Holy Trinity Ankeny

As we observe the Nativity of Our Lord this year, there are lots of shadows and darkness around. The darkness of disease is still real, disrupting our gatherings and spreading through a new variant. The darkness of division seems to work its way ever deeper in families, communities, nations as we are all at each other’s throats for the smallest of things. The darkness of disaster brought about by climate change is frightening. We can put up some holiday lights, make cookies, and have a feast to divert our attention from the dark, but it does not last long. Isaiah, however, gives us a message about a child born who actually can and does bring hope, peace, healing, and life itself. The child’s name is Jesus.

The faithful people of Micah's day were longing for a shepherd king to be their hope, as they lived in constant fear of violence from the Assyrians.  Hopes and fears meld before Mary comes to really understand that she is participating in God's actions to save the world.  This year, like all years, has seen its share of changes in our lives.  Hear Mary's prophecy of hope that the coming Messiah will bring.  Hear how this hope will take away all fears.

When John the Baptist calls the gathering crowd a “brood of vipers,” he is not offering an insult. He sees in the mob a desire to run from the fire of judgment, just like snakes do. John warns that escape is impossible and that the whole of creation is subject to the correction of God. In a world where so much is so horribly wrong, John knows that God will not wait forever for things to be put right. So, what can we do in the face of judgment? John has an answer that is full of good news.

While celebrations and decorations begin to shape the holiday landscape spreading a form of cheer everywhere, the Church declares on this first Sunday of Advent – “The End is Near!” We know that in our bones. As Jesus points out the wars, pestilence, destruction, and cosmic threats of his age, they all sound a little too close to home to bear. Maybe that is why we need all the decorations – to distract us from the truth. So what is the good news? Jesus has some thoughts on that subject.

We live in an age where truth is relative. Everyone has "their own" truth. One result is that no common truth exists to hold communities together. We are divided over everything. Into that world comes Jesus Christ declaring, "I AM the truth."

Our Gospel reading seems strange, with a heaviness of doom surrounding it. The entire chapter of Mark 13 is a form of apocalyptic literature which was commonly used in the Jewish community during times of war. It contained code language that the Jews would understand and their oppressors would not.  Mark is relaying to his community that even through the temple was destroyed in war, things are not what they seem. God is still with them but no longer needs the temple and sacrifices. When we go through hard times and it feels like the end of the world, we also can be confident that things are not as they seem. We have the constant undergirding of God's love, grace, and peace to give us hope.

On All Saints Sunday we celebrate that we are united, in Christ, with all the beloved who have died. We celebrate the faithful witness of those who were exemplars of faith in action. We also celebrate that, in the waters of baptism, we have been made saints – all of us. Yet, few of us feel very saintly. Saints are, in some sense, stewards – caretakers – of what has been given by God and the sufferings and pain of the world. When we embrace suffering, share what we have, and anticipate the future of God by living it right now – we are God’s saints.

On this Reformation Day, we remember the search for truth that Martin Luther experienced and the conflict it generated within the church.  Whenever the church drifts from the truth, a reforming is necessary.  But what is truth? What does it look like and act like? Jesus tells us of Truth and how to find it.

Today's sermon is based on Mark 10:46-52 which tells the story of Jesus healing a blind man. Bartimaeus wants eyes to see so he can follow Jesus and the spiritual eyes that tell him Jesus is the Messiah. Through the eyes of Jesus we will see the world differently.  Jesus gives us the sight to see the world as he does.

Today we commemorate Saint Luke - Evangelist. Luke is considered the author of the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Luke's account of the birth of Jesus is probably the most familiar in the gospels. It is the version complete with the shepherds in their fields who follow the star and the singing angels described in Christmas carols. Luke wants us to know that Jesus is a God who includes all people. His gospel describes the generosity and recklessness of God's love and forgiveness. Hear about stories unique to Luke's Gospel. We thank God for his witness!