e-vo for week of November 28

Dearest e-votees-

This week is the first week of the new church year. We are entering into the season of Advent. Our readings have two distinct strands.

The Romans text and the Matthew text talk about lightness and darkness, being watchful and being ready, living well and living not so well—powerful Advent themes. No doubt you will hear of such things from the pulpit this Sunday.

The Psalm and the Isaiah texts have another strand. They talk about going up to Jerusalem, going to God’s house, experiencing instruction and judgment and offer images of peace and reconciliation.For today we will linger with the second strand.

Peace,

Karl

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The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Isaiah 2:1-5, NRSV

Physically Jerusalem is up on a hill. That is why the man who was tended by the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:30-37) was going down to Jericho from Jerusalem. The term song of ascents is used for Psalms such as ours for this Sunday which speak of physically and spiritually moving up into the presence of God. The temple mount was the highest point in the city of Jerusalem (before the Romans came in and constructed the menacing Antonia Fortress to keep a watchful eye and a clenched fist). People came up literally and figuratively to bring worship and to encounter the living God.

The words from Isaiah are very closely echoed in Micah 4:1-5—you might want to check out the similarities. These images and exhortations are worth pondering. The Holy Spirit found them worth reiterating. Might we linger with this scriptural refrain?

Where is God’s mountain in our lives? Many of us don’t find it part of our regular practice to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem (although if you get the chance to go, grab it). So where is it that we figuratively and perhaps literally ascend into God’s presence? For some we find retreat settings (Holden Village, Bible camps, wilderness) as potent places to enter into God’s presence. For others times of devotion and prayer are that place. Stephen Curtis Chapman’s song The Mountain speaks of our need to dwell on the mountain and to descend back into the world to serve. Our home congregations should be places such as these.

What is strikes me again is the invitation to others to join together and ascend into God’s presence. It is compelling and winsome when others beckon us. When we can’t find the strength or motivation to ascend to God others can remind us that God—first and foremost—descends to us (never forget Philippians 2:5-11 aka the Christ hymn). Is there someone we should be reaching out to with a winsome and sincere “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!”?

God, draw us up to you. Help us finds ways and places to enter into your most Holy presence. Use us to invite and encourage and welcome others into your presence—a place of comfort and instruction and judgment and grace. Be with the troubled city of Jerusalem that still bears the marks to this day of clenched fists and more tightly clenched hearts. Bless the on-going efforts in Annapolis and beyond that peace might come to those who dwell near your holy city. Amen.