Alternative DigitalOrthodoxy Reflections on Year B / Advent 1:
a) Pathways
Readings for the week: Year B / Advent 1
Isaiah 64:1-9 (NRSV)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NRSV)
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NRSV)
Mark 13:24-37 (NRSV)
Song ideas for the week: Year B / Advent 1
Together To Celebrate: Year B / Advent 1
Lectionary Song: Year B / Advent 1
Resource ideas for the week: Year B / Advent 1
Textweek.com: Year B / Advent 1
Mustard Seeds: Year B / Advent 1 – “Waiting, Hoping”
Blogs and Reflections for the week: Year B / Advent 1
Dylan’s Lectionary Blog: Year B / Advent 1
Sojourners: Year B / Advent 1 – Advent Begins
Sojourners: Year B / Advent 1 – We Are the Clay
Sojourners: Year B / Advent 1 – The Pain of Creation
The Witness: Year B / Advent 1 Don’t Panic, Respond with Love
Sara ConversaZione: Year B / Advent 1
Bill Loader: Advent 1: 30 November Mark 13:24-37
Bill Loader: Advent 1: 30 November 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Reflection:
I really liked Dylan’s reflection for this week’s lectionary reading titled “Don’t Panic“ the way she spoke about the apocalyptic writings and images in time of occupation and suffering.
This week’s reading had me making similar connections, but instead of hearing the words of Jesus with the ears of those that were suffering, who were poor, who were sick, who were being oppressed I want to be pretty blunt and point out that we’re more like the oppressors than the oppressed and that perhaps it’s time to hear these types of words and images with ears that reflect our situation.
I often wonder how the people in power heard Jesus’ words and apocalyptic images.
Panic!
If you rely on the oppressive economic system to keep you wealthy, if you really think that you can save the world by spending more money. If you actually want the economic structure that has kept you rich while keeping others poor and sick and suffering. If you are so blissfully aware of, yet indifferent to the suffering of people in your country who are homeless, alone, in prison, dying and of people who live overseas, or across your borders who are suffering from Aids, War and unrest.
Panic!
If you rely on things staying the same, if you hope that the comfort of today will be the comfort of tomorrow. If the thought of change makes you shudder and sweat, if your fear of change means that you refuse to be open to other options. If you fear change because it will mean that you will lose the power that you currently hold over others.
Panic!
If you think that you’re in control. If you think that you’re the one with all the power. If you control your company, your finances, your family, your world. If you’re a politician, an emperor, a manager, a master, if in any way you think that you are the one with power. If you’re a dictator, a general, a captain, a war lord, if your having power builds fear in others, if your power is not liberating but is instead overbearing, if it’s used to oppress others, to keep people sick, to kill and control people and panic if you cannot let go of your sense of power.
Panic!
If you think you know what truth is, and if you hold your truth to be the only way to live. If your truth means that you think you have the right to oppress, kill, starve, ignore or abuse others. If you believe that your truth gives you power, privilege, pride, if your belief in truth means that you engage in war, persecution, unjust practices or that you become judgmental of others.
Panic!
Because, there is someone coming who will proclaim a possibility of a world that will turn your world around, who baptises in fire, who will proclaim the Kingdom of God that will question everything that you know and do.
Because noone knows when this time will come, not even you, but it is coming.
Panic!
Because this will bring forth a time where the last is first, where the first are last, where the world will proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God.
(Note: If I were cynical I may also add a Panic! if you go to Church every Sunday and think that you’re somehow going to be saved from these things. If you believe your faith is something that you do not have to live out, if you are one way on Sunday and another on Monday, if you think that your Church holds “the truth” and that grants you some special pass. If your church holds itself above others, encourages people to be egocentric, to be oppressors and if your faith allows you to live with double standards…)
Panic!
Wake up, be alert, be informed, keep an eye out, turn around, let go of your power, stop being oppressive, give instead of take, stop being indifferent, turn your life around and become a part of what is going on and the hope that this time will bring…
And get ready, because the day will come…
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