<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div><br><br>Sent from my iPad</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Frank R. Fisher" <<a href="mailto:f.fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net">f.fisher.obl.osb@comcast.net</a>><br><b>Date:</b> November 25, 2010 2:16:11 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> <<a href="mailto:SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic@ecunet.org">SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic@ecunet.org</a>>, "'St. Benedict's Abbey'" <<a href="mailto:sba@sbabbey.com">sba@sbabbey.com</a>>, "'Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary'" <<a href="mailto:PRCL-L@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU">PRCL-L@LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU</a>>, <<a href="mailto:PROPERTALK.topic@ecunet.org">PROPERTALK.topic@ecunet.org</a>>, <<a href="mailto:midrash@joinhands.com">midrash@joinhands.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[propertalk.topic] Stay Awake</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> <a href="mailto:propertalk.topic@ecunet.org"><a href="mailto:propertalk.topic@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic@ecunet.org</a></a><br><br></div></blockquote><div><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>This is my current draft for the 1st Sunday in Advent. I just finished a</span><br><span>massive revision of my first draft. If something seems unclear, of you've</span><br><span>spotted an error please let me know. Incidentally, the first sentence is</span><br><span>accompanied by a two hand thump on the pulpit. ;)</span><br><span></span><br><span>A blessed Advent to you all.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>PAX,</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>__</span><br><span></span><br><span>Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB</span><br><span><a href="http://www.ffisher.net">www.ffisher.net</a></span><br><span>Interim Pastor</span><br><span>First Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, IL</span><br><span><a href="http://www.fpckewanee.org">www.fpckewanee.org</a></span><br><span>Elmira United Presbyterian Church of Toulon, IL</span><br><span><a href="http://www.elmiraunited.org">www.elmiraunited.org</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>aka</span><br><span></span><br><span>Brother Oscar Romero</span><br><span>Oblate of St. Benedict's Abbey</span><br><span>Bartonville, IL</span><br><span><a href="http://www.SBAbbey.com">www.SBAbbey.com</a></span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br><span>STAY AWAKE!</span><br><span></span><br><span>I love doing that</span><br><span>at the start of a sermon.</span><br><span></span><br><span>OK, I need a show of hands.</span><br><span>How many of you </span><br><span>have ever fallen asleep</span><br><span>during a sermon?</span><br><span></span><br><span>There's a wonderful story </span><br><span>circulating on the internet</span><br><span>these days.</span><br><span>In the story,</span><br><span>a woman </span><br><span>was visiting a new church.</span><br><span>She appreciated</span><br><span>most of the service.</span><br><span>But the sermon </span><br><span>seemed to go on </span><br><span>forever,</span><br><span>and many people</span><br><span>in the congregation </span><br><span>fell asleep.</span><br><span></span><br><span>After the service,</span><br><span>she walked up </span><br><span>to a very sleepy looking </span><br><span>gentleman,</span><br><span>extended her hand </span><br><span>in greeting,</span><br><span>and said,</span><br><span>"Hello,</span><br><span>I'm Gladys Dunn."</span><br><span>The gentleman looked at her,</span><br><span> nodded,</span><br><span>and replied,</span><br><span>"you're not the only one </span><br><span>Ma'am.</span><br><span>I'm glad </span><br><span>it's done too!"</span><br><span></span><br><span>All too often </span><br><span>it's difficult for us </span><br><span>to stay awake.</span><br><span>We'd just as soon </span><br><span>nod off</span><br><span>and be glad it's done </span><br><span>afterwards.</span><br><span>That happens</span><br><span> during Sunday services</span><br><span>and it seems to happen </span><br><span>more often </span><br><span>during Advent.</span><br><span>For Advent </span><br><span>can seem to be </span><br><span>a long </span><br><span>dreary time </span><br><span>of waiting.</span><br><span>At least </span><br><span>it seems dreary</span><br><span> when compared to the wonder </span><br><span>of the Christmas</span><br><span>yet to come.</span><br><span>But perhaps </span><br><span>we can wait </span><br><span>more patiently</span><br><span>if we look back </span><br><span>into the lives</span><br><span> of some </span><br><span>who might have </span><br><span>waited </span><br><span>with us;</span><br><span>Waited</span><br><span>as they struggled </span><br><span>to stay awake</span><br><span>to watch </span><br><span>for the One </span><br><span>who came among us;</span><br><span>the One </span><br><span>who died and arose;</span><br><span>the One </span><br><span>who will come to us </span><br><span>once again.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Your name is Sapha,</span><br><span>a woman </span><br><span>of the tribe of Levi,</span><br><span>and a daughter </span><br><span>of the nation of Judah.</span><br><span>But the nation </span><br><span>of whom </span><br><span>you're a part</span><br><span>is faded now;</span><br><span>faded almost</span><br><span> into an sleep </span><br><span>of non-existence </span><br><span>as you and your family </span><br><span>dwell </span><br><span>in Babylonian captivity.</span><br><span>It would be</span><br><span> all too easy </span><br><span>for your country</span><br><span>to fall asleep.</span><br><span>For your captivity </span><br><span>is gentle.</span><br><span>And soon</span><br><span> your present home</span><br><span>seems much more real </span><br><span>than remembered glory </span><br><span>of Jerusalem.</span><br><span></span><br><span>But somehow </span><br><span>you manage </span><br><span>to fight off </span><br><span>the sleep</span><br><span>urging you </span><br><span>to become one nation </span><br><span>with your captors.</span><br><span>"We are Judah,"</span><br><span>you and yours </span><br><span>proclaim proudly.</span><br><span></span><br><span>And so,</span><br><span>you stay awake.</span><br><span>You stay awake</span><br><span> by telling your children</span><br><span>stories </span><br><span>of Jerusalem;</span><br><span>the city </span><br><span>they've never seen.</span><br><span>You stay awake</span><br><span>by following the law;</span><br><span>the law </span><br><span>which sets you apart </span><br><span>and reminds you </span><br><span>of God's path.</span><br><span>And you stay awake </span><br><span>in worship.</span><br><span>For the worship </span><br><span>of the Holy One</span><br><span>uplifts the hope </span><br><span>that one day</span><br><span>you will be delivered</span><br><span>both from captivity</span><br><span>and from </span><br><span>the endless wars</span><br><span>through which </span><br><span>you've lived.</span><br><span></span><br><span>You stay awake</span><br><span>by day and by night</span><br><span>as you pray </span><br><span>for your deliverance.</span><br><span>And one day</span><br><span>it seems</span><br><span>your prayers</span><br><span>have been heard.</span><br><span>For you hear the words</span><br><span>of the prophet Isaiah;</span><br><span>words promising </span><br><span> one day</span><br><span>what you pray for</span><br><span>will come to pass.</span><br><span>"In the days to come,"</span><br><span>says the prophet,</span><br><span>"the mountain of the Lord's house</span><br><span>shall be established as the highest</span><br><span>of the mountains,</span><br><span>and shall be raised </span><br><span>above the hills;</span><br><span>all the nations</span><br><span>shall stream to it . . .</span><br><span>. . . they shall beat their swords</span><br><span>into plowshares</span><br><span>and their spears</span><br><span>into pruning hooks;</span><br><span>nation shall not lift up sword</span><br><span>against nation,</span><br><span>neither shall they learn war</span><br><span>any more."</span><br><span></span><br><span>When your prayer </span><br><span>will be answered</span><br><span>you don't know.</span><br><span>But in your new </span><br><span>alertness</span><br><span>you know </span><br><span>answered </span><br><span>it will be.</span><br><span>You realize</span><br><span>you may not see</span><br><span>that day.</span><br><span>But you also know</span><br><span>if you,</span><br><span>and your people,</span><br><span>stay awake </span><br><span>long enough,</span><br><span>you will be ready</span><br><span>when God once again</span><br><span>walks</span><br><span>among God's people.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Your name is Marcelus.</span><br><span>You're a senator.</span><br><span>In fact,</span><br><span>you're one of the </span><br><span>most important citizens</span><br><span>of Imperial Rome.</span><br><span>Your life,</span><br><span>you think,</span><br><span>is quite enjoyable.</span><br><span>For with your overseers</span><br><span>running your estates</span><br><span>you have no need</span><br><span>to work</span><br><span>to make a living.</span><br><span>So your time</span><br><span>away from the duties</span><br><span>of the Senate</span><br><span>is filled by</span><br><span>the frenzied bacchanals</span><br><span>held at the Emperor's court</span><br><span>and in the villas</span><br><span>of your fellow senators.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Yes,</span><br><span>it's a good life.</span><br><span>But over the years</span><br><span>you begin to wonder</span><br><span>if your life</span><br><span>is really as full and rich</span><br><span>as you think.</span><br><span>Sometimes you wonder</span><br><span>if all you're doing</span><br><span>is an attempt </span><br><span>to fill up the emptiness</span><br><span>you find</span><br><span>deep inside.</span><br><span></span><br><span>In a search</span><br><span>to find something</span><br><span>to fill up this void</span><br><span>you begin to devote</span><br><span>some of your time</span><br><span>to the mysteries</span><br><span>of the gods.</span><br><span>In turn</span><br><span>the cults of Apollo,</span><br><span>Jupiter,</span><br><span>Sol,</span><br><span>and Mithras</span><br><span>welcome you</span><br><span>with open arms.</span><br><span>But in each case</span><br><span>you find</span><br><span>nothing there</span><br><span>to fill</span><br><span>the emptiness </span><br><span>within you.</span><br><span></span><br><span>But then</span><br><span>one day</span><br><span>you start to notice </span><br><span>the behavior</span><br><span>of another senator.</span><br><span>He seems to be uninterested</span><br><span>in the endless rounds</span><br><span>of feasting.</span><br><span>And there seems to be</span><br><span>a sense about him</span><br><span>both of peace</span><br><span>and alertness.</span><br><span></span><br><span>So when you get a chance,</span><br><span>you draw him aside</span><br><span>and ask him</span><br><span>about the change</span><br><span>you see in him.</span><br><span>He tells you</span><br><span>the story</span><br><span>of Jesus the Christ</span><br><span>and how faith in Christ</span><br><span>awakened him</span><br><span>from the life</span><br><span>he'd been living</span><br><span></span><br><span>Within a few short weeks</span><br><span>you began </span><br><span>the same journey of faith.</span><br><span>It know</span><br><span> it will be years yet</span><br><span>before you become fully a part</span><br><span>of Christ's church.</span><br><span>But already</span><br><span>you've find yourself</span><br><span>awakened</span><br><span>and beginning</span><br><span> to make ready</span><br><span>for the day of Christ's return.</span><br><span>For who would want </span><br><span>to be asleep</span><br><span>when one </span><br><span>could be watching;</span><br><span>watching for the Lord </span><br><span>to come </span><br><span>once again.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Your name</span><br><span> is your own.</span><br><span>But although you live </span><br><span>thousands of years</span><br><span>after Sapha or Marcelus.</span><br><span>you probably share </span><br><span>their difficulty.</span><br><span>Its likely</span><br><span>you have trouble </span><br><span>staying awake.</span><br><span>You may be lured to sleep</span><br><span>in exhaustion</span><br><span>by the hectic pace </span><br><span>of our present life;</span><br><span>a life which contains </span><br><span>precious little </span><br><span>time to rest.</span><br><span>You may also</span><br><span> be lured to sleep</span><br><span>by the demands </span><br><span>of the upcoming season;</span><br><span>a season </span><br><span>once intended </span><br><span>to allow us time</span><br><span>to prepare </span><br><span>for Christ's coming </span><br><span>into our lives;</span><br><span>a season </span><br><span>in which the Christ child </span><br><span>now seems pushed aside</span><br><span>by endless </span><br><span>commercialism.</span><br><span></span><br><span> But perhaps most of all</span><br><span>you're lured to sleep</span><br><span>by modern mind sets;</span><br><span> an attitude</span><br><span> which denies</span><br><span> the miraculous.</span><br><span>And in this </span><br><span>modern mind set </span><br><span>some may dismiss</span><br><span>today's Gospel lesson</span><br><span>as mere fable.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Yet to Christians </span><br><span>throughout time</span><br><span>this is no fable.</span><br><span>This is the Apostolic hope;</span><br><span>the greatest mystery </span><br><span>of our faith.</span><br><span>For Christians </span><br><span>of the last two-thousand years</span><br><span>have proclaimed</span><br><span>Christ has died,</span><br><span>Christ has risen,</span><br><span>Christ will come again.</span><br><span></span><br><span>The choice is ours.</span><br><span>Will we fall asleep</span><br><span>or will we stay awake </span><br><span>to await the day</span><br><span>when we will see</span><br><span> the glory </span><br><span>of Christ's promise;</span><br><span>a promise </span><br><span>which will likely </span><br><span>come</span><br><span>in a way </span><br><span>we could never expect.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Maybe the day</span><br><span>we're waiting for,</span><br><span>will be today.</span><br><span>Maybe as you'll</span><br><span>walk out the church door</span><br><span>today,</span><br><span>you'll notice someone</span><br><span>who looks like</span><br><span>he's begging.</span><br><span>He's standing </span><br><span>at the side of his car,</span><br><span>and pointing at his very pregnant wife,</span><br><span>as he asks people</span><br><span>for money for gas.</span><br><span>His wife, he says</span><br><span>in halting English,</span><br><span>is about to deliver her baby.</span><br><span>But the car</span><br><span>has run out of gas</span><br><span>and they have no money</span><br><span>to buy any more.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Many people</span><br><span>seem to be </span><br><span>passing by the man</span><br><span>while turning their heads</span><br><span>to avoid seeing him.</span><br><span></span><br><span>But something</span><br><span>about the man draws you</span><br><span>to him.</span><br><span>"I'll drive you,</span><br><span>and your wife</span><br><span>to the hospital,"</span><br><span>you tell him.</span><br><span>Then</span><br><span>suddenly</span><br><span>you see a strange light</span><br><span>in his eyes;</span><br><span>a light </span><br><span>flashing </span><br><span>into the skies,</span><br><span>and thundering </span><br><span>from the east </span><br><span>to the west.</span><br><span></span><br><span>And a noise, </span><br><span>sounding like</span><br><span> an army of trumpets</span><br><span> fills the air,</span><br><span>as you sink to your knees</span><br><span> in wonder and awe.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Maybe the day</span><br><span>we're waiting for</span><br><span>will be today.</span><br><span></span><br><span>But until we see</span><br><span>that day</span><br><span> arrive,</span><br><span>Lord </span><br><span>we obey your command.</span><br><span>We stay awake</span><br><span>as we echo the prayer</span><br><span> of the saints</span><br><span> who've gone before us.</span><br><span></span><br><span>Come Lord Jesus.</span><br><span>Even so come.</span><br><span></span><br><span>To God alone be glory.</span><br><span>Amen.</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>