December 2, 2008
Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Is God on your Christmas list?
That’s the question that will be guiding us throughout this Advent season. Last week we discovered that high on God’s wish list is the gift of our attention, gift-wrapped in “flashing blue and red lights,” urging us to keep alert. This week our focus turns to Mark’s gospel, whose opening lines call us to give God the gift of our obedience.
One way to see the story of Jesus’ birth is through the eyes of a long string of obedient people. Consider the alternatives: what would have happened if these people had not been so willing?
· If Mary had said, “I’m sorry. Too much pressure. Go find another girl.”
· If Joseph had said, “Nope. No way. Too risky.”
· If the shepherds had said, “Us? In the presence of a king? You’ve got to be kidding.”
· If the magi had said, “Herod must hear about this at once.”
· And, in this week’s passage, what if John the Baptist had said, “You want me to eat what? And wear what?”
To set the tone for this enduring sequence of obedience, Mark’s narrative opens his new story with an old reminder from the prophet Isaiah:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
The word “straight” is Mark’s favorite word. The Greek word occurs seventeen times throughout his gospel, translated in different ways. It most often occurs as immediately, which we tend to associate with being “instantaneous.” But it also has the sense of being “straight up” or “straight forward.” Consider how this nuance changes the way some of these passages in Mark might be read:
· “Then Jesus perceived with clarity and focus in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves.” (Mark 2:8)
· “But when the grain is ripe, he goes in with his sickle with discipline and efficiency, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:29)
· “But Jesus spoke to them with straight talk, and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)
· “Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Then he was able to see straight and true and followed him on the way.” (Mark 10:52)
From the beginning of his gospel until the very end, Mark’s primary concern is that we understand that living the life of Jesus is one of focus, discipline, and intentionality. Follow the commandments. Don’t deviate. Stay focused and don’t lose track. (And by all means, don’t speed!)
If you are interested in giving God a gift this Christmas, there may be no better one than the gift of your obedience to the way and will of Christ in your life. That is our theme for this Sunday, and I encourage you to spend some time in these upcoming days to confess openly and prayerfully all those things that have kept you from a full and free obedience to God.
According to Mark, there can be no better preparation for Christmas than the one you do in your own soul. Let us all prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.
Peace, Love, and Joy,
Magrey
The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org
Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’,
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
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