Waiting

Second Sunday of Advent – Cycle A

Isaiah 11: 1-10; 

Romans 15: 4-9; 

Matthew 3: 1-12

We live in a society and a nation where instant gratification is the norm. If you want the latest gadget, you can jump in the car, go to the store, plunk down a little piece of plastic with a magnetic strip, and bring the desired object home. If you prefer, you can pull out your laptop or smart phone, press a few buttons, and have it delivered. With very little effort, we can immediately satisfy our craving and be happy – at least until the next craving arises.

Our culture has managed to erase the need to wait. Most people see this as a good thing – an advancement. I love it myself. I've never been very good at waiting. I like to be in control. When we go out, I always have to drive. I choose the route. I choose the speed. I choose the music. I am in control.

Waiting by its very nature is surrendering that control. The worst place to be in a hospital (if you are not the patient) is the waiting room. While things are unfolding for the patient, you must surrender control and simply wait. I find the whole process excruciating.

I've never been very good at waiting. I'm told that there is a grace in waiting. Surrendering control to God and allowing things to unfold in their own time and in their own way can be freeing. Things like trepidation and worry slip away.

I've never been very good at waiting. But I'm not the only one. Isaiah preached to the Hebrew people about a sprout from the stump of Jesse that would grow and blossom. A savior was coming – someone with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and strength. A savior was coming – someone who would free the captives and judge the poor with justice. A savior was coming – someone who would strike the ruthless and slay the wicked.

The Hebrew people had to wait more than 700 years from Isaiah's time for Jesus to come. And when Jesus finally arrived on the scene, he was nothing like they had imagined. They expected a mighty king who would drive out the enemies of Jerusalem and rule his chosen people with righteousness and compassion.

If that is what the people were expecting, then they are still waiting.

Jesus did not seek to change the world by force or by power. The plan was much more elegant than that.

Jesus sought to change each of us from within. He sought to change our hearts – not our fortunes. Before the world can change, our hearts must change.

Jesus did not come to establish the kingdom of God. Jesus gave us the knowledge and the inspiration to build the kingdom ourselves. He sent the Holy Spirit who continues to instruct and inspire each of us to bring about the coming kingdom. Things like “love your neighbor as yourself” and “forgive 70 X 7 times” are not just axiums for a better life – they are the very foundation on which the kingdom are built.

We just have to wait for a few more hearts to change.

My wife Susan has always been a tremendous source of strength for me. She is good at waiting. When I told her that for my advent homily I wanted to speak about the grace of waiting, she laughed. But she also understood that I was seeking something – something that has thus far eluded me.

Susan's challenge to me – and my challenge to each of you – is to find a little time each day during advent to simply sit in silence. I hope to use my time to meditate on the nature of God. I want to pray for patience. I want to pray for the strength and the courage necessary to surrender control of myself and to place it in God's hands.

Isaiah the prophet speaks of a time in our world when peace and goodness will flourish. He foresees a time when the ruthless will be struck down and poor will be judged with justice. The wolf and the lamb will live in harmony and no harm will befall the child playing near the cobra's den. It sounds wonderful.

But I guess we'll have to wait just a little longer...

Deacon Darryl Diemer

2nd Sunday In Advent

December 4, 2016

Painting: Edward Hicks - The Peaceable Kingdom, detail, 1845-46