The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all this Advent.

We were challenged by our Father General, to consider a sermon keeping the Christmas tree somewhat in mind when we consider the theme.  There were at first many possibilities, but none that seemed to jump to the front.

I thought of the traditional recollections, of how the Christmas tree came to be. The folklore story of Martin Luther walking back to his church on a winters’ night and pausing to gaze up at the stars twinkling beyond the branches of an evergreen.  How he set up such a tree within his church adorned with candles, which reminded him of that night.

Then I thought of the legend of St. Boniface and how, confronted by the pagans in Germany he was on a mission to convert, he cut down the beloved oak tree they worshipped and built a church to St. Peter with it’s wood.  After winter, an evergreen sprig sprouted from the stump of the oak he’d cut down- an evergreen that would endure winter after winter.

As I wrestled with the thought for an idea to choose, the Spirit spoke to me in the musings of Sister Dollie. She compares herself to a Christmas tree, “nothing special under all [her] glittery adornments, but yet you [we] welcome me [her] as a sister in Christ.”  Dearest child of God, you are indeed an inspiration and worthy of our love.

How we all are like Christmas trees.  We have somewhere to go, someone to see and we will spend hours preparing. We shower, pick out our nicest clothes or compare patterns and colors, then to the mirror to groom. Is my hair perfect? Does this shirt match my pants? Does it make me look fat? Is this bling to much?  Yes, we are adorned Christmas trees. Only when we have judged ourselves perfect, can we be good enough to go out- to be put in front of the window where everyone can see.

True, but they only see us then from the outside.  Like carolers strolling by on a winter night looking at the beautiful Christmas trees beyond the frosty windows.  They never see just the tree.  Those imperfections hidden beneath the strings of lights, ornaments and tinsel- the broken branches,  the twisted trunk and of course those bare spots.

Before God, we are naked Christmas trees.  God sees our broken branches, our twisted trunk and yes, our bare spots.  God adorns us with love and, unlike our own critical review of ourselves- God embraces us with all our imperfections, faults and “bare spots.” God knows that we are indeed special- for God is our Creator and we are his created.  We are the sheep of His flock and He is our shepherd, regardless of the brightness and quality of our wool.

It is as when we chose that naked tree, to become our Christmas tree. We chose it for it’s shape, its size, it’s fullness and most importantly- for it’s potential. Then we bring it home and adorn it with lights, tinsel and a star. It becomes a beautiful Christmas tree- and we place it in front of the window.

My almighty Creator. You see me as I am. Naked, I kneel before you in all my imperfection. I am like that evergreen tree- broken, twisted and bare.  Make me into a Christmas tree, almighty God- so that I might radiate your love and bring  joy to all those that I meet on this journey through life. Make me worthy of their friendship, and of your love and promise of eternal life.  I kneel before you, my Lord Jesus, as you lay in the manger. I adore and worship you. May the joy, peace, hope and promise of Christmas never end!  Amen.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given- and the government will be upon his shoulders; and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” [Isaiah 9:6]

The banquet is prepared and those that work to no end and without tire humbly provide a grand service. How fitting for the honored guests to be seated at the table to enjoy the succulent pig! The wine has been properly poured, the name placards bear the identification of those present, and the music is just about to begin. The servers circle around the hall with eyes on emptying plates and glasses. It must be done. The people must be fed.

Some may be offended at the notion that we should serve with reverence; some of us would rather be seated among the fine linens and polished silver. Some may say that serving people is just a dirty job. They may be right. But what about serving at the table of the Lord? What about serving fellow man/woman in the streets and how do we do it without faltering in spirit or passion? Christ speaks of this with His words and with His life. His example is exemplary in this matter. St Paul tells us:

“Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Heb. 5:7)

This sounds like work to me. It screams of passion and undying service. This Holy testament of service represents a requirement for all “Priests of the Order of Melchizedek”. And if it is not known, the designation of the Order of the Priests of Melchizedek are dually assigned to all Christians, including ordained clergy. We all serve and share in this honor. Who do we serve you may ask? We serve each other. We look after each other with reverence for the Holy One’s decrees. We serve those whom suffer through the tribulations of the current day, Christian or not. We do this with confidence. But this is difficult! We live in an age of self. We purposely place our self worth in “things” and not people. Blindly we walk into that grocery store for the best tenderloin but rarely do we notice that we just broke in line to get it! OK, some may be observant…but some are not. But to pay it forward often requires the hindsight of the future; we must be aware before we do something in an attempt to avoid causing duress to someone else. Do we not sacrifice our own self if we desire to serve the table? Christ learned an obedience in His human will and therefore teaches us to do the same.

To lead is to serve. To serve is to suffer and to suffer is to praise God in our actions and not only our words. True greatness is to serve and to do it without a complaint and often times without being noticed. The disciples state that “they are able” to drink of His cup and be baptized like Him. But doesn’t Christ remind us that such a request to be seated at His side can only be seen as a request for temporal power? Does this not remind us that earthly desires such as this are not of HIS father, but of the earth? Jesus makes it clear:

“To sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (Mk 10:40).

Such places of position and status are not His to give in this manner. Of course this is not to say that He does not have the authority. He does! But these places may be designated to ones that those seats have been prepared for. St. John Chrysostom reveals to us that these places may be for such people as the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. It is impossible for us to really know and to anticipate whom Christ was referring to. But we do know that Jesus was speaking of someone else than His immediate disciples. This conversation could also get into some very heavy Christology. Let’s just stop at that. One thing is for sure, Christ made it clear:

“You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant” (Mk 10:42-43) 

I beg of you to observe gently expressions of kindness and service among your fellows and I entreat you to mimic them. Pay it forward, serve and bless, and live to serve again.

Self pity, as defined by Websters dictionairy means: pity for oneself; especially : a self-indulgent dwelling on one’s own sorrows or misfortunes. Lets look at the last part of the definition- “A self-indulgent dwelling on one’s own sorrows or misfortunes”.  How many times a day do you find yourself saying “why me?”, or whining “why can’t I get a break?” as you face yet another tiresome glitch in your day? As Christians we are taught to entrust our pleas to the Lord, that all we would need to do is ask, and it will be given. But I do not think our Creator included self pity as a valid basis for prayer.

In Psalm 22:1-5 we are beseeching God to rescue us, groaning about the many trials man must endure. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” We then go on to continue our whining, saying “But I am a worm”, {hear the poor me?} “scorned by others, and despised by people”. As if because of our very humanness, we are not worthy to be rescued by God. But the complaining doesn’t stop there. “ All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; “Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver– let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”  Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother’s breast. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God.”

How many of us have felt just like this poor soul, crying out to God to help us with a trial, a daily issue, or even just something as simple as finding a good parking spot? I know here lately that is all I seem to be doing. Whining to my loving Father because life is just so not fair, crying so many self- pity tears that I have inherited stock in Kleenex tissue. And when an answer, or assistance doesn’t immediately come, I feel like maybe I am just not worth His time. I am a nothing, a nobody. But yet I cry, “ I am your daughter God, why do you not give me what I want?” Yet knowing He never gives us what we want, but always what we need.

As we continue to read in Psalms, “ Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.  Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me;  they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;  my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.”  Some days are just like this, feeling like our daily struggles are just too much to bear. I know there have been many times “my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast”. As if just one more thing, will send my soul, my spirit in to a deepening chasm of despair, with no hope or rescue in sight.  Just as if I were to already be “in the dust of death”.

But in Hebrews 4:12-16, we are given a glimmer of just how understanding our God really is, and though we may wallow in self-pity, He really does understand what we are going through.

“ Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

This is a very simple but powerful passage for me, and I imagine for many of you. Yes, we whine and complain about yet another item on our to-do list. Or maybe you are like me, and feel as if your spirit has been battered by too many life problems or issues.  We all know the biggies-death, divorce, illness, financial hardship-but what about all those little things that crop up, taxing our already over-loaded emotional and mental resources? Do we complain, indulge in self-pity (I am so guilty of this one), or present a stoic front to the world, thinking we are stronger than these trials? Sorry folks, none of those things will work. First, when you complain enough, people stop listening. And since God already knows the desires of your heart, and as spirit made flesh, He has experienced pretty much everything, then whining to Him is not helpful. Since we have a loving Father “who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”, know that your sufferings have been seen and understood.

The next step in this wallowing of despair is self-pity. Do you often feel as if you are the only one going through something? Or maybe you just feel alone, like no one could possibly understand what you are going through.  Trust me, I have been there……..more times than I can count. And though I don’t always quickly pull myself out of it, I am learning to recognize this destructive time-waster. For me, it helps to know God has pretty much got things under control, even if I can’t see it at the time. But there are days I still am too stubborn to admit that maybe I am not the one in control of the Universe.

“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

Looks to me like there is the answer-not whining, not complaining, and certainly not self pity.  That if we boldly approach God, who already knows our needs, we will find mercy and grace. Though we may not see it at the time, He is working in us, and through us, caring for His children in his time, not ours. God knows the desires of your heart, He understands your trials because He himself, through Jesus, has been there, and knowing this, we are tasked with allowing our loving Father to take control, His will then shall be done.

Mark’s Gospel shows a fondness for seed parables. They have a unique way of pointing out the nature and reality of the kingdom of God. There is an emphasis on sowing the seed and the size of the harvest. The seed sown is the Word of God. Thus, preaching and teaching and living the Christian message—the Gospel—is at the very heart of the kingdom of God.

Being in the Order of Preachers its our duty to live and go out and sow the seed of the Gospel, and sometimes even use words to spread it to the world. This Sunday we read the famous parable of the Mustard sead. Christ said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.”With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

If the word is sown, somehow God will make it grow. It requires a great deal of faith for a sower to sow the seed, and then believe that God will do whatever it takes to make it grow.  Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is a small seed planted into darkness, promising nothing. Mysteriously the process of growth begins until finally the grain is ripe for harvesting. But only God can make things grow! He is the one that determines when and what hapens with the seeds that we plant, and in his time,  NOT ours, will the harvest grow and be ready for His Kindom. Don’t be discouraged if we don’t see the seed grow within a few days, weeks, months, or even years. We must remember He works in His time, not ours.  Therefore,  be glad that we have sown his seeds and done his work. He will in his time bring light and hope to the world. “This is how it is with the kingdom of God”