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lectionary thoughts ...
Sunday 7th December 2008 @ 12:38 pm / Bible
Some thoughts from todays lectionary readings...
The Apostle Peter writes ...
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance … Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace
Here, Peter recognises waiting is part of faith … God is patient, and so we must be patient … and who better to witness to patience in God than one who betrayed his God and possibly thought all had been lost …
Waiting – the witness of the disciple with intimate eye to eye knowledge …
Mark writes, about John the Baptist,
Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;
Mark recognises waiting is part of faith … this is good, but someone is coming … he’s in the wilderness, he’s seen as a mad prophet, he’s encouraging preparation and while some are listening the majority go about their business …
Waiting the witness of the prophet who in hope can do none other than cry out
The exiled prophet Isaiah writes ...
A voice cries out:?‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God … ?Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,?and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
Isaiah recognises waiting is part of faith … prepare & then see – especially in times of exile – exile, here, not there, not where you want to be, out of place … in moments of exile, waiting – for the glory of God shall be seen …
Waiting, the witness of the shut out and homeless exiled preacher
Paul writes in Galatians 4
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Paul recognizes waiting is part of faith … he can look back and see the picture fitting together – in moments of clarity, all of a sudden it now makes sense – isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing
Waiting – the witness of the radical theologian
The disciple, the preacher, the prophet, the theologian … all point us toward a God who is willing to be patient, a God who will carry out his purposes in ways which teach us the importance of waiting, of patience … because of course, ultimately waiting wins … waiting knows it will get there, waiting knows it will come, it will be over, it will end, we will celebrate …
And that is what this season can do – it can give us the chance to anticipate, to remember why we will celebrate, not today – but in a little while, and it pushes us to examine ourselves, our lives, our motivations, all in the light of the immanent arrival of the Christ child … what will our reaction be?
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