Readings: Phil. 4:4-9; Lk. 3:7-18 Advent 3C
December 17, 2000
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Church, Cupertino CA,
The other day, I asked Susan Witherspoon how her oboe lessons were coming along. For several years, she had waited for some time off so that she could try her hand at playing the oboe. Last year she finally had the opportunity. After a complete search on the internet and consultation with musicians, she rented an oboe and found a teacher nearby where she began her lessons.
The oboe is a melodious double reed instrument, whose music can move the heart into ecstasy. However, it is very difficult to play and takes years of practice to become proficient. An oboe played poorly can really "turn off" a listener to this instrument.
Well I am sorry to report that Susan has not been diligent in her practice of the oboe. It was probably a lot harder than she had thought. But unless she becomes a lot more committed to practicing day after day, she probably won't get anywhere. It is very discouraging to remain a "beginner" oboe player for the rest of one's life.
Whether it is playing the oboe or practicing the faith, I don't think any of us can get very far unless we are fully committed. In fact, I would go as far as to say, that learning and living the Christian faith is not very exciting or effective unless it is fully embraced. It can be very discouraging to remain a "beginner" in the faith and never reap the rewards of a Christian life such as joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. It can be very discouraging to remain a "beginner" in the faith and never experience the glory of God or that Peace which passes all understanding. It can be very discouraging to see millions of beginner Christians who are not committed to practicing the faith such that they ignore, allow, or even perpetrate suffering in the world. Many a non-believer has been turned off to Christianity by observing Christians who are not committed and practice the faith poorly.
John the Baptist makes a similar point about commitment in today's gospel story. John is a rather formidable prophet who is pained by the suffering in the world. He sees poverty, injustice, hypocrisy, and cruelty and can not bear it. He believes that God uses people to make this world a better place. So he is rather harsh to the people who come to him to be baptized. He tells them, that if they really want to have an effect on making a difference in the world, then they need to be committed. And true commitment begins with repentance.
Now what exactly does repentance mean? Does it mean groveling in the dirt and throwing ashes on our heads? No! Repentance means changing the way we think. It means thinking the way God thinks. It means taking the time to become aware of how our choices in life affect ourselves, our neighbor, and the well being of this planet. Repentance means right thinking and once we have seriously corrected our thinking, right actions will follow.
During this past week, I had a lot of time to think in my sick bed. Because I was suffering quite a bit, my mind turned to others who also suffer. I began to think about those with chronic illnesses, especially those who have a hard time breathing- those who gasp for every breath; every hour, every minute, every second. And my heart was filled with sorrow. Then I thought about those who feel sicker and sicker every day, especially those with HIV/AIDS. My mind turned to all of those orphans, thousands of them, who have been left in the towns and villages of Africa because their parents have died of this dreaded disease and there is no one left to take care of these little ones. And my heart was filled with sorrow.
I thought about a secretary I knew, whose daughter had gone with a group of students from UC/Santa Cruz to Central America. During the semester, she along with hundreds of others in the village, came down with Dengue Fever. There were not enough beds in the hospital to respond to this epidemic but she, being the daughter of an American, was air lifted out, and treated in an American hospital. My thoughts turned to the others who remained without treatment simply because they had no money; those who suffered with fever, swelling, and bleeding, and who never recovered from the Dengue fever. My heart was filled with sorrow.
Then I thought about the elderly, especially those who are alone; those who have no one to help them when they are sick, or afraid, or in crises. And my heart was filled with sorrow. I thought about the single parents who are barely making it financially and how some of them in their frustration, physically and verbally abuse their children. And my heart was filled with sorrow.
And in the midst of all that sorrow, I felt repentant- mostly for those things that I have left undone. I began to ask myself, what can I do to make a difference? How might I transform my sorrow into acts of compassion, in my current station in life? John the Baptist told the soldiers in his audience, not to extort money or to threaten people with violence. He told the tax collectors to collect only what was due. And to those who had more, he told them to give to those who had none.
So I began to think of what difference I could make as a parish priest. Perhaps I could better use this pulpit to make a stronger impact in this world. Perhaps I could alter my work schedule to include a few more pastoral visits to the sick and to the frail. Perhaps I could financially support more legal advocacy organizations that bring justice and dignity to those on the margins. Perhaps I could to be more attentive in my prayer life to those for whom no one prays. Repentance begins with right thinking. It finishes with acts of compassion.
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. In preparation for Christmas, we are completing this season by preparing our heart, mind, body, and soul to be fully illuminated with the Light of Christ. We ask God to cleanse the thoughts of our hearts; to help rid us of those attitudes, ways of thinking, and life choices that stop us from reaching out in compassion. We spend time repenting, changing the way we think so that our thoughts become God's thoughts.
And so in this final week of Advent, in preparation for the celebration of Christmas, I ask you to reflect on Paul's words to the Philippians in today's epistle: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil. 4)
| Updated 12/18/00 |
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