Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Advent 3 - Year B
Terebinth - turpentine tree
"The fruits are used in the baking of a specialty village bread. The plant is rich in tannin and resinous substances and has been known for its aromatic and medicinal properties since classical times, Theophrastos described the resin as having excellent fragrant and setting qualities. A mild sweet scented gum can be produced from the reddish bark and the large reddish horn-like galls often found on the plant are used for tanning leather. Terebinths are traditionally planted over Armenian graves."
It will be a comfort to those that mourn that they will be called "terebinths of saving justice" who can see their pain borne as a glory.
Can you see yourself as a terebinth, with many diverse uses? Can you see in the afflicted more than broken-hearted captives who not only are capable of glory but are to be honored and praised right now?
If we connect verse 3 with verse 10 we catch a glimpse of the intertwining of self and other in the transformation of life through salvation and glory praise. Justice issues, righteousness matters, must be attended to on behalf of others and for one's own integrity of self.
Up from graves grow helpful trees. Up from graves grow trees with healing leaves. Up from graves grows justice. Up from graves grow you and I. So, friends, up! bring good news to the afflicted!
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/december2002.html
Let's bring together the first and last verses of this pericope. The middle is grand and highly to be adopted as a personal mission statement, but for now the first and last.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . . righteousness and praise spring up.
While having very specific tasks regarding the oppressed and brokenhearted, the captives and prisoners, the mourners, strangers, foreigners, and thieves, these tasks are to be done in the attitude of righteousness and praise, not one of a fore-ordained agenda or institutional program.
The categories of folks mentioned in the middle not simply charity cases. They are sisters and brothers who don't need an iron-fisted prophet to face off against an iron-fisted ruler and culture complicit with same. Repentance might be better thought of as a pull toward a preferred future rather than a push away from a limited past. We turn more easily with a persistent strange attractor nipping at our heels, border collie like, and clarity of identification of how to reduce resistance with a force field analysis, than with a violent prophet set against a violent culture.
These two nearly invisible gifts lead us, through alternative routes, to draw near to a choice of non-violence.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/december2005.html
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
or
Luke 1:47-55
I Thess. 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Gaudete Sunday is a moment of joy while waiting. It plays the same role in Advent as Sunday's do in Lent - a reminder of resurrection. In these lections that joy is connected with justice, renewal, and a voice from the wilderness, calling forth renewal through justice.
Given the devastation of many generations it takes a call from an unexpected source to get through to us regarding the source and location of renewal. These forgotten, avoided, and fearful waste places of life lie across and away from our usual religious Jordan boundaries.
A way in which this shows up is found in Psalm 126.
We can look back:
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
In our present:
The joy of justice revealed comes to the fore, the straight-jacket of the past with all its apparent fatalism has changed streams in ways we could not predict. We rejoice at having come thus far.
In our present:
The recognition that justice has not yet been completed raises its reality. We yet stand in need of not getting trapped in the fatalism that today will be extended into the future, ad infinitum. We rejoice in anticipation of going further.
We can look ahead:
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home
with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
Or, as Paul puts it:
Rejoice always,
pray (be renewed) without ceasing,
give (renewed) thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus
for you.
- - -
where is there not trouble . . .
Darfur, Iraq, Figi . . .
poverty increasing, hunger growing . . .
abusive homes in our community . . .
divided hearts within ourselves . . .
trouble enough for any day,
particularly one after Human Rights Day?
where is there energy to renew
broken dreams, dashed hopes
if not in laughing justice
connecting
re-connecting
restoring
shouting for joy
revived with a flood of justice
we pass this gift forward
shedding light abroad
testing a wasteland voice
echoing
repairing
rejoicing
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2006_12_01_archive.html
Hey you! Ya, you! Righteous Oak! Whatcha doin?
Rebuilding.
How you doin that?
Seeing grace. Talking grace. Living grace.
How you doin that?
Comforting them what mourn. Hey, now you got me talking that way. But, you're OK, so I guess I'm OK to talk your language. Also paying attention to fair dealing whether dealt with fairly or not. And, giving roses to people while they live.
That sound fun.
Yep. Is. New life is springing up even before Spring. This is fun – it's rejoicing time. Even with a lousy economy, lost jobs, and larger class divisions they can't keep Rejoicing from me. In fact, I usually spell meta… G*D but it may also be spelled or named "Rejoicing". Come on in, join me in anointing and being anointed with good news that releases Rejoicing from Exile. Plant the acorn in you for oaks in a grove dance together.
Hey, look at me, I'm a stump shoot – didn't need no acorn. This is fun!
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html
It’s time to play the game, Which of These Doesn’t Belong.
good news to the oppressed
liberty to captives
healing the heartbroken
release of prisoners
a year of grace
destruction of enemies
comfort for mourners
If, as in verse 9, our enemies will know us as blessed, why their destruction before their enlightenment?
Is there a breaking down of a wall of enmity through an expansion of blessing rather than running a tank through it? How might that look in your life? I know it will take some work in mine and would say this is Advent work on the ground before we can recognize what we have been looking for.
So, having been given a garland of flowers, we respond by following a bespangled E.E. Cummings and passing them on:
One winter afternoon
(at the magical hour
when is becomes if)
a bespangled clown
standing on eighth street
handed me a flower.
Nobody,it’s safe
to say,observed him but
myself;and why?because
without any doubt he was
whatever(first and last)
mostpeople fear most:
a mystery for which i’ve
no word except alive
—that is,completely alert
and miraculously whole;
with not merely a mind and a heart
but unquestionably a soul-
by no means funereally hilarious
(or otherwise democratic)
but essentially poetic
or etherally serious:
a fine not a coarse clown
(no mob, but a person)
and while never saying a word
who was anything but dumb;
since the silence of him
self sang like a bird.
Most people have been heard
screaming for international
measures that render hell rational
—i thank heaven somebody’s crazy
enough to give me a daisy
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/12/isaiah-611-4-8-11.html