Days and Years
Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
It is not difficult to learn how many days there are before Christmas right now. Just turn on the television and watch for a short bit and you will probably learn that fact. Not that if you wanted to, you could not figure it out for yourself. You may even note that often times they will confuse the days before Christmas with the days of Christmas (even telling you how much it would cost to purchase everything in the song). The reason we hear about these so often is that those who are telling us this are hoping we buy their things for gifts. I am not against gift giving. I kinda like giving gifts. Some people are so set on it though they lose track of why we give gifts. We give gifts each Christmas to remind us of the greatest gift ever given – Jesus. But today our texts remind us of how short our lives are. Isaiah reminds us that we are like grass and our constancy is like the flower in the field; the grass withers and the flower fades. What a depressing message during this time. But for many these are depressing times.
Our lives are not like Christmas presents wrapped in fancy paper with a ribbon around it and a bow attached. Our lives are messy and confusing. We hope that this Christmas will bring us the joy and happiness we had long ago at some Christmas when we were younger. And so, we allow others to dictate to us what this time is all about. By the way, there is only 16 more days left until…
You, like me, have been counting. But have you been counting for the correct reason? When we count our days we are reminded about how short our lives are and how fragile it can be. And so we fill it up with a lot of things. Sometimes we do so in order to try to push away the burdens we bear and the sadness that comes with it. And you have been told you should not have those feelings because it is supposed to be a time of great happiness. But our texts for today remind us of sin and death. Two troubling issues that nag at the back of our heads that we try to push away as we count down the days before Christmas. They are a reality check in our world’s hurried stumbling toward artificial bliss. But, these texts also remind you of God’s plan. There was a man…
John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness. While his wilderness was at the Jordan river, we all have our own. Left to ourselves we would wander hopelessly around that wilderness looking to get ourselves out. But, like an impossible escape room, we would never find the exit. But then Jesus steps in and leads us. And Jesus can because he spent time himself in the wilderness and struggled with the shortness of life and the troubles of sin and death. That is why Peter encourages us to strive to be found at peace as we wait for Jesus’ return. I know that is near impossible with all our expectations, hopes, and plans around these days. Peace sometimes is the farthest thing from our minds and lives.
I would suggest to you that peace is another of the gifts that God bestows upon us. As all gifts from God it does not come all wrapped up in a flashy package. It sometimes comes in a rough and tumble, troubling package that, at first, can feel like a burden. Peace does not come easy, just look at the world today: people would rather fight than work for peace. But to you God gives peace. In fact that is what this season is all about. God sending the prince of peace into the world and into your life. So take time in the next few days not counting how little time you have or what you need to get done. Instead count your blessings and think of Jesus who suffered and died for you so that you may have the peace that passes all understanding and spend some of each of the remaining days in prayer – one of your gifts to God.