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November 28, 2021: What does God C.N.U.?

Ok I have an exercise for you. This is from the work of Rob Bell (speaker, author and former pastor). Here are two approaches to life. [Reveal poster boards]   One says, JOY, HAPPINESS, SUCCESS, LOVE. The other says, SUFFERING, FAILURE, DESPAIR.  

 

Now, choose which poster boards you want your life to be filled with? Probably most of you would say the first one: JOY, HAPPINESS, SUCCESS, LOVE. You want that for yourself and for your loved ones.  

 

But now, I ask you to reflect on your life events that most forged you into the person you absolutely feel you needed to become and could not have become any other way. [Pause] For many of you, and me, they came from the second poster board. As unpleasant as it sounds, it is most likely the misfortunes, the trials, the failures (when the rug is being pulled out from under you) that made you into the person you are becoming.

 

The Isralites in the first reading certainly felt that way. They just returned home from being slaves over in Babylon and their beloved city and temple was destroyed. “What the . . .? This is terrible.”   Yet God promises to rise up from the shoot of Jesse hope. Think of a forest fire where everything is destroyed, but then buds sprouts up for new life.

 

Look at the image on the altar cloth. This is a Jesse Tree, which represents the hope we have even in the midst of despair or misfortune. Jesse was King David’s father, and as we know Jesus comes from the family of David, so it symbolizes the family of Jesus, that he referred to in the gospel.

 

Or when Jesus comments on the state of the world (at that time) and it all seems like “gloom and doom,” those words could be said of today: nations in dismay, perplexed by what’s going on. People dying of fright. Jesus goes on and warns us not to think forces of evil have the upper hand and we are tempted to look for excuses or fake solutions. Which, unfortunately, as Jesus warns, can lead some into alcoholism or going against your sexual boundaries.

 

But here’s the good stuff, Jesus then says, “stay awake and pray.” Pray meaning . . . start taking the time this Advent to check in with God. Say hello, look at your bible, come to Adoration (which we will have on Tuesday nights of Advent) come to Reconciliation (which we have as a communal service this coming Wednesday night).

 

Stay awake meaning . . . realize the God who believes in you and has good things in store for you and for all. Like the Christian song currently playing on Christion Radio by a group called Sanctus Real: My God is Still the Same.

 

When did He lose His power?
When did His mercy change?
Never has, never will
My God is still the same, yeah
My God is still the same

 

And it is that sameness that we want you to ponder this Advent. [Reveal third poster board with the letter ICNU] This is an acronym: I.C.N.U.   [Use sign language to demonstrate] I see in you. For you meditation this week, and as you prepare to join us for Reconciliation on Wednesday, think of the qualities that God sees in you. That is, what are the traits, or spiritual gifts that God recognizes in you?   Think of God nudging the angels and pointing to you, as God says, “See that one. I am especially fond of that one because . . . “

 

Now, I would write it out, because I am a big fan of journaling. But you do it however you want.

Perhaps you want to start with second board (i.e. SUFFERING FAILURE, DESPAIR) but don’t get stuck there. Our suffering is never the end of the story. Just like the cross is not the end of Jesus’ story. Perhaps those trying times have transformed you, opened up windows of change for you to become the person that God is cheering. Like an Amy Grant song says,

 

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody

 

What does God see in you?

 

 

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