(A note: The internet seems to be having issues this morning nationwide. Keep trying the various links if you are having problems! It isn’t your computer - it is one of the major cloud networks. Access comes and goes.)

On Sunday, I was at St. Matthew’s Episcopal in Louisville, where I preached the above sermon from Luke 21. The partial text was:

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, `I am he!’ and, `The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom….”

The preached sermon was a version of my Sunday Musings from last weekend, “When, when, when?”

Christians often interpret this passage as replacement theory — Jesus is predicting the end of Judaism and its replacement with Christianity.

That is wrong.

But Jesus did preach on replacement — that one day the EMPIRE would end and be replaced by the Reign of God on earth. This text is about political — and not theological — replacement.

I loved preaching this — on our longing for the END OF EMPIRE.

I was getting ready to send it out to you all last night when a local New England newspaper broke this story:

“Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays”

Listen to the sermon. Read the newspaper story. The sermon and the story speak to both the Luke passage and to America right now. They are intertwined.

What do the people of God do when their sacred spaces are corrupted or abused by empire?

The question still stands. And the longing — When will this end? — beats in my soul with my heart this morning.

ADVENT AT THE COTTAGE

We’ll be focusing on A Beautiful Year, the section of Advent essays. The best experience will be in tandem with reading the book. Hardback, e-book, and audio options are available from a variety of booksellers.

ADVENT TRACK 1: Everyone, Paid and Free Subscribers

Regular Sunday Musings, based on Advent lectionary texts

Weekly suggested reading along from A Beautiful Year with seasonal reflection questions

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Daily Audio Advent window moments from A Beautiful Year

Regular Sunday Musings, based on Advent lectionary texts

Weekly suggested reading along from A Beautiful Year with reflection questions

Thursday open comment thread in community on reflection questions; surprise Zoom gathering (or two)

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SPECIAL ADVENT ADD-ON:

Advent with Diana & Tripp Fuller hosted by Homebrewed Christianity “The Beginning of Another World: Advent Against Empire”

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Anyone who is part of The Cottage, whether as a free or paid subscriber can participate in this four-week Advent course.

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Here’s the LINK for INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP at Homebrewed:

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PHOTOS FROM ST. MATTHEWS

The good folks at St. Matthew’s in Louisville did a wonderful job with their weekend event featuring A Beautiful Year. As you can see below, I really, truly enjoyed preaching and teaching.

And they enjoyed creating a beautiful setting for A Beautiful Year! The church was decorated with amazing flowers everywhere!

We may still be bedeviled by empire. The suffering and persecution is real.

But the beauty stands in sharp contrast to the ugliness of Herod and Caesar. Their walls will fall. And flowers will bloom in every field.

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