There is no Faith Lens this week.
ELCA Blogs
Seth Moland-Kovash, Palatine, IL
Warm-up Question
How many times per week, would you estimate, that you make a choice of what to do or what not to do based on fear?
What Makes You Afraid?
Fear can be a highly powerful motivator. We can be afraid of consequences (from parents, teachers, coaches, school administrators) or we can be afraid of what happened last time we did that (a small child touching a hot stove). Some of us have phobias – fear of the dark, of spiders, of snakes (to name a few). Did you know that there is even a name for the fear of Santa Claus? Not surprisingly, it’s Clausophobia.
Sometimes fear motivates us in ways we’d rather not talk about. Sometimes we avoid doing something we’d otherwise do for fear of what our peers might think or say. Sometimes we avoid trying something new for fear of failure.
For some people, these fears can be crippling. PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) and some phobias keep people from acting because of the strong painful memories and fears often associated with past experiences. Researchers in the United Kingdom and in Japan are working on techniques that might allow people to “re-wire” their brains and overcome those fear-filled memories.
Even if our fears are not extremely strong and limiting, fear affects all of us to some degree and can keep us from engaging in life to the fullness that’s intended for us.
Discussion Questions
Fourth Sunday of Advent
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
Joseph was afraid. He was afraid to take Mary as his wife, because she was having a baby that wasn’t his. He was afraid of what it would mean for him; he was afraid of what others might think. But he also was afraid to publicly accuse her of infidelity, so he wanted to send her away quietly. But the angel knew what was going on and told him not to be afraid.
Not only did the angel command Joseph not to be afraid but he told Joseph to name the child something that could combat fear. Emmanuel means “God is with us.” God is with us. We are not alone. Perhaps knowing this and trusting this can help to combat the fears that are inside all of us.
Discussion Questions
Activity Suggestions
Make an Emmanuel rock. This can be as simple as taking a small stone and painting a cross (or other symbol) on it. Carry the Emmanuel rock in your pocket. It can remind you that Emmanuel – God is with you. Make tw0 Emmanuel rocks – keep one for yourself and give one away.
Closing Prayer
Good and gracious God, come into our world as Emmanuel. Come into our world and banish fear. Come into our world and banish darkness. Amen.
Jay McDivitt, Waukesha, WI
Warm-up Question
What does “hope” mean to you? What makes you “hopeful”?
Hope in the Waiting
I’m looking for a “current event” to begin this week’s Faith Lens. I scroll through Google News. Wow. I think. This is a rough day in the life of the world.
On this day, the top stories are a plane crash that killed almost an entire Brazilian football (soccer) team. A fire is threatening to destroy Gatlinburg. Ohio State University is reeling from an attacker who wielded a car and a knife to injure 11 people before the police shot him dead.There’s also a bizarre story about a woman who stabbed her boyfriend after he let her drink her blood.
That’s today. Tomorrow’s newsfeed will probably look much the same (although hopefully with fewer “wannabe vampires”). Yesterday’s sure did. And here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and shorter as the darkness grows.
I don’t know about you, but that makes me weary. I look for the good around me – and I find it, to be sure. I rejoice in my children’s giggles and listen to great music and connect with friends. But these days seem heavier than ever for some reason (many reasons), and it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by all the bad news. I could just turn it off – stop reading – and sometimes I do. Yet I believe it’s important to know what’s happening in the world, even if it’s often not very joyful.
Discussion Questions
Third Sunday of Advent
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
John is in prison.
John had made a name for himself pointing the way to God’s brand new day, to the coming of the Messiah, to the dawn of the Kingdom. In the midst of a scary world of Roman oppression and uncertain futures, John had preached the people into a frenzy of hope: “God will fix this! God is coming soon!”
And the people listened. They flocked to him. When Jesus showed up, John pointed to him and said, “There he is! See – I told you!” And the people listened again.
But now, John is in prison. He will soon lose his head (literally).
This isn’t exactly what he and those who had listened to him were expecting. Is this what we’ve been waiting for? So they send a note to Jesus: “Are you…really…the One? Seriously? Or should we wait for another?”
And Jesus responds: “Look around. What do you see? Darkness, sure… but what else? Things are happening – good things, great things – the stuff God promised long ago. Keep your eyes open. Look around. Tell John what you see.”
Indeed, Jesus points them back to the reading from Isaiah. God’s promised future begins with healing and wholeness, lives being restored. Water in the desert. “Be strong! Do not fear!” This is happening. God is building a superhighway through the middle of the desert to bring you home.
But notice the image here: A highway in the desert. In my part of the country we often say we have two seasons – winter and road construction. Building a highway takes time. The day doesn’t start with the sun blazing in the top of the sky – it teases and hints its way over the horizon with lightening blue, a touch of pink, a slowly emerging glow of yellow.
And so it is with hope. Hope is a lot of waiting. But it is an active waiting. It’s not just sitting around, giving into despair or just closing our eyes and pretending everything is fine. It is an open-eyed searching in the darkness for the hints and signs of light and life. It is recognizing a life transformed, a relationship reconciled, a person being made whole.
In Spanish, the same word (esperar) means “to hope” and “to wait.” That’s what Advent is about: waiting in the darkness with eyes opened up to see the signs of hope. Look around: God is making good on God’s promises. And thanks be to God for that.
Discussion Questions
Activity Suggestions
Either give one large piece of paper (11X17) to each person, or roll out a large banner for everyone to work on together. Write “ESPERAR” in the middle of the page or banner. Using magazines/newspapers and scissors/glue, markers/crayons, etc., depict what it means to wait and hope at the same time. One approach (just a suggestion) could be to start on one side of the paper with signs of darkness/fear/etc., and then move across the page with signs of light and hope. Take time to share what you did and talk about what you’re thinking/feeling.
Closing Prayer
O God for whom we wait, help us to be patient as we wait for the hope you bring. Keep our eyes open to see the good things you are already doing. Strengthen us to be strong for others, and to ask others for help while we wait. Bring your light and healing into every corner of creation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM
Warm-up Questions
Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit
A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, can recognize and respond to people exhibiting negative behaviors. An experiment commonly labeled “bribing babies with graham crackers” reveals evidence that children, ages 1-8 have a tendency to avoid interactions with persons exhibiting certain behaviors.
Children often show acceptance of another person by their willingness to receive gifts from them. In step one, children ages 5-8 were offered one sticker from one character and multiple stickers from a second character. They had to choose from which person they would accept gifts. Not surprisingly, the kids accepted stickers from the one offering more. Step two presented the same situation, except character one was a kind person and character two was a bully who hit kids at school. In this case, 80% of kids preferred to take one sticker from a nice person rather than 2-8 stickers from a mean person.
A similar activity involved one-year-old infants. With two equal puppet characters offering graham crackers, babies also accepted the one who was offering more of the snacks. However, when puppet #1 acted out, hurting a lamb stuffed animal, and puppet #2 helped a lamb stuffed animal, babies chose to receive fewer crackers from the good-hearted giver (puppet #2). This research suggests that people can recognize right moral actions from wrong ones and choose to deal with people who act kindly and justly, even if it means a personal cost of fewer gifts.
How do young kids know right from wrong? Have they learned already, or do they innately understand? God said he has “written the law on their hearts…while their conscience also bears witness…” (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16). As we see in the gospel reading, John the Baptist bears witness that God can see into immoral hearts, despite our efforts to hide our intentions.
Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Advent
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
In today’s passage, Jesus had not yet appeared on the scene at the Jordan River, but John the Baptist was busy preparing the people for His arrival. John lived a life very different from the culture. He ate locusts and wild honey in the desert and wore clothes of camel’s hair. More important, he lived humbly as a servant of God, while some religious leaders lived greedy, self-promoting lives. This stark contrast drew people to his message.
John’s message proved counter-cultural. He proclaimed the coming of the Lord and called leaders and common people alike to repent of their sins and be baptized. Many call him the first true prophet in 400 years. His focus on praising God alone and boldly speaking the truth caught people’s attention. He did not seek “followers of John” but rather people prepared to follow the coming Christ. John’s message challenged those who lived self-righteous lives which looked good but were rooted in wrong motivations. God desires that our obedience arise out of love for Him, rather than out of a desire to complete a checklist of superficially pious actions. John baptized people to signify a person’s public confession of sin and repentance, an outward sign of inner cleansing of the heart.
Unfortunately, not every people group who visited John wanted baptism for the right reasons. Some believed they were righteous without any need to change their attitudes. They did not see their imperfection and looked down on “sinners,” treating others poorly and acting to promote their own interests instead of God’s. John called them out, warning them that God has the power to save or destroy, and the way a person lives and acts reflects their inward beliefs about God.
We are called to live aware of our need for Jesus and to “produce good fruit,”(3:8) from the heart in response to all He has done for us. Verse 10 of Matthew 3 states: “…every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
The passage closes with a reminder than John’s baptism was to prepare people for Jesus’ coming. Soon, the true Lord Jesus would baptize them also with the Holy Spirit., giving His life for others.
Discussion Questions
Activity Suggestions
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you for showing evidence of your coming throughout the Bible and through people such as John the Baptist. Guide us to live lives that line up with your teaching and reflect our inner devotion to you and gratitude for all you have done for us. Thank you for coming to save us. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Scott A. Moore, Erfurt, Germany
Warm-up Question
What do you need to do in order to get ready for school (or a trip)?
Change is Coming
Once again we are in the weeks leading up to a transition of administrations. There are many situations a new, inexperienced White House staff will encounter in the weeks and months to come. Press releases, motorcades, and the State of the Union address are some of the easier ones. The President, Vice-President, and others in the White House need to be prepared for any and everything. The two last presidents had to deal with crises in their respective first years of office that no one could have known would happen. For President Bush, it was 9/11 just nine months after taking office and for President Obama, there was a Swine flu outbreak and Somali pirates.
Preparing for pirates was not on anyone’s agenda, but the Obama administration was able to respond to the flu outbreak because President Bush’s team had prepared them with their experiences learned from dealing with the Avian flu a few years earlier. Aside from such catastrophes and all the various natural disasters that can happen, each administration needs to be adequately prepared for major cataclysmic events such as nuclear war. This is also something the White House teams will practice in the coming months so that should anything happen, the President and his team will be able to continue to provide the necessary leadership.
Discussion Questions
First Sunday of Advent
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
Happy New Church Year! The first Sunday in Advent (from Adventus=coming). It is a time of getting ready for the joy of Christmas. Longer and cooler nights for us in the Northern hemisphere mean a chance to get cozy and start thinking about the beautiful decorations, the sharing of good food and gifts, and what in the heck is this text doing here? Why on earth would we want spoil the mood before it really gets going with this? Jesus talking about all the destruction of the Great Flood is a serious downer. And, if Jesus thinks he will lift our spirits by sharing with us that the Son of Man coming again will take some and leave others standing, he is sorely mistaken. Okay, the hearers of this text have an advantage over those in the time of Noah. Whoosh, rain and floods and destruction were sent without any real warning. This time around there is a warning: be ready! The Son of Man is coming—like a thief in the night. Advent is a big yay for Jesus coming as a cute little baby, the big Word of God in a tiny bit of flesh; and it’s a big uh oh for Jesus coming again at some point in the future. We are on pins and needles if we think on it and sit with it.
So if we take Jesus’ promise in this text seriously, we need to be prepared. How do we do that? What does it mean for us to be awake and aware and ready for when Jesus comes? It has been about 2,000 years since these words of Jesus were shared. If it hasn’t happened now, should we really worry that it’s going to happen in our lifetimes? This text calls us to vigilance. It is exactly that kind of “it’s not going to happen anyway” thinking that this text wants to prevent. We can’t sleep—in the spiritual awareness kind of way. At the same time, we can’t get caught up in trying to predict the signs because this text (and others like it) tell us: like a thief in the night. We just don’t know. The angels in heaven don’t know. The Son doesn’t even know. We will never be able to predict it so we shouldn’t bother with that. Our energy is not to be spent on figuring out when Jesus is coming but figuring out how to be ready.
Discussion Questions
Activity Suggestions
Fire Drill:
Walk through the fire drill plan for your location. Maybe even walk through to the other classrooms and ask them if they know their fire escape routes. Learning to be ready in every day situations can help raise awareness for the spiritual kind of readiness talked about in the Gospel reading for the day.
Closing Prayer
Reflect on the following poem and then join in the responsive prayer. How does this poem change how you see God coming and our preparation for that coming?
Making the House Ready for the Lord
Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
Still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice—it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.
–Mary Oliver–
Closing Prayer (from ELW Evening Prayer)
Leader: The Spirit and the church cry out:
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: All those who await his appearance pray:
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Leader: The whole creation pleads:
All: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.