Advent
November 27, 2021
Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36
Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. –Luke 21:29-33
I am a fan of PBS News Hour and on Thanksgiving Day it was a welcome reprieve since most other news had been replaced by football. I happen to enjoy a good football game, so I am not being critical just thankful for its inclusion as an option. Two of the segments presented particularly caught my attention. One was Why cultural and political divides in the U.S. seem to be getting worse. The other was How broken faith in American institutions is creating a ‘rising sense of fury’*. I have observed and been concerned about both issues for some time. I was particularly impressed by the statement that these phenomena do not occur overnight. They build for years before being fully manifested. One of the guests described how the cultural change that resulted in the Civil War matured over 30 years.
There is nothing new in these studies and observations. Just ask Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Jeremiah, and the other prophets as Israel, like waves on the ocean, flowing in and out of cultural debacles, eventually resulting in exile. Humans do not want to hear what does not address their immediate desires. Greed overcomes common sense. For example, this morning, I heard news stories about new and innovative ways to buy what we really cannot afford for Christmas this year. One way was what I would call after the purchase layaway payments.
Rectifying the cultural and political divides must start with examining what part we may be contributing to the problem. In the 1960s, when I graduated from college, one of the rewards was an onslaught of preapproved credit cards. I received gas, store, and general credit cards in the mail with a congratulations card for finishing school. All one had to do was sign and return the invitation. One night when I was paying the minimum amount due on all those bills at 18% interest, I realized I was wasting a lot of money. It took me over a year to pay them all off, but I did. I limited myself to one card that required total payment each month. Most of my friends were on the same credit merry-go-round that grows into most of society living beyond their means, and that results in trying to find anyone else to blame but ourselves.
I just gave one example of the build-up to fury. What I see in our culture today is people needing to be better than others to feel they are of worth. I do not know from where that comes, but it is not true and such measures of self-worth result in all kinds of divides that destroy our world.
Prayer: Lord, lead us in examining ourselves and enable us to be repairers of the breach**we find. Amen.
*To view them go to https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-cultural-and-political-divides-in-the-u-s-seem-to-be-getting-worse and https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-broken-faith-in-american-institutions-is-creating-a-rising-sense-of-fury
**See Isaiah 58:12
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.