Reflections on "Interruptions and Hope" Matthew 3: 1-12; Matthew 11: 2-6

At one point, I thought about doing this sermon with the other pastor at St. Andrew.  In that approach, John the Baptist (me) would have interrupted the sermon being preached by my colleague.  But, we had a short week due to my daughter's graduation from college, so we did not do a joint sermon.  

the sermon was designed to remind us how God interrupts our lives, with John the Baptist being the interrupter, and the sermon was supposed to remind us that God seeks to join us in our lives.  To make the first point, I began telling a story from my stool (I've been telling a story each week of Advent from a stool) that was supposed to be the perfect story.  At the climax, I stood up, pointed my finger, and began the John the Baptist imitation.  When that was done, I walked back to the pulpit and said the line, "John the Baptist interrupts a good Christmas story, doesn't he?"  It worked well.  Lots of weed faces when the story was leading to the sappy moment; then shocked faces when the finger pointing started; then laughter at the line about John the Baptist interrupting.  I think that point was heard.

The personal story about my daughter's birth also worked.  It is always dangerous to se personal stories, particularly if they do not make the point faithfully, but I think the point of God being with us worked as well. 

Matthew 3: 1-12:  In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

"interruptions and Hope;" SAPC, December 17, 2017;  Matthew 3: 1-12; Matthew 11: 2-6

Introduction:  this is one of those sweet, almost perfect Christmas stories.

It was a couple of days before Christmas.  the family had all arrived at their parents’ home.  First time in 3 or 4 years that all four siblings were in the same place to celebrate Christmas.

The oldest son was there with his wife and their baby who was having her first Christmas.  Having a baby at Christmas time added to the moment.

the snow had arrived to their OH town.  Not enough snow to cause travel problems, but enough to ensure a white Christmas.

They had eaten dinner - the traditional lasagna dinner they always had at every family gathering.  

the whole family moved into the room where the fire was going strong in the fireplace.  One of the daughters was playing Christmas carols softly on the piano.

Quiet conversations were taking place.

there was an air of anticipation and excitement.  The youngest son had brought his girlfriend home for the Christmas celebration. 

rumor had it that he was going to propose to her.  He stood up, as if to get their attention.  Evyerone looked at him.  Was this the moment?

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Don’t turn away from me.  I see you trying to hide from me.

You elders and deacons, don’t duck behind the person sitting in front of you.  I see you there.

Confess your sins and repent.

I don’t care who your grandparents were or who your parents are.

I don’t care how long you’ve been a member of this church or any church.

I am warning you.  Change your ways. 

The one who is coming is greater than I.  I am not worthy to wear his shoes.

And he is coming to change the world.  Are you ready for him?  If not, the ax will cut you down and you will be thrown into the fire.

John sort of interrupts a good Christmas story, doesn’t he.

Barbara Brown Taylor, one of the finer preachers of our time, likens John to a Doberman Pincher.   We merrily rush toward Christmas, and suddenly out of nowhere comes John the Baptist barking at us.

Move 1: As we move through Advent toward Christmas laying claim to the stories and traditions that comfort us, that bring a smile our face, John the Baptist interrupts us.

a. Interruptions get our attention and call us to focus.

1.  It is easy to lose sight on the coming of Christ.

2. Easy for the Christ-child to get lost in all the celebrations and traditions.

3. Easy to lose focus as we try to create that perfect holiday experience.

b.  Suddenly, John the Baptist arrives and calls us back to the task of preparing for the God who is coming.

1. A reminder that the the God who comes in Christ comes to transform our lives and our world.

2.  he calls us to repent which strongly suggests the the Christ-child demands more than  candle-lit service and a few verses of “Silent Night.”

3.  The Christ-child comes to ask us, “Are you willing to follow me.”

4.  Will you change your ways and give up how you participate in injustice; 

or  forgive in the name of love;

will you confess your sins and follow JChirst into the world?

5.  It’s easy to forget that Christ comes to call us to new life; but John the Baptist will remind us.

Move 2:  When John the Baptist calls us to repent, he reminds us that the Christ-child arrives in our broken world.

a.  Sometimes we make Christmas seem like a fairy tale.

1. Beautiful and perfect.

2.  Every things works out for everybody.

2.  In fact, we go to great lengths to make it perfect.

b. But think about the story of Christ’s birth.  

3.  Mary and Joseph having to sort through relationship issues when she gets pregnant, and he’s not the father.

4.  having to travel late in the pregnancy.

5.  No place to spend the night, so she gets stuck out with the animals when she goes into labor.

6.  We tell the story full of pageantry and beautiful hymns, but let me ask you parents out there.  How many of you would want your daughter to deliver her first child out in the hay with the animals?

7.  But that is precisely where the Christ-Child arrives - in the chaos and challenge of their lives that are too full of reality at that moment.

8. from the beginning, the story of Christ’s birth is the story of God, who shows up in the real world.

b.  Noelle story — Advent of 1995

Christmas was three days away.  Like this year, Christmas Eve was going to be on a Sunday, so there was lots of worship to plan and prepare.  the candles were had been put in their holders and were ready to be lit to the sounds of “silent Night” on christmas Eve.

Snow was on the way.  those how had been dreaming of a white Christmas were going to have their dreams met.  At least where we were in KY.

We were going to tell the story of a baby being born in Bethlehem, but first we were go to actually have a baby in Mt. Sterling, KY.  My middle daughter, whose name Noelle had already been chosen as part of this magical moment.

All was good with the world.

The doctor arrived that night in his Christmas sweater having just returned from a ski trip in Colorado to deliver our Christmas baby.  All was right with the world.

Until Noelle arrived and didn’t want to breathe.  

“Code blue. Stat. Room 204.  Our room.  I watch terrified as the doctor works to clear her lungs while my wife keeps asking why the baby won’t cry out or make a noise.  

Time seemed to stop. 

No holding, no touching, the nurses just whisked her away to the nursery and an oxygen tent.  

Most of the friends and church members who were waiting for the joyous celebration quietly looked through the window and the baby hidden beneath the oxygen tent. 

Conversations with my wife and with the doctor. 

“We think this will clear up in the next 24 hrs. or so.  We have been in conversation with the neo-natal unit at the University fo KY, and they think we can handle it without transporting her.  are you ok with that?”

The dream Christmas week was becoming a nightmare.  

One of the elders in the church hung around after everyone had left and asked if she could pray with me as we stood outside the nursery looking in at Noelle.

In the stillness of the moment as her prayer washed over me, I felt the presence of God.  Not quite the comfort that everything would be fine with my daughter, but the assurance that God was with me and would be with me wherever the next few hours led.

The journey to Christmas would have to continue. 

c.  the Christmas story is about the God who shows us.

God who joins us in our brokenness.

God who finds us in our fears.

God who brings us hope when we are feeling hopeless.

Conclusion:  John reminds us of our brokenness, and points us to the God who shows up to be with us.  amen.