As I approached this week's text from Isaiah, knowing that I am offering the message at my church for the 2nd week of advent this year, the passage drew me in and it felt intimately familiar. I took a look back through my blog writing days and sure enough, there it was, a whole sermon called "Finding HOPE in the Bleak Midwinter of Life" from 2010. As a matter of fact, it was not just any ordinary sermon, it was my ordination sermon ... yes, I thought with an impish smile in my soul, "well, here its is, I can just tweak it and I am good to go!" Until this morning, oh YES, Saturday morning, the morning before Sunday morning! I looked back at what I had written again and listened to Corrine May's beautiful coffee house performance of "In the Bleak Midwinter" over and over.
From the moment I first heard "In the Bleak Midwinter" long years ago, it has been my
favorite song of advent, the season of waiting, longing, expectancy. So here I sit , struggling
with our church's advent theme which is "signs of joy," struggling with
the message that God is forming in my heart to share tomorrow, you know,
the one that replaces what I was going to say, the words that belong to the world I lived in, in 2010 ... struggling, listening,
weeping ... what can I give him, give him my heart ... yes, and so
tomorrow I shall speak the words that are being formed by the Holy One in the mystery that resides in my advent heart.
And that will be enough.
In the bleak midwinter ... "A shoot will grow up from the stump of
Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots ... the root of Jesse will
stand as a signal to the peoples." Isaiah 11:1, 10a
In the bleak midwinter ... Isaiah offers up a vision to his community, a prophet (one who speaks for God) speaking to a people who are living in communal turmoil. They were living in a land torn apart by division and war. On the brink of physical captivity, they were a people captivated already, by their despair.
In the bleak midwinter of our lives, Isaiah offers us a 2-fold vision ... a vision of Messiah and the "Peaceable" Kingdom of God. It is a vision through which God can speak into our lives. It is a vision that gives us divine hope. I invite you to take a deep breath and engage in a movement of prayerful readings of Isaiah 11:1-10a (NET) called Lectio Divina. Even though it is only 10 verses, the passage is a little long so if it feels like too much you may want to consider reading either verses 1-5 (Messiah) or 6-10 (the Peaceable Kingdom) in two readings rather than both at the same time.
Movement 1: Lectio (Read)
As you read these words slowly, simply listen to the words as if you had never heard them before, even if you have heard them a thousand times. Perhaps there is a word or a phrase that will catch your attention. After reading you may want to turn that word over and over in your mind for a few moments. Allow the words to "marinate" in your soul.
A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock,
a bud will sprout from his roots.
The Lord’s spirit will rest on him—
a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom,
a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans,
a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the Lord.
He will take delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by mere appearances,
or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.
He will treat the poor fairly,
and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and order the wicked to be executed.
Justice will be like a belt around his waist,
integrity will be like a belt around his hips.
A wolf will reside with a lamb,
and a leopard will lie down with a young goat;
an ox and a young lion will graze together,
as a small child leads them along.
A cow and a bear will graze together,
their young will lie down together.
A lion, like an ox, will eat straw.
A baby will play
over the hole of a snake;
over the nest of a serpent
an infant will put his hand.
They will no longer injure or destroy
on my entire royal mountain.
For there will be universal submission to the Lord’s sovereignty,
just as the waters completely cover the sea.
At that time (other versions say, "On that day")
a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations.
Movement 2: Meditatio (Meditation)
When you are ready to move on, read the words through slowly a second time as you consider where this passage intersects your life. How can you hear or sense God speaking or leading you in your life? Be aware that at some times, there may be a profound feeling of the absence of God and that simply means you are resting in the mystery of God. You may be drawn to the same word or phrase as in your first reading but as you go deeper, you may find energy emerging from a different direction.
Movement 3: Oratio (Prayer)
When you are ready to move on, read the words through slowly a third time as you consider how you might respond to God's presence or absence in your life as you are discerning God's movement through your life as it is illuminated by this passage. Is there a prayer to pray, an action to take, or a message to pass along that you are discerning after your pondering?
Movement 4: Contemplatio (Contemplation)
Finally, we rest. Take as much time as you can allow yourself to simply sit in the silence. Allow all of your thoughts to fall away as you gently allow God's presence to fill and surround you.
How might you take a word with you from this passage? Perhaps you might create a breath prayer, which we pray in 2 movements: Breathing in and breathing out. Breathe in a Name of God inspired by this scripture and breathe out the longing that has been ignited. You can use this one or create one:
Breathing in ... God of justice
Breathing out ... Let your kingdom come
Reflection: As I read through this passage prayerfully, I am drawn to the Peaceable Kingdom. I search for images that depict this strange land that we read of in Isaiah's Vision of what shall be when this "descendant" of Jesse emerges from destruction. Jesse was the father of King David. Jesus was born into the family of David and Christians believe he is the Messiah, the One who was not only born in a stable long ago but is the One who "will come again." Isaiah tells us what shall be when he comes ... on THAT day.
Below is one corner of a rendering of "The Peaceable Kingdom" by Edward Hicks. After the revolutionary war, when Hicks was a small child, his family lost everything and went into hiding. After his mother passed away, Hicks was sent to live with a Quaker family, whose pacifism may have inspired his fascination with The Peaceable Kingdom.
Between 1816 and his death in 1849, Edward Hicks created between 60 and 100 different versions of "The Peaceable Kingdom," each with subtle differences. (See The Society for The Arts in Religious and Theological Studies Journal, "Edward Hicks: The Peaceable Kingdom" to read a brief biography illustrated with some of his paintings. It is a wonderful article written by Joan Carter, scroll down to download the entire article complete with artwork)
 | |
| A corner portion of "The Peaceable Kingdom," Edward Hicks (1780-1849) in Public Domain |
Edward Hick's paintings, Carter says, "can be seen to chart, through the symbology contained within the paintings, the course of his inner life during those years. Filled early on with the dream of peaceful coexistence between all, his hopes were gradually shattered as he came, at the end, to see what an impossible dream it was."
Hicks said, "“I should live to see the society of Friends come together but . . . the ranting un[settled] spirit among friends together with the feebleness of my hold on life has dissipated (sic) that hope.”
Edward Hick's pilgrimage through life at that time in the history of our country seen through his paintings, drew me into my own reflections of this passage at this time in our country's history. I would say that today, I am feeling that same weariness (and heartbreak) that this artist felt as he watched his idealistic view of society slip away for it is as if blinders have been ripped from my eyes ... I look around at family and friends and no longer know who I can trust. I feel that I have been plunged into a season called "the bleak midwinter" and it is a season that calls for endurance. It is a season for calling upon the Spirit to rest upon me, giving me a voice to speak for the poor and the downtrodden, and for all people who are being put down, shamed, ridiculed, and made to feel unwelcome and less than. No longer does "peace" mean for me that I "keep the peace" by not speaking. From this day forward, "peace" means that I must speak against all that goes against the vision of the peaceable kingdom. It is a season that calls for peace that is born of justice and nothing less.
As I contemplate this new season of my life, here is the sign of hope, joy, and peace that I am being wrapped in by this passage: In the bleak midwinter ... "A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots ... (oh my yes) the root of Jesse will stand as a signal to the peoples." Isaiah 11:1, 10a
The "Signal," the sign of Divine Hope, is Jesus! Having been birthed long, long ago in human flesh ... he lived, he died, he was raised. I believe with all of my heart, the heart I have offered to give as a gift standing at the edge of the manger and in solidarity at the margins ... Jesus died because of God's deep, deep love for ALL people, every single one, even if they were the only one. period.
The hard part of that belief is that I have to listen to everyone, even if I disagree with them, and I have to love them even when I don't like them. The harder part is that I have to stand my ground and speak to them, even if they disagree with me. I have to stand against racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and any kind of hate. I have to understand and somehow use my white privilege to make a difference for others.
Contemporary theologian, Rob Bell, says, “If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody
Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment