Richmond's Rumblings

Richmond’s Rumblings

We are busily engaged in all matters Advent with Christmas and the birth coming closer to God’s fulfillment. It’s altogether an overused slogan for us to acknowledge, however, what we all experience every time we enter Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, or some other department store (as we used to call them) where we see shelves upon shelves full of potential present material, so perhaps we need not do so today. I will also make a concerted effort to avoid subjecting you to some variation of the “Christmas has become a secular event, and we have lost our way” sermon or prayers for these next few weeks. My own feeling is we know that and to endlessly remind you of it is an equivalent of me saying “the wind will blow a lot in southwest Missouri.” 

What perhaps we can focus ourselves upon is what God is already doing again. The early Church way back 2,000 (or so) years ago had an advantage over us English speakers in that they had occasional words that could be used (in our case) for two different reasons. One of those words was “time,” and as these early Church folks were trying to explain what God had done through Jesus of Nazareth, they wanted to place his birth in a certain sort of time. They knew God had done something very, very unique, so they switched their sense of time in relationship to him by using the word kairos (meaning “the fullness of time” or “God’s time”) rather than the hum-drum and everyday chronos or simply chronology from one day and year to the next. Our earliest Church ancestors wanted to emphasize that God had acted within what we call time, but in a way that changed how we as humans understand the new ways that chronology works. In doing so, they emphasized the special nature of God’s gift in the preacher from Nazareth, and what his birth meant for the world. I think if we can allow ourselves to focus upon the way that God has changed time and history in the birth of this coming baby, our present Advent hurriedness can become that much more meaningful.

Jane and I want to extend our best in love to all of you with yours during this Advent season. May God in your life bring joy and happiness at home, work, and among your fellows in our church community. Blessings to all—

Shalom, Live Long, and Prosper,

Richmond