Readings
for Advent 2B: Isaiah
40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8
December 4, 2005
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
{Sermon begins with Letters to the People of St. Jude's read by Pastor Karen and Pastor Mary}
It is within the context of these two contrasting experiences- privileged education and inner city schools, early success and challenging odds, ultimate defeat and enduring hope, that I would like to talk about preparing the way of the Lord. I will use today's gospel and the Wall Street Journal as my texts.
On November 19, 2005, Cupertino made the national news. The Wall St. Journal published an article headlined: "The New White Flight." This article tried to shed light on the Cupertino Schools by asking the question: Why are two high schools with outstanding reputations (i.e. Monte Vista and Lynbrook) losing white students as Asian students move in? The article claims that many white families are removing their children from these high schools because they are too academically driven, overly competitive, and not well rounded. The grade point averages in these schools are so high, that a B average puts a student in the bottom third of a class. For some students and families, this causes great anxiety and low self-esteem. What is at the root of this anxiety?
This article has been interpreted in many ways. Some people believe that it is an accurate description of the school system in Cupertino. Others believe that its content is divisive and discriminatory. Some think it simply articulates a difference in cultural values while Rush Limbaugh and the neo-nazis use this article as an opportunity to promote their racist agendas. As I read this article from a spiritual viewpoint, I intuit a lot of sadness, anxiety, and grieving. Where are the tight knit neighborhoods of yesteryear, the carefree joy of childhood, the excitement of high school activities and camaraderie? What will happen to the slow starters, the average students, and those who walk to a different drum? Will they have a chance to flourish in a competitive world or will they be left working for Wal-Mart?
I think the anxiety (that this article elicits) has to do with the breakdown of the American Dream and the middle class. I recently heard that only 25% of the people in the United States are emotionally, intellectually, and technologically prepared for the complexity of life in the 21st century. For example, just try to figure out the Medicare Drug benefits, settle a medical insurance claim, or fix your own car. Ruthless competition, success at any cost, power in the hands of the elite, the disappearance of locally owned businesses, and the power of international corporations, have a discouraging effect on people's ability to achieve their goals through honest work. The truth is, the secular narrative (that most of us bought into) which promises "lasting salvation" and ultimate happiness through knowledge, success, money, and power, is a narrative that is basically a lie. We actually have little control over much of our future. The economy, our health, our environment, our relationships can all be dramatically changed in a moment of time through unpredictable economic forces, world-wide epidemics, natural disasters, and death. Our unsuccessful schemes for self-improvement, our attempts at extricating ourselves from the traps we have set, our inability to overcome our self-centered posture, brings us to the deepest level of realization that apart from God, we are lost and cannot save ourselves.
Let me give you an example of how knowledge, success, competition, and technological excellence ultimately failed many people in Silicon Valley. After having been unemployed for a year, a good friend of mine found a job back in 2000. Although she had a very limited technical background, she was hired on at a technology firm whose primary function was to host a data center. At that time, this company employed over 1200 people, sold its stock at $180/share, and couldn't build buildings fast enough. Then the dot.com bust happened and the company began to fall apart in 2001. This turned the lives of so many people, up-side-down. Since that time, this company has been sold twice and only ten of the original 1200+ employees are left. My friend is one of them.
How did she, who was technically challenged, survive 46 layoffs, 2 takeovers, and eventually become the Vice President of Quality Control? Was it academic excellence? No. She struggled to get her AA degree in Hotel Management while trying to work and go to school at the same time. Was it a privileged upbringing? Hardly! She raised two children on her own, trying to make ends meet while staying one step ahead of the bill collectors. What made her survive the 46 layoffs is something that no one could have predicted or prepared for. When the company went bankrupt, it needed someone who could successfully collect the money on "past due accounts." Since she knew every trick in the book about making excuses to bill collectors, she was able to collect millions of dollars owed to the company while maintaining good relationships with these clients by using her genuine interpersonal skills. Through these difficult years, her faith in God has never wavered nor has she allowed her integrity to be undermined. Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all of us.
It is into this context of an uncertain future, unpredictable forces, gifts of grace, and a search for a meaningful life, that we read a different narrative in today's gospel. This narrative is called the good news of Jesus Christ. In this narrative, the first will be last and the last will be first. The meek will inherit the earth, the poor in spirit will be blessed, those who mourn will be comforted, and the pure in heart will see God. In this narrative, the powerful are brought down, the lowly are lifted up, and the hungry are filled with good things. In this narrative there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, white or Asian, for we are all one in Christ Jesus. In this narrative, nations no longer lift up sword against nations and the oldest of enemies become the best of friends. It is a narrative that emphasizes justice, peace, compassion, generosity, and inclusivity; not competition, money, success, and worldly power. It is a narrative that is not based on a lie but points to a new heaven and earth, a new humanity, a new creation. At the center of this narrative is God, whose spirit working in us can offer us a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.
If this is the kind of life that you seek after, then "prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths." [Mark 1] How do we prepare the way of the Lord? We prepare by repenting. Repentance means to turn around towards the light. It means to change our minds. We need to change our minds about what is most important in life. We need to change our minds about money, success, competition, and power at any cost. We need to change our attitude from a posture of fear to a posture of love. We need to put our focus on building relationships that are loving. We need to love ourselves, our neighbors, our enemies, and those who are different from us. We need to love God first and foremost.
I am very aware that we have many teens at this service today, so I would like to say a special word of encouragement to each of them.
| Updated 12/4/05 |
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