Bear Worthy Fruit – 4 December 2022 – Second Sunday in Advent

Despite the cynicism of one wag who suspected that to have the wolf lie down with the lamb, one would need a practically inexhaustible supply of lambs, Isaiah’s vision of reconciliation includes all of creation. Rather than regard such a vision as a flight of fancy, maybe we who have been numbed by images of war and destruction, seen the failure of “compassionate conservatism,” the increasing despondency of the poor, the erosion of laws and programs to protect the environment, an enormous distrust of elected leadership, national and international polarization, an economic failure of nerve, could take a cue from Isaiah: the foundations of the peaceable kingdom are anchored in the Spirit of God, present at creation, empowering the just, overshadowing a young Hebrew woman, agent of God at baptism, the Messiah present here and now. –– Tom Snyder

Matthew 3:1–12

We may or may not need to be as abrasive and intrusive as John the Baptist, that wild-and-woolly prophet suspended between covenants. Still his message was consistent with all we have read and discussed so far. Challenging, expectant, truth-telling, leveling, washing, judging, announcing the One who would cause even in the Baptist himself a sense of unworthiness, John always seems to be an unwelcome guest in our Advent observances, but he shows up every year (like crazy Uncle Harry at Thanksgiving). But just as our wacky uncle reminds us that, for better or worse, we are family, the baptizer introduces us to an adult Jesus, reminding us that ultimately we expect not only the Child of Bethlehem, but the fullness of God’s own Self in the ministering Christ. –– Tom Snyder

Romans 15:4–13

When Paul wrote this exquisite passage to the Romans, he was doing more than reminding them to observe Bible Sunday (which several churches have done over the years because of this text). Grasping the scope and inherent hopefulness in internalizing Scripture, he rehearses it as a book of promise, anchored in the activity of God.

In the late 1960s, the “theology of hope” (Jürgen Moltmann, et al.) argued that this divine activity held within itself the hope for something more, not only revealing the dependability of God, but the very nature of God, and the eternal cycle of promise and hope. We would do well to revisit this theological school in a time when the temporary and the trendy have caused us to live a surface faith and made Jesus into a box-office star, the cross to be wrapped in the flag, and this holy season a frenzy to possess what is ultimately disposable. God knows, and we know, that there is something more. And that is finally what Advent is all about. –– Tom Snyder

Isaiah 11:1–10

The reference to Jesse, David’s father, indicates that this section is about one of the Davidic kings, a future king to sprout from the old stump of the dynasty. Like all his royal ancestors, this king will be anointed. One effect of anointing is the onrush of God’s spirit 1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 16: 13). This new king will be filled with God’s spirit, which will give him all the qualities needed to fulfill his office—wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. –– Tom Snyder

Tom Snyder is Pastor Emeritus of Christ United Methodist Church, Ashland, Ohio, and a Fellow of the National Cathedral College of Preachers, Washington, D.C.

Homily Service 38, no. 1 (2004): 3–12.