The Second Sunday in Advent – December 5, 2004

Romans 15:4-13

             Do you get those hopeless moments now and then? Does it seem at times that your days are in a rut that keeps you from traveling along the road of life? Today St. Paul speaks God’s word to us about the true hope we have in Jesus Christ.

             It is Estelle, though, that I think of first. Estelle used to warn our daughters when she talked with them about marriage to be careful about whom they would select to be their husband. Estelle said, “Be careful because when you live with them, you get like them.”

             How true. As we live in our world there are many influences that draw us into living patterns that are not good for us or for those we love. One of the interesting stories I have encountered as I work in family systems is the “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters.” Let me share it with you.

 Chapter 1       I walk down the street.
                        There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                        I fall in.
                        I am lost and I am hopeless.
                        It is not my fault.
                        It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2       I walk down the same street.
                        There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                        I pretend I do not see it.
                        I fall in again.
                        I cannot believe I am in the same place.
                        It is not my fault.
                        It still takes a long time to get out.

 Chapter 3       I walk down the same street.
                        There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                        I see it there.
                        I still fall in – it is a habit.
                        My eyes are open.
                        It is my fault.
                        I get out quickly.

 Chapter 4      I walk down the same street.
                        There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
                        I walk around it.

 Chapter 5       I walk down a different street.

             Have you been there and done that? Is this “Autobiography” familiar to you? It would not be surprising to discover that all of us at one moment or another in our travel on life’s sidewalk have fallen into such holes. Could this even happen to congregations like Christ Church? Could we be falling into the same old habit, the same old hole?

             It has been said that doing the same thing over and over and yet expecting things to get better is a basic definition of insanity. It is only in taking a different path that you are transformed and things get better. Could this even apply to us as a congregation?

             Perhaps the question is: where is our hope? How do we open our eyes and how do we find the strength to take a different path, a different sidewalk?

             Listen to St. Paul’s words for us today: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

             Note that the first thing St. Paul points out is that God is a God of steadfastness and encouragement. God is faithful to us, even when we may not reciprocate with faithfulness. If the cross of Jesus Christ tells us anything, it tells us that God is faithful, forgiving us and giving us a mercy that encourages us to new paths, new sidewalks.

             Read further, though, and hear St. Paul: “…grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus…” It is when God comes to us and claims us in the cross we are given the strength to walk new paths, new sidewalks; even the sidewalk of living in harmony with one another. You see, Estelle is right, when you live with them you get like them. When you live with Jesus and know in his cross that he has redeemed you, lost and poor sinners, then you know his love transform you to be a new person, a walker of new paths, and it is a gift from God to you.

             Your hope is in the coming Christ Jesus. He it is that gives you eyes to see new possibilities and a mercy that transforms your lives so the old habits that lead to falling down holes are transformed into new paths of strength and power.

             Two particular things then happen: first, we learn the path, the sidewalk of harmony that joins our voices into one voice that glorifies God. Yes, when you live with them, you get like them. Living with Christ Jesus means we lift our voices in praise of God.

             The second thing that happens is this: you realize that living in Christ Jesus means living in harmony with one another. It does not mean we cannot be different; it does not mean we all sing the same note. Many hymns are written in four part harmony and they praise God. That tells us that we can sing different notes and still be in harmony. What is key is knowing which part to sing. When you live in Christ Jesus, the coming Lord of all, he fills you with the hope and strength you need to discover your part to sing the new song. Amen. 

• Pastor Robert F. Holley