuffy noses, ugly noses, and pimply noses; for insomnia; for drowsiness. If you’re bored, there’s something to fix your boredom. There is always a market for the quick fix. It’s going to be the busiest week in this busiest season in our busy lives. A woman at Christmastime forced her packages and herself into a crowded elevator in a department store and exclaimed in total exhaustion: “They ought to take whoever invented this out and string him up. “ A child, squeezed in-between the adults and their packages, said, “They did! They crucified Jesus.” The people in that elevator got real quiet. Whatever you think needs fixing in you or for you, know that Jesus is already on board and at work. He entered Mary in a unique pregnancy and enters us in intimate communion. Be resolved not to allow disappointment or complaints to enter your heart. We can not do one thing, we can not decorate one thing, we can not buy one gift that will make Christmas any better than it already is. Make gratitude your greatest gift. I can assure you that if Santa is watching to see who is naughty or nice this week, then he’ll also be looking on Christmas morning. He’ll see the grateful children and he will see the brats. He’ll take delight in grateful children. I believe God is looking as well and God will take delight in grateful people. Life is challenging but good. God is good…all the time…and the church says: “Amen!” Fr. Jeff McGowan |
