[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #530, Pentecost 24, 11-19-06

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Pentecost 24, November 19, 2006

Psalm 113 or 16
1 Samuel 1:4-20; 2:1-10
Hebrews 10:11-19
Mark 13:1-8

The Approaching Day

What is this day that is coming? For Hannah it was a day of personal 
victory, but in that victory she sees a larger one like Deborah and 
Mary did when they sang their songs. Or is it a day of darkness as Amos 
warns? Jesus talks about a day in which those structures we thought 
immovable melt away but then points out that life is always a bit like 
that. Whatever the day or whenever the day the Psalmist puts himself 
under the protection of God, and the pastor to the Hebrews further 
defines that protection as the justifying sacrifice of Jesus made 
transcended in the Christ.

All of us individually and collectively know that there is a day coming 
that will split history in two again the like resurrection of Jesus 
did. Is it when low yield nuclear devices are available at sporting 
goods stores? The right to bear arms you know. Or is it when the 
Internet teaches everyone to know each other from the least of them to 
the greatest? Or is it when the planet turns and says, “Get off my 
back.”  Or is it when we perfect the ecological balance?

People remember where they were on history splitting days. Where were 
you when you found out the Twin Towers were hit? Where were you when 
you heard that John F. Kennedy had been shot? We will never forget 
where we were. The burden of the Lections for this Sunday is not where 
were you, but where will you be on that Day. Make some plans. Position 
yourself. The next time history splits or perhaps the last time it 
splits, will you be in the place your have chosen rather than the place 
chance has assigned?

What place? On our knees in prayer the way Hannah was? Giving our 
greatest treasure over to God as Hannah did? Steering away from the 
little “g” gods as the Psalmist did? Or, submitting ourselves without 
reservation to the sacrifice of the one high priest? We are contingent 
beings. Wherever we are there will be boundaries, but we have some 
latitude to choose our boundaries. That is what defines a place -- 
boundaries. “The Bound Man” is a story of a man who found meaning in 
his boundaries and was lost when he lost them. If our boundaries are in 
place we have definition. You are somewhere and you are someone. “The 
boundary lines for me have fallen in pleasant places,” says the 
Psalmist. (Ps. 16:6) This being true we are ready for the approaching 
day.

May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
 (an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

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      --Copyright 2006, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
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