Erin Mills United Church Sermons

Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79

A sermon by Kathy Toivanen at EMUC, 12/3/2006

One of the things I appreciate about the writings of the prophets is their picturesque language. Last week we heard from the prophet Jeremiah who spoke of a new branch growing from an old tree as a sign of hope that God would bring forth a new and righteous leader from the line of King David.

This week, we hear from the prophet Malachi. Malachi describes a messenger who will prepare the way for God’s arrival. And how will this messenger help the people get ready? The preparation will be like a refiner’s fire or like launderer’s soap!

Refining is the process of removing impurities from ore by melting it. Once the ore is refined, then you have a metal like gold or silver, which can be fashioned into a creation of great beauty. A launderer’s job was to clean, whiten, bleach or dye cloth. Launderers often used a soap called ‘fullers’ soap that was able to get out the dirt particles and resins out of hand-woven natural fabrics so that that the clothing could be clean and colourful and worn in comfort. And so today, as we prepare for the birth of Christ, it seems that Malachi’s message calls us to a preparation that involves refining and purifying

These images that Malachi paints feel a little out of place in our usual Advent preparation activities.

Sure, we might shine up the good silver, (if we have it) in anticipation of entertaining in this festive season. We might houseclean, washing and dusting and doing the laundry, but we would hardly see these as central activities in preparing for Christ’s birth.

Our preparing is usually focused on sending cards, purchasing or making gifts, preparing festive foods, decorating the house, and attending and taking part in special musical, dramatic, social and worship events of the season.

In truth, I actually believe that we are all quite familiar with the work of refining.

Some of you here today are athletes or perhaps at one time in your life you were involved in an athletic sport. You know very well how important it is to train your muscles and refine your body movement so that you can run more swiftly, jump with greater agility, or shoot a puck or kick soccer ball with greater accuracy.

Occasionally, this past summer, I would look out on the EMUC parking lot and watch the youth shoot hoops over and over and over again, as they tried to refine their shots so that they could be more consistent in making a basket.

We all know that lack of practice and training leads to unrefined movements which can result in a disappointing performance and even the risk of injury. For example, imagine trying to complete a complex dive off a tower, without taking time to carefully refine your movements.

Some of you here today are musicians. You know about refinement too. You know the hours of practice that are involved to refine your technique so that your voice or your instrument produces music that is beautiful rather than discordant to the ear.

Some of you here today are teachers or coaches, leaders or directors of programs and organizations. You know about refinement too. You know the power of words, and how important it is to communicate clearly and accurately. You work hard to refine your instructions and your words of guidance so that those you work with will understand you and respond effectively and appropriately.

For we all know that with vague directions and ambiguous instructions, the gifts and resources of people are often wasted, and confusion reigns and failure looms large.

Some of you are here today as health care providers. You know about refinement too. You know that without working to refine the movements of your hands, they could cause harm and injury rather than bring mending and healing to your patients.

And all of us are here today as people in relationship - with family, with friends, with colleagues, with neighbours, with community groups and faith groups like EMUC. As individuals, we know that there can only be harmony in our life together when we are attentive to each other, refining our use of language so that we can speak not only clearly, but also with respect, refining our gestures and body language, so that others feel comfortable and safe with us, rather than threatened by our presence.

Living in relationship also compels us to do the work of refining the goals and priorities that we have for our life together. On a national perspective that refining work might lead to a Charter of Rights or a Constitution. For community groups, organizations or faith groups like EMUC, that refining work might lead to a mission statement or covenant statement. In households and among friends, that refining work might be reflected in a common set of values or norms for making decisions, dealing with conflict, and expectations around roles and responsibilities.

The message of Malachi is a call to be about this kind of refining work. We are called as individuals and as a community of faith to engage in refining our goals, our values, our norms, our ways of speaking and being so that as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, we become more and more like the Christ we are waiting to greet on Christmas eve.

This refining work can be full of excitement and energy as we uncover strengths and talents God has blessed us with and as we dedicate these gifts to creating communities of caring and a world of peace and justice.

Like the refiner who produces gold and silver from raw metals, we too can be part of a process that fills us with awe and delight as we see wonderful transformations at work in people and in communities, as we work together to help one another to shine brightly and reflect the glory of God.

But sometimes this refining work is painful - sometimes we feel the heat of the refining fire, and sometimes we even get burnt. There are times, without warning and certainly without our choosing, when we are thrust, kicking and screaming into a refining fire.

A relationship ends and we find that we need to rediscover and refine for ourselves who we are without this person in our lives.

A job ends and we are thrust into the work of refining our life’s vocational goals. And we may also find that we need to work at refining other gifts and skills that have been dormant for a while.

Sometimes these life altering events can be a crucible where those who are dealing with major life events, shine even brighter - they grow deeper in compassion; they are dedicated in their desire to respect and celebrate life; they are passionate in their devotion to acts of peace and justice; they are determined to use their resources and talents to preserve the lives of others.

Those who have experienced the horrors of war are often the most determined peacemakers.

Those who have lost loved ones to cancer are often the most active in advocating for cancer awareness, education and support.

Those who have suffered the ravages of addiction are often the most dedicated in walking with others through the painful journey of recovery.

Those who have been oppressed and abused are often the most courageous in speaking up for those whose voice has been silenced.

In fact, many important community organizations and outreach programs were initiated by those who experienced great loss and pain and tragedy.

I want to be very clear, that I do not for a moment believe that God sends us these tragedies and crises as a testing ground for our faith or to strengthen us in our faith. In my mind that makes God into a rather cruel and sadistic being.

But, what I do believe is that in the midst of such times, God enters the crucible with us to hold us up and to hold us close and to shape us to embrace new hopes and possibilities for life.

In times when I have felt scorched and burned, I have found the words of the prophet Isaiah to be a source of strength and hope; for Isaiah reminds me of the God who says to us:

The God who comes among us in the Christ Child is also the God who walks through the fire with us, for in Jesus of Nazareth, God entered fully into our human experience, including our experience of suffering and death - and in doing so, God proclaims that no matter what, we are never forgotten and never deserted by God.

As a community committed to the way of Jesus Christ, we too are called to remind people through our words and actions, that God has not forgotten or deserted this world. And so in this Advent season, we take time to refine our words and actions so that we will reflect and shine with the compassion of God, the love of God, the justice and peace of God.

And we will not let those in our midst and in our world who are walking through fire, walk alone in this season - we will keep them company and call upon God to companion them, in our prayers, in the gifts that we give, and in all the ways we choose to celebrate the wonder of God’s love for the world in this Advent season and always. Come Lord Jesus come. Amen.