Monday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 175

He who remains in Zion
and he who is left in Jerusalem
Will be called holy:
every one marked down for life in Jerusalem.
When the LORD washes away
the filth of the daughters of Zion,
And purges Jerusalem's blood from her midst
with a blast of searing judgment...

The great scripture scholar, Walter Brueggemann spoke of two strains within the Old Testament, the priestly and the Mosaic. It helps to remember, when we read the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah, that they were priests. They had a great interest in proper worship of the LORD, and little patience for careless, half-hearted ritualism. The Mosaic strain certainly could not disagree with their carefulness, but made allowance for human frailty and fallibility. 

In today's first reading, we hear Isaiah promise that those who remain in Jerusalem on the Day of Judgment will be holy. Now I know people who will say they are just as good as anyone although they don't go to church regularly. "Fine, fine," I might reply, "but I'm not making any bets on how broad the Lord's mercy might be. I'll play conservative in that game."

Nor will I apologize for believing that the practice of religion is more than a good idea. It is necessary. If God says I should do it, I want to do it, and con spirito, energico, animato, and brioso! That is, with spirit!

As I understand -- and I know that Hegelians will disagree because Hegelians disagree about everything -- the great philosopher Hegel taught there were three principles, or arenas, of the human spirit: philosophy, aesthetics, and religion. Each has its own appeal to the human heart, and provides much that is necessary and valuable to human development. 

However, he said, religion is not really necessary; and God -- although there is a God -- is not nearly as close as traditional religions have supposed. In fact, there's no solid proof that God cares about humans at all. Aesthetics -- that is, the arts -- can readily fill the vacuum for those who practice no religion; for, as Keats said, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." 

Now I know that's putting words into the mouth of one of Europe's greatest philosophers but I am also sure many people would agree with that. They don't need religion. And they're as good as anyone who does, and better than some! 

Unfortunately, in our time, philosophy has atrophied into science; and many scientists never question the philosophical roots of their beliefs. This, despite the fact that many philosophers have moved on, abandoning the scientists' search for certainty. They don't suppose there is anything like truth, much less certainty of knowing the truth.

Many poets and artists have also lost faith in the eternal value of their art. Since they admit of no God who might bestow an everlasting value upon their creativity, they direct their work at a select few, aficionados. Their work is only good for those who appreciate them, which may be an audience of one. And that one soon loses interest in their own work. 

"The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on."

Which is what happens when thinking people abandon religion and our belief that God has often revealed himself in this world and in human history. Their genius meanders pointlessly in every direction but always claims it's making progress. Progress toward what exactly? 

A world without poverty? 

As if.... 

A world without sin? 

Are you kidding me? 

Sin is more real than the sun and the moon. Those who remain in Jerusalem know that. We have no illusion about our own sins, or those of others, or about the mess that aimless progress has made of our Mother Earth. 

Advent invites us to return to the Holy City and the Temple where we encounter our God and hear his voice. 

Then will the LORD create,

over the whole site of Mount Zion

and over her place of assembly,

A smoking cloud by day

and a light of flaming fire by night.

For over all, the LORD's glory will be shelter and protection:

shade from the parching heat of day,

refuge and cover from storm and rain.

We need God to save us. And he intends to do that.