Sergio Rodriguez, Pastor for Community Ministries
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Advent 4. December 19, 2021.
“From you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” Micah 5:2
O Root of Jesse, Come and deliver us, delay no longer. Amen.
Waiting, watching, warning: our advent season began with a call to attend to the signs of hope fulfilled all around us (Advent 1, Pr. Rodriguez). We heard of John beckon us to make straight our pathways for the long-expected Lord (Advent 2, Dn. Remmert). Just last week, God urged us to perceive the birth of our savior as proclaiming God’s all-embracing love, if only we allow ourselves to be astounded by its fruits (Advent 3, Rev. Derr). Now God sets before us the way of Bethlehem as our home where hope is revived. Hope for living each day as if we were living in a different reality. Bethlehem, this small mountain top, with no enduring political might, has always been a city of such hope, despite the centuries of occupation.A fellow native of Bethlehem, Pastor Mitri Raheb, friend of this congregation and founder of Dar Al-Kalima, the now first Lutheran College in the Levant, makes this observation about hope: “Hope is living the reality and yet investing in a different one (Faith in the face of Empire: Bible through Palestinian Eyes, pg. 130).” The subject of the sermon, “Bethlehem, place of home-restoring hope,” speaks of hope as a gift active every day, shaping our waiting for God’s tomorrow. Our text comes from our First Lesson, Micah chapter five, verse two, in particular where Micah perceives Bethlehem as place, from which, “one who is to rule in Israel,” shall come.
December 19: Las Posadas
Contemplative Worship:
