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Tuesday 3rd Week of
Advent
St. Luke’s Institute
December 16, 2014
SHADOWS OF THE
FUTURE +++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
In
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the
Ghost of Christmas-Yet-to-Come shows Ebenezer Scrooge a bleak future
Ø
It’s
a future w/o hope, ending in death
Ø
Scrooge
responds with the memorable question:
Ø
“Are these the shadows of things
that will be, or are they shadows of things
that only may be?”
warding
off the future ++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
In
the NT, the Spirit of Christmas-Yet-to-Come is certainly John the Baptist, the
prophet of Advent
Ø
And
his message to the Pharisees and Sadducees early on was just as distressing as
the one the ghost delivers to Scrooge
Ø
“You brood of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the coming wrath” Produce good fruit as evidence of your
repentance”
Ø
However,
as Jesus points out in today’s Gospel, many in positions of authority failed to
heed John, even as the outcasts of society were changing their ways
Ø
But
neither son in today’s parable is perfect, and the real message isn’t that 1
group is forever lost
Ø
The
message is this: “Time is a-wasting!
Change your ways!”
CHANGING FOR THE
FUTURE +++++++++++++++++++
Ø
That
was the message of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come,
Ø
It
was the message of John the Baptist,
Ø
And
it’s the message and opportunity of Advent
Ø
As
we prepare to welcome our Savior, are we greeting his coming with more than
words? With our lives?
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What’s
the resistance we need to let go of?
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What’s
the blind spot to be overcome?
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What’s
the same story we’ve told ourselves that needs to change?
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Jesus’
parable gives us hope. It’s not too late
Ø
But
it is time to pray, along with Scrooge:
Ø
“Assure me that I yet may change
these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
