What Are You Prepared For?

For Sunday December 11, 2011

All Scriptures are from The Message Version

It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader.  The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri.  Commentaries for today's scriptures from Isaiah 61can be found on Textweek through this link http://www.textweek.com/prophets/isaiah61.htm.

A strong theme and major focus of Advent is preparation and waiting, getting ready for the Christ child in the manger. While this preparation and celebration are very important in our spiritual lives this week’s Lectionary scripture from Isaiah points us to some other thoughts on preparation:

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory.

First let us look at a Christian interpretation of the scripture and its place in Advent:• How might the members of the early Christian faith have looked back on this scripture, many from their Jewish roots, and seen Christ? How you see Jesus reflected in these words of hope? Is there anything that he did not fulfill?

Jesus himself reads the first part of this scripture to the members of his congregation immediately after his baptism, time in the wilderness, and confrontation with the Devil: He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place."(Luke 4:20) Jesus continued on with a conversation which led to attempted murder by an incited congregation.

• Why did Jesus get into trouble, with who might the Jews have associated this prophecy? What does Jesus take upon himself, a humble son of a lower class carpenter from a small backwater?
• How was Jesus prepared at the beginning of his ministry beginning with his baptism? What did he have affirmed by:

(1) the baptism (Luke 3:21-22): After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

(2) The time in the wilderness and

(3) the confrontation with the Devil? (Luke 4:1-15) with the conclusion: Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone's acclaim and pleasure.

What might he have discovered about himself, his strengths, the presence of the Spirit with him, the way in which he would carry out his work?

Second let’s look at it as if Isaiah was speaking of himself:
• Isaiah had been called to be a prophet; if he is speaking of himself what does he claim authenticates the validity of his calling? What seems to be his role, what will be the method he uses to carry it out? How do you think that he may have arrived at this conclusion, could it have been based both on trial and error (discovering strengths and weaknesses) and his relationship with God?

• What do you think might have been part of Isaiah’s spiritual journey; might he have done intensive study, prayer, and fasting? How important do you think was God’s place in the everyday priority of his life?

• What must he have diagnosed as the core of the problem he is called to respond to; what do the people need and what gift or gifts might he have believed God had bestowed upon him to be part of the solution?

Now let’s look at our personal spiritual journey, our own preparation:
• As you reflect what has prepared you for the way in which you live and respond to life’s events as a person of faith? What events, experiences, study, etc. has impacted your life to this point?

• Isaiah wrote eloquently and expansively about his sense of a calling from God. Based on your spiritual journey what would you include if you were to write your own version of God’s call to you? What do you sense are the ways in which you have served and impacted others because of your faith, what discoveries have you made about yourself in the doing of them? Few have reached Isaiah’s heights but we each in our own possibly (possibly not) less significant way have made an impact.

• Do you feel that during this season of preparation you might be called for something new during the next year?

We close with more from Isaiah:
Isaiah 61:10-11 I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations.

• Advent builds to a time of celebration, here Isaiah speaks to his reasons for joy – what does he sing for joy about? As the Christmas day approaches what are you going to celebrate?

Closing Prayer

Loving God, grant us that freedom of the spirit which will not fear to tread in unknown ways, nor be held back by misgivings of ourselves and fear of others. Ever beckon us forward to the place of your will which is also the place of your power. Amen.  From George Appleton. Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:47-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

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