Advent 1
November 30, 2008

Scripture Introductions
by Stewart Clarke

[Week by week, we read passages from the Bible as part of our worship.  So, 
week by week, we are presented with opportunities to help convey our 
excitement about the Bible, to provide some background which can facilitate 
understanding, to introduce newcomers or enquirers to some of the depth of 
Scripture, and to treat the Bible and the hearers with respect.
These Introductions are offered as samples or for use.  If you choose to use 
them, they may be read as introductions by the person reading or by the 
preacher.  They may be printed in a bulletin insert. They may be edited and 
corrected, of course. And, perhaps best, they may be put aside as you 
prepare and use your own.  (You may very well want to leave out what you 
find in parentheses, or, particularly, what you find in footnotes.)]

There is a thread, linking the passages suggested for today, of waiting and 
relying on God's grace.

The first reading this morning is from the book of Isaiah.  Not the Isaiah 
of Jerusalem,[3] whom we find in the first 39 chapters of the book, from a 
time before the Exile; not a  "second Isaiah," who encouraged the people in 
Exile (chapters 40 - 55); but a prophet among the people who had returned 
from Exile to Jerusalem, frustrated by their struggles, overwhelmed by their 
troubles, and depressed with their dreams and faith unfulfilled.[4]

We might compare their situation to the arrival of Jewish people in modern 
Palestine, after centuries of dispersal; to the return of refugees at the 
end of war in their homeland; to the shock of a pandemic like HIV/AIDS or 
the threat of avian flu, after all our success in medicine and in 
prevention; to the impact of a global economic recession,[5]or to moments in 
our lives when we reach a milestone only to face greater challenge rather 
than relief.[6]

This is not prophesy as proclamation, but lament,[7] prayer, and passionate 
appeal:  "This is too much for us, God!  Come and help us."  And then, "Be 
with us."

(I am reminded that, while the reading begins in 64:1 with dramatic effect, 
the structure calls for a start in the previous chapter! [8]

Let's listen to the heartfelt (heart-rending) cry and faith in:
Isaiah 64:1-9

You may wish to keep your words of praise for after the Gospel reading, or 
give thanks for each, or, perhaps, offer words like:
May we know that God hears our cries and responds, Amen.



The Psalm is also a prayer for deliverance.  God is seen as one who takes 
care of God's people, the Shepherd of Israel.
(The personal names recall historical figures and events, and identify, 
thereby, groups in Israel.  "Joseph" recalls the salvation from famine as 
Jacob/Israel and his family took refuge in  Egypt.  "Ephraim" and "Manasseh" 
were Joseph's sons, and "Benjamin" his youngest brother.  The reference to 
the "cherubim" recalls the Ark of the Covenant, a throne for the invisible 
God: where other religions, at the time, might have an idol, above the Ark, 
between the symbolic cherubim, there was simply space.")

 Let us..
Psalm 80: 1 - 7, 17 - 19  (Voices United, p. 794)



The letter to the Corinthians was part of an ongoing correspondence between 
Paul and the church in Corinth.  It is in typical Greco-Roman style: Instead 
of "Dear someone," the writer identifies himself, and then the people to 
whom he is writing. Then come thanks the writer's God for various gifts. (I 
see no reason to omit Paul's opening verses, including his words of thanks 
to God. )  In this instance, we get some insight into what Paul considered 
important in life and faith, and his assurance that "God is faithful."
Let's listen, and see ourselves in his outline.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9

May we live with Paul's assurance of the presence of God and Jesus Christ 
ringing in our ears. Amen.



Our Gospel reading is from the Gospel of Mark, [9]  with a graphic 
"apocalyptic[10]" message.

(The chapter begins with a disciple calling Jesus' attention to the 
magnificence of the Temple building.  Jesus warns that it will one day be 
destroyed, which raises in the disciples' minds the question of when and 
whether this will be part of the anticipated end of time.)

(Apocalyptic writing developed later than prophecy, in despair over the 
human condition.  It moves hope to another, cosmic, level, and proclaims a 
vision in spectacular terms.     Underlying the message is the certainty 
that, although humans have been unable to bring about God's reign, God will 
act, and soon. If the early church saw itself threatened, the apocalyptic 
style would speak powerfully to them.  Jesus is pictured as expecting this 
end of the age coming very soon, but also calling his followers to watch and 
wait, without losing faith, and also warning them against prediction or 
time-table.  These verses have sometimes been used to explain wars or 
disasters, but this seems in total conflict with the way that Jesus lived, 
and what he usually taught.)

Let us rise to honour and be open to the Good News for us, in:
(Or: Let us listen carefully for the Good News for us in:)
Mark 13:24-37

May we live, confident that God is working with and through us, to bring 
about God's realm. Amen.

It is appropriate to follow the reading with words of thanks and praise.

Notes:

 With thanks to CAM, VMS and EMC.
 We move into Mark, but have to look for appropriate passages throughout 
the season, demonstrating, perhaps, how much we rely on Luke for our 
understanding of the season.
 Isaiah of Jerusalem, (chapters 1 - 39): 740 - 700 BCE; Second (Deutero-) 
Isaiah, (chapters 40 - 55): 540 - 530, BCE,  Estimates of the prophetic 
career of the author of today's reading ( chapters 56 - 66): 515 - 500 - or 
537 - 520 BCE.
 A friend comments: Verse 6b is "clear and irrefutable evidence that the 
lament was written in the month of November," which would not help their 
depression!
 With all the discussion about what is and is not Recession, I remind 
myself of the difference between Recession and Depression, in that, in a 
Recession the Other Person is out of work.
 You may want to compare "I am the Light of the World," which says:
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds
have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun.
 We are not much for lament, but, if we come honestly before God, there 
is certainly enough cause for lament in the world, and often in the lives of 
parishioners and clergy.  Lament may help us avoid pretending to God and to 
each other that everything is " just peachy."
 I will begin the OT reading at 63:16, so as to get what I consider to be 
the full "pericope", complete with chiastic structure. The way I see it:
A 63:16 You are our father
B 63:17-19 But you have turned your face from us
C 64:1-5ab Oh that you would return to your former ways
B 64:5c-7 But you have turned your face from us
A 64:8-9 Yet, you are our father!  (VMS)
 The first of the Gospels in the Bible to be written, though the letters 
of Paul were written earlier.
 Concerned with hidden revelation about the ultimate destiny of the 
world, when good will prevail and evil be destroyed.  .  We think of the 
books of Daniel and Revelation.


(Comments to Stew at stewclarke@eastlink.ca.)