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Goblins 'll gitchaSunday, November 27, 2016
Matthew 24:41-42 Matthew frames his story of Jesus' ministry with two of Jesus' sermons. The first, the Sermon on the Mount, tells us how to live in our world. In the second Jesus tells us how to prepare for moving on. It reads a little like a scary campfire story: "The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken." Like a great movie soundtrack, these words shiver my timbers. The shiver starts with fear, and uncertainty. Although I can at least be certain of my failure and fault. I'm tired, I'm full of myself, all I've been thinking about is stuff-stuff-stuff. Cleaning stuff, cooking stuff, buying stuff. Stuff and nonsense. What is this mindful thing? So as Jesus whispers these dark portents into my campfire ears, I hearken back to the morning music of his beatitudes. Where God reminds me of his love. Jesus singing of that love in the meadow, "Do not worry about tomorrow. See the lilies of the field, and don't you know that God loves you ... you ... yes, You! ... even more? Don't you know that God will prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies?" Our grandson Miles Tadashi Tomita (correct and righteous warrior) was born on Veteran's Day. Margaret is in Austin with his parents, Andi and Aki. I am getting into mischief alone at home. And happy I am to remember how much God loves us all. On this first day of Advent, it is good to watch and wait for a rebirth of wonder once again inside my soul. Held and loved by you, Lord, I can breathe deep and wait as the days get shorter and the night grows long. So it goes at the end of one year and the beginning of another. We stand together by the river. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight. O Lord. |
Can you spell "rapture"? Jesus tells a story which we can choose to take literally. Or not. But there's no question that he's insisting on our mindfulness. Stay awake. Stay alert.