Bells of Advent – Good News!

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

December 14, 2003

   

INTRODUCTION TO THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

We’ve been “ringing bells” all during Advent

      Bells to wake us up

      Bells to clear the way > warn us to make way for something important

      And today we ring bells for good news  

STORY OF HOW ST. FRANCIS TAUGHT PEOPLE OF GUBBIO TO FEED THEIR WOLF

There is  an old Italian legend about Good News—or, it’s supposed to be good news

Not everyone sees it that way > but you can decide for yourself. 

Here’s what happened.

      Once upon a time in town in Italy called Gubbio > a problem developed

            Human remains began showing up streets of their beautiful city

            Closer inspection revealed it to be some of their own citizens > people they knew

            They mysteriously appeared in morning when people went to get morning newspaper

                        Now, Gubbionites are very proud people,

                        They knew none of them could be committing such atrocious crimes

                         “A stranger” passing thru must be responsible party

                        Nevertheless > they began to lock their doors at night

            Horrible crimes continued > and they continued to cry “No Gubbionite would ever do this!”

      Then one night someone saw wolf wandering streets after doors locked and all in bed

            Next morning buzz at café is about wolf that lives in dark woods on north side of town

            Wolf must be guilty, but it is not their wolf because they did not invite it to live there

            So set up committee to decide how to get rid of wicked wolf [must be Presbyterians]

      None of their ideas worked > people got desperate > went to “holy man of Assisi ”

            His name was Francis [became Saint] > had reputation for being able to talk to animals

            He agreed to meet with wolf > returned with strange and somewhat unwelcome advice

                        “I have good news for you!  “All you have to do is feed your wolf”

                        When you feed wolf > no longer devour your people.”

                                    [funny how Francis called it “their wolf” even though they never claimed it]

            At first > people not impressed with his report > wondered why they ever asked

                        However > first one and then another began to leave a little food out for wolf

                        Wasn’t long before he prowled streets at night > eating their food, not their people

      The violent deaths stopped

            It wasn’t long before every man, woman and child learned how to “feed their wolf”

                        Amazingly, miraculously, people of Gubbio became transformed

                        They became more easy-going, less arrogant, more humane

                                    In a word > they began to be “human”

That’s the end of the story  

REACTIONS TO STORY

Reactions to this legend tend to fall in two categories > listeners either love it or hate it

      Ones who love it immediately recognize themselves

            Eyes twinkle as they identify with citizens of Gubbio

            Say “oooo” knowing their own tendencies to be proud and haughty

            Smile  > remember how they have wanted to blame “strangers” when things go wrong

            Laugh at Gubbionites knowing they themselves find healing when they confront own wolves

            Those who love this story know it’s abut negative aspects of themselves, community, church

      Those who hate it, on other hand, just don’t get it

            Terribly offended by any notion that they have a negative side

            Bothered by suggestion that they are to incorporate rather than exclude their “wolf” side

            Won’t even consider invitation to befriend and feed that which they fear most in themselves

            They miss the opportunity to come to new and healthier understanding of self and other  

RELATION OF STORY TO THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

On this third Sunday of Advent >

      Scripture asks us to consider advice equally as strange as St. Francis’ to Gubbionites

      Paul tells the good people at Phillips to “Rejoice in the Lord always . . .”

      And Zephaniah’s message is “Rejoice and exult with all your heart.”

            Their messages are what we want to hear in this season

            Getting ready for Christmas is supposed to be about good cheer and happiness > all that

                        But when we hear the gospel lesson > we hear echoes of Francis’ own words

                                    “Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees;

                                    every tree therefore that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’

                        We’ve grown to expect that from John, of course

                                    “hellfire and brimstone” is the name we give to his kind of preaching

On this third Sunday of Advent

      We remember that God does not wear red velvet suit and travel in sleigh full of toys

      God comes to us in Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, One who asks only that we turn and follow

            That’s the hard part about reading the Bible

            Instead of hearing we will find “joy” by thinking positively

            Or “Don’t worry, be happy no matter what happens

                        John tells us the good news

                                    “Joy” is what happens when we respond to what God asks of us

                                    when we repent > have a change of heart

                                    when we turn from happiness of getting into joy of giving

                        Gospel want to release us from false joy of popping another pill > turning up headsets

                        Real joy is what happens when we confront the “wolf” in us

                                    Face what keeps us unhappy, and turn toward God’s redeeming love

GOOD NEWS!

Barry Robinson* tells a different kind of story about good news

      He tells about the time he played in his high school band

      I don’t know what it’s like to be part of a band > I never played in one myself

      But in THIS band the number one rule was KEEP YOUR INSTRUMENT CLEAN

            The worst thing that could happen was be caught not taking proper care of your instrument

                        Out of tune trombone or a broken reed in a clarinet were dead giveaways

            Well, one day the band director, Mr. McRae, caught a kid breaking the number one rule

            Mr. McRae could tell by end of first measure that Norman ’s trumpet was out of tune

                        “ Norman , what’s wrong?  Please slide your tuning valve.”

                                    Norman tried, but it wouldn’t slide, because it was stuck

                                    Everybody knew why it was stuck > Norman had not oiled his valves

            So, when Mr. McRae cut everybody off > stopped the song in mid note > everyone knew

                        They all knew what was wrong > and they knew Mr. McRae knew what was wrong

                        And they could by Norman ’s face that he knew Mr. McRae knew > guilt written all over

            As Barry Robinson relates the story > silence took the place of the music

                        Norman had a bit of a stupid look on his face > looked Mr. McRae straight in the eye

                        “Sir, I forgot to oil my trumpet this week.  It was very stupid of me. I’m very sorry.

                        Please forgive me.”

                                    Barry said Norman was so cool that butter would not have melted on his tongue

      Mr. McRae had been around Barry’s high school as long as Dan has been around Memorial

            He had developed some expertise in catching students read-handed

                        He had seen it all and heard it all > so he thought

                                    But he’d never heard a confession like that one

                                                he just sat there on his stool > too stunned to speak

                                                finally he turned away from Norman and looked at the rest of the class

                                                with half a grin on his face

                                                            “How do you get mad at somebody who says something like that?”

God is just like Mr. McRae

      There is no way God can get mad at us when we repent:

            “I did it (or I didn’t do it).  It was very stupid of me.  I’m very sorry.  Please forgive me.”

That’s Good News, folks!  Ring that bell!

*  From http://www.rockies.net/