First Tuesday in Advent

Amos 3:1-11; 2 Peter 1:12-21; Matthew 21:12-22

So Jesus enters Jerusalem, and a party turns into a riot.  Jesus goes to the temple and overturns everything - not only tables, but hierarchies and expectations.  He heals people, he calls his people to return to prayer, but the religious authorities are outraged: such disorder cannot be of God.  Such costly chaos, such unauthorized teaching and healing, cannot be of God.  Because we know how God works - right?  God follows the rubrics in the Prayer Book and the resolutions of convention.  Where would we be if everyone just followed Jesus, prayed from their heart, and worshipped together?  Where would we be if we just turned to one another and shared?  Where would we be if we listened to the prophets who warn us to turn to God?  It would be a mess, for sure.  A holy mess.

But if we do continue to do business as usual, then an unholy mess awaits.  When we confuse our buildings and budgets with the Gospel, or shrink from preaching the Gospel because of the impact on giving, or tailor our message to not offend, at some point we find ourselves captured as surely as the temple authorities in Jesus’ day.  The glorious advent of Jesus comes to look like a problem rather than the sum of all our desires and dreams.  

Today’s Gospel gives us our alternatives.  While the establishment folks are complaining, the blind and the lame and the children are rejoicing - over the same events! One sees usurpation and disorder; the other sees salvation.

Which do you choose to be today?  What holy mess is awaiting you?