Seek ye the Lord

Here is my deep concern: that we will speak superficially of secondary issues this Advent season.

There is the temptation to bemoan our busyness and fret shopping for too much stuff. It is possible to nurse guilt over this and feel some measure of piety. But what needs to happen this Advent season has little to do with the size of our Christmas trees or the number of gifts given or received, how many services we attend or parties we enjoy.

Advent is a time to wake up to what is happening to God's creation and family. The season's great sin is to merely drift unconsciously, unaware of where God is in our world. That was the tragedy during Jesus' birth 2,000 years ago. Most people, especially the religious people, were blind to God coming to them in Jesus. They were preoccupied with the belief that a king would arrive to establish a nation for them. Nationalism blinded them to God's activity and bound them to a lesser vision for their people.

Nationalism is a disease infecting us with distorted visions. Nationalism permits us to think of peace only for ourselves. It allows us to justify punitive action against other people and nations because we dare to believe we are superior and they are thus demonized.

I don't think God's heart is broken so much by the gifts wrapped and tucked under the tree as God's heart is crushed by the innocent children, soldiers and civilians wrapped in body bags because of terrorism.

I call upon the people of Holston to make this Advent season one of wakefulness – a time to open our eyes to all forms of injustice and violence. I pray this will be a time to move from narrow nationalism to God's vision for the whole world. It's not enough for us to feel safe because of our might; it's not enough for us to be happy because America's economy is improving.

It is exhilarating to have our eyes opened – to become conscious of God's wonderful vision for humankind. When we sing, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come," we understand this as something greater than the Lord coming to Israel or to the USA. God's dream for joy and peace is for all people.

Let our first commitment be to partner with God in bringing all people to reconciliation and fullness of life. Let it be not merely one "nation" under God but one "world" under God.

Advent 2002 is a crucial time for us to seek the Lord, knowing that God will be found in the least expected places and persons.

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Bishop Ray W. Chamberlain
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