Daily Advent Meditations from St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
December 14, 2015 | III Advent, Monday
Ps 41, 52, 44; Zech. 1:7-17, Rev. 3:7-13, Matt. 24:15-31
Nearing the birth of Jesus a powerful vision is taking shape. It contains vivid images of new life. "But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God" reads Psalm 52. The biblical vision also is social; there is the "new Jerusalem" announced in Revelation 3. The images are riveting.

The pathway toward such vision is fraught with challenge. God's displeasure is clear. Psalm 44 wonders "why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever." Zechariah 1 asks: "O Lord, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which you have been angry these seventy years?"

In Jesus' day, as now, the challenge was compounded. Matthew 24 speaks of the appearance of "false messiahs and prophets" and of sacrilege and suffering. The fear of God's absence tempts people to embrace falsehood masquerading as truth. "Do not believe it," Matthew warns.
Amid our confusion, God is doing something new. "I have set before you an open door," reads Revelation 3. God will build his house anew and invite us into it. We will be set in God's presence forever, Psalm 41 declares. "The Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem," reads Zechariah.

The images of threat are transformed in the Advent season. We begin with promise, then collide with obstacles to its realization. How then do we move through what hinders to what is promised? It has happened before. Psalm 44 reminds that "you have saved us from our foes." What does that mean now?

"The Son of Man is coming with power and great glory," Matthew 24 declares. The Christ child will soon be born. But we cannot be spectators. We must take this glorious birth into our hearts and show forth its glory in our lives. 
Bill Sachs