Flowers Instead of Ashes Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Sunday, December 11, 2011 The Rev. Sharon Snapp-Kolas, preaching Scripture. Prayer. Opening. Mary Lynn Tobin tells this story in her book, Finding Our Voice: It may be that one of our own challenges is to know who we aren't. There's a story about a woman finding herself alone in an elevator with the famous and very handsome Robert Redford. As the elevator moved up the floors, the woman, like many of us might, found herself uncontrollably staring at the movie star. Finally, in her excitement and nervousness, she blurted out: Are you the real Robert Redford? To which Redford responded, Only when I'm alone. That story reveals that Robert Redford is not simply another pretty face, but he has grown into a wisdom that must serve him well he obviously knows who he is not. I. Isaiah and Outer Signs of Hope In today s scripture reading from Isaiah the people have been enslaved in Babylon for a number of generations. But now they have been freed and are returning home to Judea. Isaiah tries to help them to understand who they really are, now that they are no longer slaves in Babylon. What they discover when they return home is total devastation and destruction. Not a stone left standing. And so the prophet in today s reading preaches good news to the people. He tells them to have hope even in the face of the ruins of their country. He tells them to have courage and to rebuild. 1
Hans Sachs wrote in his book, Marks of Love and Life, about two brothers. One of the brothers was afraid of open doors. So the other brother threatened, Some day I m going to lock you in a room with open doors. It s like the returning exiles are locked in a room with open doors. They are free. They are no longer slaves. They can rebuild their country however they choose. But the people are down hearted, mourning, fearful of their new freedom in the midst of ruins. The prophet Isaiah speaks to a people returning from exile to find their homeland destroyed. The message Isaiah gives to the people in mourning is a message for us in Advent, too. The prophet speaks of outer, visible signs of hope. The people in mourning exhibit signs of their despair. They put ashes of mourning on their heads. They weep uncontrollably until their salt tears leave painful tracks on their faces. They exhibit faint spirits; they lack courage because for so long they have been a laughing stock enslaved in Babylon. They have been taunted with jokes about their weak God who does not save them. But now God anoints the prophet to preach good news to the people. They are to wear flowers of rejoicing on their heads not ashes of mourning. They are to pour soothing oil on their skin, not salty tears. They are to wear the mantle of praise before the nations not a faint spirit. The people are to sing praise to God because God has clothed them in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. They are clothed in jewels and flowers, as a bride and groom at their wedding. These outer signs of hope are conscious choices which the prophet urges the people to make. He urges them to rejoice in the face of destruction. They are free, the doors are open. If 2
they put off their mourning, take on rejoicing in God, and set themselves to the task of rebuilding, all will be well. A theologian was asked at a lecture, When were you saved? He replied, When was I saved? I was saved 2000 years ago. This is our hope. This is our reason for rejoicing, regardless of our situation in life. We were saved 2000 years ago. Jesus clothed us in righteousness 2000 years ago. We no longer wear the filthy rags of sin, but we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This is the joy of Christmas, the joy of our salvation. II. Jesus and the Year of Jubilee In fact, Jesus quotes Isaiah in his first sermon in Luke, the sermon that inaugurates his ministry. Jesus reads, from Isaiah 61:1-2, in the synagogue in Nazareth, where he lived as a boy. Luke s version, in chapter 4 verses 18-19, is slightly different from the translation we read this morning. It goes like this, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. Jesus proclaims, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. What Jesus announces is the year of jubilee. The year of jubilee is an ancient concept of justice in Israel. From the law books of Leviticus, chapter 25, and Deuteronomy, chapter 15, we learn that the 7 th year is to be a year of sabbath rest, as the 7 th day is to be a day of sabbath rest. The 7 th year is a year when debts are wiped away, forgiven and forgotten. It is a holy year in which generous giving to the poor is required. Slaves are set free. Fields are left fallow so the soil can rest. 3
The year of jubilee is a very special 7 th year. It is after the 49 th or the 7 times 7 year, continuing the tradition of sabbath rest. In the jubilee year, all the acts of the 7 th year sabbath are intensified and multiplied. All debts are completely wiped out; the poor are abundantly cared for; all slaves are set free; all fields are left fallow. The 50 th year is a grand party, during which there is no planting or harvesting. There is only feasting on food that has already been stored away. In addition, in the year of jubilee, land is returned to its original owners. There is a sense here that many tribes and families in Israel have lost their lands during the Babylonian exile and other exiles, or to poverty and slavery. The year of jubilee is intended to make things right. It is intended to be a year of freedom and joy, especially for the poorest and most oppressed members of the community. III. Inner Signs of Hope The prophet Isaiah also speaks of an inner, spiritual jubilee. He talks about inner signs of hope. Isaiah tells the people that they will be oaks of righteousness; the planting of the Lord. Right now, says the prophet, God has seeds planted in the rich dark soil. These seeds are waiting to spring forth with new life. Advent is partly a time when we exhibit outer signs of rejoicing. There are Christmas decorations going up, joyful carols being sung, parties and presents being planned. But Advent is also a time when we watch and wait, holding within us the seeds of hope which will spring forth at Christmas. This hidden aspect of Advent, this waiting and watching in the deep dark soil of our souls, is often missed in the busyness of the season. 4
Jimmy Buffet wrote in one of his songs, I think that we ought to declare a universal Ten-Deep-Breaths Day so that the whole world could stop and everybody just catch his breath. What a delightful expression of the concept of jubilee. The whole world stops. We take ten deep breaths. We enjoy a worldwide sabbath rest. The banks and the financial game-players give back all the foreclosed homes they stole from us and all our hard-earned money that they pocketed. The sick are healed. The lonely are comforted. The grieving are surrounded with loved ones. The poor are abundantly cared for. The whole wide world takes a year off from wars and murders and atrocities and hatred. In the year of jubilee we have a worldwide, yearlong party to which everyone is invited. Everyone has plenty to eat and drink. No one is homeless or forgotten. The year of jubilee. Ten-Deep-Breaths Day. The season of Advent is meant to be a ten-deep-breaths season, in which we frequently pause to reflect on the seeds that God has planted which have yet to sprout. Pam Abbey, a United Methodist pastor in Northern California, writes that it is very difficult to grab hold of this inner, reflective aspect of Advent. She writes about Hallowthankmas that 3-month marathon of card-sending, party-throwing, putting up and taking down of decorations, overeating and overbuying. She says that all three holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas have become disconnected from their religious meanings. Americans during Hallowthankmas remind her of herself when she is depressed and standing in front of the frig with a spoon and a carton of ice cream. She wants something but she s not quite sure what, so ice cream will have to do. It s sweet and comforting and plentiful and it takes her mind off whatever it is that she wants but doesn t have. 5
If we would pause and pay attention to the seeds God has planted, we might find what it is we re looking for this holiday season. If we would pause and truly rejoice in God, we might be able to receive the gift of Christ this Christmas. We are so similar to the exiles returning from Babylon. Locked in rooms with open doors, we are fearful of our new freedom in Christ, as we survey the ruins of our former lives. Closing. Sharon Moon writes, in her book, Rejoice and Proclaim Jubilee: There is an email going round that warns of a very powerful virus spreading in epidemic proportions. The virus is called Inner Peace. Be on the alert, it says, for symptoms of inner peace that could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of inner peace: + A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences. + An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. + A loss of interest in judging other people. + A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. + A loss of interest in conflict. + A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.) + Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. + Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. + Frequent attacks of smiling. + An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen. + An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it. 6
I have two spiritual exercises to suggest for you during Advent. Two ways to prepare for Christmas joy. Two ways to seek after the inner peace that Sharon Moon describes: 1. Take 10 deep breaths each day during Advent. (Thank you, Jimmy Buffet!) In fact, let s pause and do that right now. Settle in comfortably in your seat. Now (1) Breathe in Breathe out (2) Breathe in Breathe out (3) Breathe in Breathe out (4) Breathe in Breathe out (5) Breathe in Breathe out (6) Breathe in Breathe out (7) Breathe in Breathe out (8) Breathe in Breathe out (9) Breathe in Breathe out (10) Breathe in Breathe out 2. Complete this sentence: If I were free, I could It might be, If I were free, I could pray more often. Or, If I were free, I could take a walk every day, for my mental and physical health. Or, If I were free, I could say no to that third piece of pumpkin pie. If I were free, I could forgive my sister or brother or friend. If I were free, I could forgive myself. If I were free, I could stop drinking and using. If I were free, I could get out from under these financial troubles I m in. If I were free, I could take up the piano; I ve always wanted to play. If I were free, I could tell my father I love him, or I could tell my mother I love her. If I were free, I could turn my life over to God and trust in Him. So, complete this sentence: If I were free, I could And then imagine Jesus hear His voice, as he says to you: You are free! If I were free Jesus says, You are free! God is at work, preparing the soil of your heart to receive the joy of Christ, in the midst of whatever ruins there may be in your life. Amen. 7