I guess that's the consequence of seeing the same thing for so long. Eventually, it changes, and you don't even recognize it.
However, I suspect the opposite is worse. Seeing the same thing for so long, and you don't even recognize it. That's how I feel today, thanks to my swim into the Advent Sea.
I picked up my copy of Ancient-Future Time for the first time in about two years today. Well, I picked it up two other times, but it was just to change apartments. Today I began to read it, and I was, of course, reading about Advent. There was plenty going on, but what struck me was the issue of justice.
The Christmas season is all about giving, getting, buying, spending money/time, family, etc. None of that is necessarily bad. Unfortunately, none of it has anything to do with justice, which is a large part of what the Advent season is about. The prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel, "Hey, your sacrifices aren't what God wants. He wants justice."
That's hitting me today. More than my Sunday services, book studies, class work, sermon preparation, band practices, or whatever else I can give, God wants justice.
"The multitude of your sacrifices—
what are they to me?" says the LORD.
"I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.
Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
2 comments:
I have been feeling the justice bug biting me, too...how odd. I had no idea that's what Advent was about.
I know! It's kinda crazy.
You hear that Christianity is counter cultural and all that, but kinda wonder how that plays out. Then you see that the holiday that's all about family and friends is really about the outcasts, orphans, widows and destitute.
I'm reading through Isaiah, and suggest you do, too. Why let Christmas sneak up on you? Be prepared.
Post a Comment