The Home of the Soul

Advent 2 - The Promise of Peace in a Troubled World

December 6, 1998 (cf 12/10/95)

Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13

Three years or so ago there was a front page picture in the newspaper along with a story that caught my attention. Briefly, the story was this: twin girls had been born 12 weeks premature, about two pounds each, and had been placed in separate bassinets in the Medical Center Hospital in Worcester. One started to do just fine— the other began slowly to fade. Her heart beat was rapid, she was visibly anxious, and nothing the nurses could do seemed to be able to stop what seemed like her inevitable death.

Then one nurse, Gayle Kasperian, remembered something she had read about treatment of preemies elsewhere in the world. As a sort of last resort the nurses put little Brielle, the weaker twin, right into the bassinet with Kyrie, her "big sister." (Kyrie was 3 ounces bigger!) In the words of Nurse Heidi Jackson, the results were immediate and dramatic. Little Brielle snuggled up to her sister, and her heart rate immediately slowed to normal. Her color came back. The baby visible relaxed, almost it seemed with a sigh of relief. She accepted nourishment. The crisis was over. She would survive.

That tiny baby did not know who she was, or where she was. She did not know one word of any language to say what she needed. Indeed, she could not consciously know what she needed. But somehow tiny baby Brielle knew where she belonged. And she knew when she was where she belonged.

Our souls are like that. Deeper than words, back behind all conscious thought, our souls know what they need. Even when we cannot express or fully understand our hunger for God, that hunger remains. We are made for God, and we are made for fellowship with each other. When we are isolated and alone we are in trouble, serious trouble, like tiny two-pound Baby Brielle Jackson. We want to be close to someone who loves us. We want to be close to God, and to know that we are a part of God's family.

Christmas is about getting close to God— or, more properly, it is about God who wants to come very close to us. Christmas is when we remember that one name for Messiah is Emmanuel, "God-With-Us." This doesn't make sense according to the wisdom of our world, but our souls know it is true. We are never really "at home" until we know God really has come to where we are. When we know God has come, then we begin to understand how there can be peace even in this troubled world.

TWO PROPHETS, TWO VISIONS OF PEACE

Our lessons today feature words from Isaiah and John the Baptist, two great prophets who spoke about Messiah's coming.

ISAIAH'S VISION IS VERY POETIC.

Isaiah saw all nature as changing at the coming of Messiah. He saw a world where natural enemies make peace and live in harmony together. We have heard this vision called "The Millennium." This vision of Isaiah is always depicted as " way out there in the future somewhere." [The 'prophecy experts' have worked it out a long time ago— haven't they? You know, "this is how it will happen" and "then that" and they have it all worked out cold.]

That all may well be. But when Jesus the Messiah moves into a community of people right now, today, in our troubled times what do you think ought to happen? What if this vision of Isaiah is what ought to happen right now in God's kingdom, at least in part?

It certainly isn't according to the nature we know for ' lions to lie down with lambs,' and when they do you can be sure that it is the lamb who is going to have a hard time getting to sleep. But if Messiah is really present, is it too much to expect that we can learn to love and trust each other? All different kinds of people make up the kingdom, the church. Can different generations find common ground? Is it too much to expect that Christian young people will find patience and understanding for their old-fashioned parents? Do you think it is possible that older people might pray for and even enjoy the company of younger Christians?

Don't simply write off Isaiah's vision of peace for the far distant future. He has a vision of a place where people's purpose is "To know God, and to provide a climate in which each person can come to full spiritual potential in Jesus Christ!" Sound familiar?

JOHN THE BAPTIST'S MESSAGE IS MORE DIRECT, MORE PRACTICAL.

Instead of preaching about lions and lambs lying down together, John gathered the lions and lambs at the river, and told them all to REPENT. He preached to every level of society. He said "God's kingdom is close at hand! Make a path to your heart and Messiah will come!"

The common people came, and John said, "Repent!" The tax collectors came, and John said, "Repent!" Soldiers came, and John said, "Repent!" Pharisees and Sadducees all heard the same message: "Turn from YOUR way, and make room for the One who wants to come to where you are!"

This was NOT homogeneous grouping. (It defies church-growth accepted facts!) Where did we ever get the idea that when we come home to God we will all act the same, do the same things, look the same? Tax collectors came, and were baptized, and when they went home they were still tax collectors— only now they had made room for God. Soldiers came, and were baptized, and when they left they were still soldiers— only now they were living in harmony with God.

The Good News is that God invites us to come home into His house of peace right NOW, as we are. He loves us right now. God doesn't want to make lambs out of lions, or wolves out of kids. God wants to put his love into us until we can really be at home together in his kingdom.

Granted it takes a lot of work. There has never been a home where that is not true. But the vision of the prophets is not for "sometime, somewhere." God's call to come home is always NOW!

THERE IS A HOME OF THE SOUL THAT BRINGS PEACE AND COMMUNITY

Peace is Christ's legacy to his disciples.

"In the world you will have troubles, " Jesus said. He knew very well what this world is like. Still he told his disciples, and you and me: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. I don't give as the world gives. Don't let your hearts be troubled. Don't let them be afraid." And when we understand that Jesus is really God With Us— then like Baby Brielle, we can breathe easier— we know we are going to make it all right. Peace is Christ's legacy to you and me right now, today.

But we need to be a willing to acknowledge our need of God. We need to give the God-hunger a name. Your soul cries out for the living God! We need to be willing to turn aside from doing "our own thing" and give God permission to come into our lives anywhere and everywhere He will. We can't live the Christian life on our own. We can't "prepare the way" by being good or nice so we deserve Him. But we can simply ask Him in! We prepare the way by saying from our hearts: Come, Lord Jesus! Be my Lord and savior! And you know what? He will come in! And he will bring God's peace with him!

I really hesitate to share my own experiences, and yet it came to me as I was thinking about the peace of belonging. When I was a child I traveled from place to place with my parents who were itinerant evangelist-singers. (I have alluded to this many times, I know, in the years I have been pastor here.) Whatever the positive benefits may have been, I harvested a great crop of hang-ups from being a child-evangelist, not the least was great insecurity in a great many ways.

One of these insecurities— I am not proud of this— nor asking for sympathy— was that I could never stand to be out of sight of my parents for any length of time. I would simply become very nervous, even agitated. This was embarrassing as a child, but as I started into my teens it became a major problem. Strangers usually were never aware of it, for I kept it hidden. But if my parents were due, say at 4 o'clock, and it came 4:15 or 4:30 I could think of absolutely nothing but that my world was caving in. My aunts and uncles all had regular jobs, and lived in houses— not traveling in cars all the time. My home was my father and mother.

Then one day as my anxiety was mounting the thought came to me, what if dad and mother never do come back? I know my Uncle Andy and Aunt Blanche love me just like one of their own. I know they would take me into their home. And it was absolutely true, they would have! And you know what? I may still have a lot of hang-ups fifty years later— but that one— that insecurity— was gone forever!

In knowing I was loved and accepted in a secure, stable home I simply could relax. It was a conversion-like experience to realize I was accepted into a family that had a house and would make me a home.

Like Baby Brielle, we may not know how to say what we need. But our hearts know. And I want you to know that already YOU are accepted in the most wonderful family in the Universe! Our hearts don't need to fade and die because we can be united with the God who loves us so much he left heaven to come where we are. The home of the soul is where Jesus is. He is our peace.

Invitation: If you want me to pray for you— if your heart hungers to come home to God— would you like to stand where you are as I pray?

Prayer

Reprieve on Hymn #675 The Kingdom of God . . . (v3 only "Challenge and Choice")

- Segue into

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Wherever you are on your Spiritual Journey - If you believe God wants to come to you, and if you want to find your home in Him, I invite you to come in faith to the Table of the Lord. (Now -As an act of worship and commitment, let us confess our faith together :)

The Apostles Creed (Inside back cover of hymnal)

The Law Read:- The Lord Jesus Christ has said to us: "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This if the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Confession Made:- Before we come to the Table of the Lord, let us in humility pray that God will help us to come without any shadow of rebellion or wilful sin:

(Reading No. 750) A prayer in unison, from scripture:

Unison: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Brothers and sisters, let us search our hearts. In silence let us ask God to show you and me anything we need to confess– any "paths that must be made straight" so that we can come to His table in full harmony with His will: ( silence)

Prayer: Thank you. O God, for your forgiving us when we come humbly to you. We do not presume to come to this table, O God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercy and grace. Grant us to eat the Bread of heaven, and drink the blood shed for the remission of sins, that we may live in Christ, and Christ may live in us forever. Amen

(In Place of Gloria Patri :)

Sing "Father, I Adore You, Lay my life before You How I love you! "Jesus, I adore you . . ." and "Spirit, I adore you . . ."

Pastor: Hear what our Lord has said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And he has also said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. ("This is not my table . . . " Do not come irreverently. Do not come because someone else expects it. But if the Host invites you, and you want to walk with Him, then you are welcome at His table... )

The Words of Institution

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to You he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me: Amen

We praise you for the mystery of our salvation! We truly believe Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

And now, together, we pray, as Jesus taught us: Our Father which art in heaven . . .

Now, humbly receive the Gifts of God for the People of God.