The stage of history is large.  Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time … These figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage- not in fact anywhere near the center.  (Introduction to Nahum, in The Message p. 1695).  So began our call to worship.  And when I first read it, I immediately thought of our present political leaders and said: “Ya!  They aren’t anywhere near center stage.”  And then under my breath said, “I hope!”

If you are at all where I am, you, too, are hoping that what we are currently experiencing, and where we are currently headed, is only a blip on the screen, or a short tunnel of darkness that will soon turn to bright daylight. Things are not looking good, and we are afraid they might get worse.

This was what the political climate was at the time of the prophet Isaiah.  Israel and Judah were not only divided, but were fighting each other with Syria’s help.  Isaiah characterized Jerusalem itself as “becoming a whore”.  Murderers, thieves, everyone loves a bribe, were common descriptions of the special city. It was a place where widows and orphans were ignored or pushed out of sight.  I suspect they, too, had problems with their fans at the local games.  It was not a pretty sight. 

We have just had our city mayor recommend that we cut back or eliminate the budget for many of the programs aimed at the neediest.  We have seen pictures of or have observed in  person  the  long  lines waiting for bags of food at the Freestore and other food pantries.  When they finally get served, they discover that what they receive has had to be reduced because of the lack of support these agencies are receiving.  At the same time there is a call for sending more troops off to war.  Isaiah could have been writing about us. We are living in a city declared to be one of the twenty-five most dangerous cities in America. Murders, thefts, and violent crimes are only too common here.  

We also fit the description Jesus spoke of when he says for as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage… In other words they were just living life as they had been.  There are many different views about the coming of the Son of Man.  The Left Behind Series certainly has caught a lot of attention.  Whether you are pre-millennial, post-millennial, a-millennial, or whatever, is not the point here.  Jesus and Isaiah both want to get our attention and cause us to examine our current life style.  It is very hard to break old patterns.  It is much easier to continue “as is”. 

I was reminded, as you were, this past holiday that we have successfully returned to our “normal” patterns as air traffic and highway traffic both exceeded the pre 9-11 figures for Thanksgiving travel.  Our spending this past Friday marked a shoppers record high of 10.9 % increase over last year - the largest increase ever recorded.   A catastrophe changed our behavior for a brief while, but we have resumed our previous behavior.  As it was in the days of Noah, so we continue to do what we were doing.  Violence, which we all abhor,  has  not  decreased.  We  can  now  even play a video game re. the assassination of John F. Kennedy!  Have we learned anything from 9-11?  How are we better?

Isaiah promises a new day.  A day in which God is going to bring about a new reality.  God will teach us God’s ways.  Arbitration will replace instruments of war.  Nation will not strike out against nation, and they will not be learning war strategies anymore.  And then he urges Judah come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! 

Those who would set our agenda for us are not doing so in the light.  I acknowledge that what I have described up to this point is a pretty dark picture!  We can take our cue from our society, or we can be counter-culture and know that there is another way.  Light vs. darkness!

Walter Brueggemann in Gathering the Church in the Spirit (page 27) denotes what this light might look like.   If we listen for God we will discover ways to act that will be fresh, in ways we had not intended or envisioned.  We can refocus reality toward justice when we are willing to be faithful and risk-taking.  When we see God at work in our history, and we look at our world through God’s eyes, we will work for the sake of the whole community and not be focussed on me and mine.  In giving ourselves to God’s light, we discover that God does the work of restoration which we cannot do for ourselves.  He continues to say God works in ways the world does not expect or even recognize.  And finally, If we walk in the light of God Brueggemann warns us the spirit invites daring acts of imagination. 

When we recognize that God is center stage, it does not mean we become passive.  To the contrary, it calls forth in us our best selves.  We become agents of change.  We may be a terrible threat to what is customary and normal in the institutional church or the institutions of our culture. This may mean confronting our national policies re. the Middle East, our city’s commitment to the poor or our denomination’s openness to all persons.  Let us walk in the light of God!

To acknowledge that there is darkness, that there is a need to bring about a new day, need not be cause for discouragement or fear.  The season of Advent signals for us the coming of the new.  It reminds us that life was not always like this.  That God is involved in the coarse of human history.  It is God’s stage!  We are here for a time such as this.  It is our opportunity to usher in justice and peace.  As we light the candles each Sunday may we recommit to being light in the world.  May we be willing to be the human agents God may use to usher in a new day.

Could it be that God is moving the church (and we as members of that church) away from old practices, old power structures and places of authority into a new way of being the church?  May we see the light in order to be the light which will usher in a day of full acceptance, the reign of justice, the care of the poor, and the generous love which shone so brightly in Jesus. 

And one concrete way we can demonstrate that is with our Jewish friends or relatives.  Our denomination is having strained relations with the Jewish community.

We  have  made  a  commitment  to  begin  a  selective, phased divestments with companies that are doing business with Israel.  We can reassure our Jewish friends and relatives of our firm support for the right of Israel to exist as a State. And, in addition, no divestments can occur before 2006 when our General Assembly meets.  As they light their candles at Hanukah, may we light a candle reminding them and us of God’s care and protection.  Walking in the light does not always bring about peace.  Sometimes misunderstandings or disagreements occur… as this congregation is keenly aware.  Yet we need to continue to walk in the light of God.

Let us do so with the confidence that truth is stronger than falsehood, life is stronger than death, and love is greater than hate and that neighbor matters in the reign of God’s new day!           

And, as we began this service with the lighting of advent candle, we were challenged and I quote:

“The whole meaning of the Christmas community lies in offering a space in which we wait for that which we have already seen.  Christian community is the place where we keep the flame alive among us and take it seriously, so that it can grow and become stronger in us.  In this way we can live with courage, trusting that there is a spiritual power in each of us that allows us to live in this world without being seduced constantly by despair, lostness and darkness. That is how we dare to say that God is a God of love, even when we see hatred all around us.  That is why we can claim that God is a God of life, even when we se death and destruction and agony all around us.  We say it together.  We affirm it in one another.  That is the meaning of partnership, friendship, community and the Christian life.”  (unquote)  

That is walking in the light of God.