Sunday Homily, December 23, 2012, 4th Advent
Readings: (4th Advent)
Micah 5, 1-4, He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock.
Psalm 80, Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Hebrews 10, 5-10, My prayer, that your love may increase ever more.
Luke 1, 39-45, When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb.
Micah: author, date, subject, our selection–
Author: one of the minor prophets (because of length,7 chapters), Micah is considered to be the author of these words.
Date: probably around 700-690 BCE, a contemporary of Isaiah, living in Judah. He had witnessed the destruction of the northern half of the kingdom, Israel, by the Assyrians, ca. 720 BCE. He watched Judah pay tribute to Assyria. He forsaw the Babylonian disaster in 590.
Subject: like all prophets, he predicts doom and destruction for Judah because of the injustice of the people, especially the rich over the poor. Micah learned from Israel's destruction by Assyria, which he attributed to God's anger with those people.
Then, of course, in the prophet tradition, he predicts a return to peace and prosperity after the people are purified. He speaks to Bethlehem as if to a person and says that a new ruler will come from the town and the good ruler will shepherd the people. Why Bethlehem? Because David was born there and the new David was supposed to come from the same royal village.
Asked what God wants of us (like penance, sacrifices of animals, goods, even children), Micah states one of the great lines in scripture: "What God requires of us is: 1. act justly, 2. love tenderly, and 3. walk humbly with our God." (6, 8) You people do that.
Our Selection: God promises a good ruler will be born in Bethlehem, the place where King David was born, a royal village.
Sources: Good News Bible, John Shelby Spong, Wikipedia
A Christmas Story
This morning I want to tell you a Christmas story. It took place in Tanzania the Christmas of my sixth, seventh, or eighth year living in the country.
First it is good to mention that Tanzania does not celebrate Christmas like we do here. First of all, it is summer, being just south of the equator. So, warm. Moreover, people do not decorate with lights like we do here. It is not the custom, nor do folks have the money.
I was usually pretty homesick at Christmas. So this year I decided I would throw a Christmas day party American style, especially with a turkey.
To get the turkey I had to not only go beyond the little town of Moshi, where the Jesuits had a house and where I was based. I, in fact, had to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, the country immediately to the north.
Despite the fact that most of the time I was away from Moshi on the road giving seminars and retreats, I still knew some people from the times I was in town. So I invited a number of families.
In particular, I invited the family who lived next door to us, a husband and wife with their two little girls, for whom I had a great affection. The family was all Muslim and the father was a police chief. It is always helpful to have a police chief as a friend in certain countries. I assure you.
To invite the family I followed the more formal African protocol. I invited the husband to come over to our house. I had two rocking chairs ready in my office/bedroom. We sat down and I offered him coffee or tea.
Then I said, “Mohammed, I would like to invite you and your family to a special celebration of the Christian Christmas. It will be the evening of December 25, beginning around 5:00.” Then, I explained what was Christian Christmas.
Finally, I added, “We both know, Mohammed, that you have a problem with alcohol. I request that you show up sober. If you show up drunk, I will have to ask you to leave.” Mohammed said he was grateful for the invitation for him and his family. He would not arrive drunk and if he did I should invite him out.
Want to guess what happened? You guessed it.
About 1:00 Christmas day Mohammed and his buddy arrived a bit early. Yes, they were both drunk out of their minds. We talked, I told him I was sorry, but he could not come to the party. He, too, said he was sorry, he left, and I did not see him again that day.
Later, however, about 5:00, his wife and girls arrived with a surprise. In the African tradition of hospitality, she had invited all her extended family and they all showed up together, about 15 of them.
Despite all this, we had a fun American style Christmas, most of it, in fact, on the roof. We had an Arabian style house with a flat roof. A great place for parties and watching the sun set glow on Kilimanjaro nearby.
Why talk about this today?
First, to show you how Christmas is celebrated in other countries.
Secondly, to show just how we are so fortunate to celebrate with such fan fare and warmth. I am grateful to be here.
What has been your best Christmas ever?
How are you celebrating this year?