The Advent E-Devotions are the work of many people and not the personal reflections of Padre Warren
Thursday in the Second Week of Advent
Psalm 37: 1-18 (AM) or Psalm 37:19-42 (PM); Amos 9:1-10; Revelation 2:8-17; Matthew 23:13-26
The words of Jesus in Matthew 23 are scarcely recognizable as belonging to the rabbi from Nazareth – at least as his words are normally heard or read by most of us, as we follow along in the Sunday lectionary. These harsh words of judgment seem out of place, an embarrassment and a stumbling block. And yet…
I need to “hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” the difficult sayings of Jesus, or the oracles of the prophets like Amos, or even the visions of the seer John, no less than the “comfortable” – and comforting – words of Scripture. Texts of Scripture that feel like refreshing waters for parched souls, or the longed-for embrace of the lover of one’s soul, or really good news in the midst of dreary gray days are indeed wonderful. But sometimes, one really is called out of the warm and familiar nesting places of one’s life to stand in the howling gale, or in the frigid stillness of a winter’s night, to listen for the bracing and awe-full words of the Creator’s “reality check”. While I usually associate the urgent call to repentance with the weeks of Lent, Jesus’ “woes” call me to face up to God’s testing and trying of my Advent “righteousness,” my end-of-the-year acts of compassion and generosity, my faltering attempts to demonstrate my love for others and my love for God, all the while “majoring in the minors” of my culturally conditioned preparations for the holy day just around the corner. It’s not easy, or comfortable, letting the holy fire of God’s love and justice purge away the dross of my life, but I know it’s necessary, unavoidable, and perhaps even to be welcomed during this Advent season. I just want to finish my Christmas cards, my wrapping, my baking – first! – and then, the work of purification, refining, refocusing can take place…oops!
And, that’s when I remember, it’s not about me and my agenda or my calendar; it’s about God, and the fullness of time, the Reign of God and its righteousness, God’s justice and God’s judgment, and, thankfully, God’s mercy and God’s Love. So, let me listen, let me read, let me ruminate upon even the “uncomfortable” words of Scripture in these moments, in this Advent, and hear the Divine Passion for the renewal of Creation, the restoration of relationship, the reordering of lives, in these urgent, angry, frustrated and frustrating words of woe.
