[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Advent 4 - New testament reading

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:
Friends,
Below are some thoughts for an Australian sermon on the Romans reading for 
dvent 4.
oward
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* Today is the last Sunday in Advent - only a few more days to go till 
hristmas, when the Church celebrates the Birth of Jesus.
 The Church does all sorts of things to help us remember this
mportant event:
 like special carol services, decorated Christmas trees, special
ervices often held around midnight, stables and cribs
* Now this morning the reading from the Letter to the Romans encourages us 
o do a bit of wondering
 does all this celebrating make any real difference in our lives? Or is it 
ll just a busy time, with a few ancient
ustoms thrown in for good measure?
 On this last Sunday in Advent Paul suggests that what we can
o is to get on with the business of sharing some Good News,
nstead of bemoaning all the Bad News we discover in the
edia, day in and day out.
 So that we can be quite clear about it, Paul sums up this Good
ews by saying that 'God loves you and has chosen you to be
is very own people'.
 Everyone has some basic belief and that guides their
ehaviour: e.g. terrorists believe they can give in to their
esire destroy the world for all sorts of reasons;
 but followers of Jesus believe that God loves us and is not
ut to harm or punish us for supposed wrongdoings.
 If that fact is at the foundation of our lives, it will affect the
ay we think, the way we feel and the way we behave;
* Here is a great little story of a young boy who really understands what 
aul was telling us - the good news of Christmas.
It's about a school pageant in a town in Canada. The teacher gave out the 
arious parts for the pageant. One problem was Ralph. He was a big boy for 
ine years old and a bit clumsy. He was well-liked by all the children. 
alph wanted to be a shepherd with a flute.
he teacher told him there was a more important role for him - the 
nnkeeper. On the night of the presentation the hall filled with family and 
riends all caught up in the magic of the night.
The play reached the point for Joseph and Mary to arrive in Bethlehem. They 
ame to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door. Ralph 
as ready and waiting.
"What do you want?" he cried out, pushing the door open roughly.
"We are looking for a room."
"Look elsewhere." Ralph looked straight ahead, but he spoke with conviction. 
The inn is full."
"Kind sir, we have asked everywhere in vain."
"There is no room here for you."
"Please, good innkeeper, this is my wife, Mary. She is soon to have a baby 
nd must find a place to rest for the night. Surely you must have some small 
orner for her. She is so tired."
Ralph looked down at Mary. There was a long pause.
The teacher coached from the wings, giving Ralph his next line: "No, 
egone!"
Ralph just stood there.
Three times the teacher prompted him from the wings, each time louder than 
he last. At last, Ralph repeated the words he had learned: "No, begone!"
Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary and started to turn away. The 
nnkeeper did not return to his inn as directed. He stood there watching the 
ouple, looking perplexed, with his mouth opened, his brow creased with 
oncern, his eyes filled with tears. Then suddenly, this Christmas pageant 
ecame different from all the rest.
"Don't go, Joseph. Please don't go," Ralph called out. "Bring Mary back." 
is face brightened with a big smile. He stretched out his arms. "You can 
ave my room!"
The teacher's eyes filled with tears. The glory of God shone about them, and 
n only a moment, the choir of angels entered caroling their Christmas song.
* This young lad knew at the bottom of his heart God loves us, and that love 
hould be at the foundation of our lives; Ralph shows us that it will affect 
he way we think, the way we feel and the way we behave;
 Paul says in our reading today that the result of believing this
ood News is a life of peace: a life of wholeness, a life of
urpose, a life of value.
 When in our better moments we do realise this, we are able to do good 
hings for our world, we are able to give people hope, we are able to 
elcome the outcast, the rejected and the
eglected.
* In a short while we shall share in the Holy Communion.
 If you are just taking some Bread and some Wine, it is not
ikely to make much difference to your daily living.
 If, however, you realise this is the Body and Blood of Christ,
ou are caught up in the mystery of love, and you cannot
revent that love from penetrating the whole of your life, just
ike it did for Ralph.
 You do not have to let all the Bad News of the world overwhelm
ou and fill you with despair,
 instead, this Christmas, you can be the Good News to the
olk around you,
 you can show them hope, you can show them the power of
od, and you can be an agent of peace.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
he Rev'd Dr H.C. Smith
Retired Anglican Priest
Orange NSW
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


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