Rev. Wesley Menke
Advent 4
2022.12.18
Last week I went to Sedona, Arizona to help my dad take care of my mom after a total knee replacement surgery. I flew between the two waves of a winter storm. We hit some turbulence when we descended into Phoenix and our row of three full size men swayed and bounced off each other like we were on a roller coaster ride. It was fun!
My mom was doing well after the surgery. I enjoyed helping take care of her and my dad for a few days. My aunt left when I got there, and my sister came when I had to go home. Our neighbors, the Trouts, brought lots of delicious food. Caring, sensitive, faithful people band together to bring out the best in one another. You could call it grace in action.
The second wave of the storm came down on us and it snowed for over a day; followed by icy cold temperatures. I felt like reading during my down time, and there was an author I have been intending to read for quite some time. My grandmother, Jean Nielsen, was a published author of about 13 novels. So I asked for a suggestion from my mom, and it was, “Walk Under the Trees,” published in 1958 by Funk and Wangalls, New York for $2.95. The book is 64 years old, but listen to the opening paragraph,
“Measles!”
“Only measles,” Mother said with a relieved sigh, “Gwen, dear, we should have suspected as much right away, instead of imagining that you had some rare virus. My! It’s such a load off my mind!”
Gwen, a high school graduate, isn’t able to participate in prom, graduation, or give her valedictorian speech. It strikes me as incredibly relevant to what young people have had to deal with in the last three years. Some things never change? Gwen runs away from the Pacific Northwest to live with her aunt and uncle in southern Arizona at a truck stop. She experiences the desert for the first time, and life in a small town. One of the themes of the book is how a small community deals with problems. Caring, sensitive, faithful people band together to bring out the best in one another. You could call it grace in action.
Gwen adapts well to her new environment, but gets bullied by a young woman, June, who we find out bullies quite a lot of people. It’s surprising how many people get intimidated and bullied on a regular basis. Even kings can be intimidated. That is what was happening to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7. He is terrified of not one but two enemy kings who threaten to make war with him. God offers Ahaz a word of hope, but Ahaz refuses. Now isn’t that something? Pride can get in the way of faith. So Isaiah offers him a word: a child will be born who will rule with wisdom and righteousness, and the current threats will go away. Who is this child king?
Could it be Jesus? Could it be Hezekiah, Ahaz’s successor? Or could it be us? Could we establish a just and righteous community? Hezekiah is remembered mostly fondly in the Bible for helping the kingdom be more just by complying with God’s laws which had been shoved aside for some years. Leadership isn’t about being exceptional at all, but rather a faithful person who sticks around and tries their best to do what is right. That’s a good description of Joseph.
We read in Matthew that Joseph was engaged to Mary, but before they were living together, she was found to be with child. Oops! So Joseph was going to dismiss her quietly, because he was a “righteous man.” But before he can do so, he is visited by an angel who tells him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For this child will save the people from their sins.” No pressure at all for Joseph. Some people today have a hard time believing in the virgin birth. Imagine how hard it was for Joseph to believe!
Joseph and Mary are regarded as saints. What did Joseph do that was so saintly? He was faithful. He stuck around, and did his best to create a positive environment for Jesus to grow up in. But it takes a village to raise a child. We can all be like Joseph and Mary. Caring, sensitive, faithful people band together to bring out the best in one another. You could call it grace in action.
It was so important for Joseph to stick around because he was a descendent of King David. It was through Joseph that Jesus is considered a descendant of David and a part of the royal lineage. It’s not about flesh and blood, but the Spirit. That is why through baptism we each become heirs and part of the royal priesthood with Jesus. Jesus shares his nobility and divinity with us. We share in the burden of Joseph and Mary. We are to be caring, sensitive, faithful people who band together to bring out the best in one another. You could call it grace in action.
It wasn’t that long after Sheri and I got married that she got pregnant. We were living in Laguna Hills at the time. I went to get a haircut at this barber I started going to before we got married. He remembered me, and asked how everything was going as newlyweds. I said that my wife was pregnant. He laughed. He was also a married man with a family. He told me, “You are never ready.” We never are fully ready for the responsibilities we are given. But with God’s help: caring, sensitive, faithful people band together to bring out the best in one another. You could call it grace in action. Amen.
Rev. Wesley Menke
Adviento 4
2022.12.18
La semana pasada volé a Arizona tras las nubes del invierno. Vi montañas de nieve como islas blancos en un mar de arena. Descubrí a mi mamá ya con su rodilla nueva y con mucho dolor y mi corazón ardilla con el mismo dolor. Pero la tía, los vecinos, mi papá, mi hermana y yo trabajaban como equipo para la sanación de ella, mi mamá, la abuelita de mis niños. Y sí mejoraba poco a poco.
Descubrí también en la casa de mis padres un estante de libros lleno con las obras de mi abuela, Jean Nielsen. Trece libros escritos y publicados por mi abuela. Tanto el orgullo que tengo yo e inspiración también. Leí uno, con título, “Walk Under the Trees.” Trata de una mujer joven que fue al desierto de Arizona para ayudar a sus tíos por un verano. La protagonista se llama “Gwen.” Ella descubre la manera en que una comunidad de personas sensibles y fieles trabajan juntos para solicitar lo mejor de todos, como gracia en acción.
Los pobres reyes; ricos en dinero y poder no saben cómo aceptar el consejo y amistad de una comunidad de gracia. El rey Ahaz era así. Entonces el profeta Isaias dijo que vendrá otra mejor, un bebé, quién es justo. ¿Quien es? ¿Jesús? ¿Hezekiah, hijo de Ahaz? ¿Nosotros? Un buen líder no es excepcional. Un buen líder es fiel y humilde a las leyes de Dios.
Considera José. José y María eran novios pero todavía no estaban casados ni vivían juntos. Pero luego se da cuenta a José que María está embarazada. Oops. José iba a separarse con ella en secreto porque era un hombre supuestamente justo. Pero un ángel dijo a José, “No way José. No temas en casarse con María. Tu tienes que ser padre de Jesús, quien es un salvador.” Ay ay ay. ¡Mucha presión!
Hoy en día José y María son santos. ¿Por qué? Porque en vez de pensar en sí mismo como excepción de esta gran responsabilidad, José aceptó su llamada y su rollo. Él descubrió la manera en que una comunidad de personas sensibles y fieles trabajan juntos para solicitar lo mejor de todos, como gracia en acción.
Hace 14 años yo descubrí que iba a ser un padre. Vivíamos en Laguna Hills, California y estaban muy al gusto con nuestro estilo de vida con tantito de dinero y no muchas responsabilidades, y luego, oops ya viene el bebé. Fui al mismo peluquero que tuve antes de casarme, un hombre Chino. Me dijo, “Nunca estás listo.” Así es. Nunca estamos listos, pero no importa. Somos una comunidad de personas sensibles y fieles trabajando juntos para solicitar lo mejor de todos, como gracia en acción. Amen.
Leave a Reply