The Place of Advent

First Sunday of Advent (Year A)

Matthew 24.36-44

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 17:20)

 

Happy New Year!

 

Yes, it’s the beginning of Advent and therefore, the beginning of a new year, at least as far as the Christian Church is concerned. Time to restart our annual liturgical calendar and reset our cycle of lectionary readings. Time to reset our intention as to what it means to live a life of faith in the One whose coming we celebrate this season and throughout the year.

 

But I have one question: Why Advent as the beginning of the Church year? Why not January 1^st to coincide with the secular calendar? Why not Christmas to coincide with the birth of our Lord, the One who ushers in a new era? Why not Easter to coincide with the resurrection and the promise of new and eternal life, really ushering in a new era? Why not Pentecost to coincide with the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church? Of all the choices available for marking the passage of time and for demarcating a new beginning, there are certainly plenty of choices. But Advent? There’s nothing particularly notable about Advent. It is not a as much an event as it is a time of anticipation and preparation for actual events. Not to mention that, unlike Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, which are specific events that could actually be marked on a calendar (the actual date of Christmas notwithstanding), Advent is essentially just a made-up season. Although that little fact does not make Advent any the less valid. After all, the Church came up with Advent for very good reasons.

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Dual Citizenship

Christ the King (Year C)

Jeremiah 23.1-6; Luke 23.33-43

The Rev. Michael K. Fincher

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 18:45)

 

I know it happens every two years, like clockwork, that the feast of Christ the King falls a mere couple of weeks after our general elections in early November. But to be honest, I have never particularly thought about it before. The elections come and go, we move on, and a few weeks later we celebrate the last Sunday after Pentecost, the feast of Christ the King. But this year, it somehow seems more poignant. Perhaps because, in some ways, the election continues, with a few House races and many local races still up in the air. And as we await the final outcome of those races, of those final decisions about our earthly governance, we also celebrate on this day, governance of a different sort. For us Christians, a governance that is more important—or at least, should be—than any decisions about mayoral or gubernatorial races, about who controls the House of Representatives or the Senate.

 

Not to diminish the importance of our national and local elections. They do have their place. Through our election process, we have collectively chosen those who, at least theoretically, will govern in our name and on our behalf. Those names that have become known to us through the campaign season. Names elevated to prominence through the will of the majority on November 8^th. But today, we recognize that regardless of who is elected, we as God’s faithful, are subject to, as the Apostle Paul tells the Philippian church, “the name that is above every name”: Jesus Christ.

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Faithfulness and Endurance

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 28 (Year C)

Luke 21.5-19

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 16:05)

 

All three of our scripture readings for today, either directly or indirectly, deal with perceptions and concerns about the end times and God’s judgement. Concerns that contain images of and speak to the potential for destruction and ensuing chaos. And, to an extent, with the angst that such times produce. Not unlike some of the speculation of what might have happened—and maybe still could happen—as a result of Tuesday’s midterm elections. The exact nature of the destruction and chaos varying, depending on who you ask and who actually ends up being elected after all the votes are counted, runoff elections held, and probably even a few legal challenges adjudicated.

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Ancestors

All Saints' Sunday (Year C)

Ephesians 1.11-23; Luke 6.20-31

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 22:05)

 

Throughout history, there have been a number of cultures and religions that have—and still do—place a great deal of emphasis on the place of ancestors in the ongoing life of the community. A variety, if not most, cultures, now ancient history, have recognized the importance of their ancestors through practices and rituals. Some of these continue into our own day. For example, a number of Asian cultures and religious expressions, as well as Native American tribes and religious systems, recognize the importance of the ancestors. And we are certainly familiar with the celebration of Día de Los Muertos, in which the dead are honored by leaving gifts for them on ofrendas, or special altars honoring the departed.

 

In such cultures and religious systems, there is a recognition that the ancestors, even though physically dead, continue to be active in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. In some cases, this is a recognition of the contributions the ancestors made to the communal life and well-being. A way of remembering family lineage and maintaining kinship values and family loyalty. In some cases, it is believed that the ancestors intervene in the lives of the living, providing guidance and blessings to, sharing in joys and sorrows of, their living relatives. In some cases, the ancestors are even believed to serve as messengers between the divine and the living. While sometimes referred to as “ancestor worship,” this really is a misnomer. Such cultures and religions do not generally worship the ancestors as divine, but venerate them as having a special place of honor in the lives of families and communities.

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