2017 Worship Guide

Page 32 2017 WORSHIP GUIDE Wednesday, December 6, 2017 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS PUBLICATION This Jesus was messy; there wasn’t anything neat or tidy about him. When he wasn’t in the Temple declaring how the faith community’s leadership had become self-righteous holy huddlers, he was calling out local officials for policies that excluded folks for racial, gender, and sexual prejudices. Mark’s good news tells us how messy and transformative the Incarnation (God in human form) really is. Advent is more than a season of expectancy inviting us to light candles and place gifts under a tree; it is also about readiness for action, watchfulness for every opportunity for justice, and willingness to risk everything for the life-giving Love of God’s reign. To live in Advent, we must be present to the world around us. To recognize the Christmas Incarnation—who became our Easter Resurrection—we must be reverent and humble. Sometimes, we must clean house, tidy our tables, and have a party. There is also a time to be present, to act for justice and peace, and to prepare our hearts for the beginning of the good news: God is with us, even now!