Call to Worship, Advent Prayer
Children, Matthew 2:1-12
Message, Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
The turning of the year and the beautiful poetry of
Ecclesiastes 3 invite us to consider the important questions of time and
eternity. St. Augustine devotes 27
pages, Book 11 in my printed edition of his long-form prayer, The
Confessions, to these very themes, “Time and Eternity”.
Ecclesiastes 3 invite us to consider the important questions of time and
eternity. St. Augustine devotes 27
pages, Book 11 in my printed edition of his long-form prayer, The
Confessions, to these very themes, “Time and Eternity”.
He writes:
In the eternal, nothing can pass away but the whole is
present. . . . Who will hold the heart
of man, so that it may stand still and see how steadfast eternity, neither
future nor past, decrees times future and those past? (285)
present. . . . Who will hold the heart
of man, so that it may stand still and see how steadfast eternity, neither
future nor past, decrees times future and those past? (285)
What, then, is time?
If no one asks me, I know; if I want to explain it to someone who does
ask me, I do not know (287).
If no one asks me, I know; if I want to explain it to someone who does
ask me, I do not know (287).
My mind is on fire to understand this most intricate
riddle (294).
riddle (294).
Most of the time, though, our focus is not on these
kinds of philosophical questions. We’re
focused on getting through the day – work, dinner, household chores, music
lessons, sports practice. And, a small
delay – an auto accident stalling traffic, a missing back-to-school form, the
kids needing attention – throws everything off.
We’re so focused on getting through the day that we fail to enjoy it.
kinds of philosophical questions. We’re
focused on getting through the day – work, dinner, household chores, music
lessons, sports practice. And, a small
delay – an auto accident stalling traffic, a missing back-to-school form, the
kids needing attention – throws everything off.
We’re so focused on getting through the day that we fail to enjoy it.
Or, we’re
obsessed with deadlines – the term paper, the quarterly financials, the
newspaper. We’re so obsessed with
deadlines that we fail to live.
obsessed with deadlines – the term paper, the quarterly financials, the
newspaper. We’re so obsessed with
deadlines that we fail to live.
Or, we anticipate
being, if not elsewhere, then elsewhen.
Maybe it is the future: Things go poorly and we wait “for the other shoe
to drop”. Things go well and we can’t
wait to do it again. I have a friend who
tells me that whenever he is eating one meal, he is thinking about the next
one. Maybe it is the past: I wish that
things could be the way they “always” were – a sentimentality that Ecclesiastes
calls “unwise” (7:10). C. S. Lewis, in
his The Last Battle, describes Susan as being in a hurry to get to a certain
age and then, once she reached that age, trying in vain to stay there as long
as possible.
being, if not elsewhere, then elsewhen.
Maybe it is the future: Things go poorly and we wait “for the other shoe
to drop”. Things go well and we can’t
wait to do it again. I have a friend who
tells me that whenever he is eating one meal, he is thinking about the next
one. Maybe it is the past: I wish that
things could be the way they “always” were – a sentimentality that Ecclesiastes
calls “unwise” (7:10). C. S. Lewis, in
his The Last Battle, describes Susan as being in a hurry to get to a certain
age and then, once she reached that age, trying in vain to stay there as long
as possible.
“Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)”,
by Pete Seeger
by Pete Seeger
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
Welcome – Work – Wait
Welcome – Rhythm and Beauty: Ecclesiastes does not provide us a morose dropping of
the “other shoe”. Ecclesiastes, as
cynical as it is about human fate, and while it is certainly not syrupy sweet,
does not drip with bitterness as it contemplates the times and seasons of human
life. Instead, the ancient Teacher
offers wisdom in the form of the rhythm of the seasons. We don’t control when winter comes, though we
can be ready with shovels, salt, and a warm jacket. And, when winter comes, we can treasure the
icicles hanging from the gutters, the sparkle of the snow after hardening over
night, the cadence of scoop-toss down the driveway or walk. Insisting that it is not winter is counter
productive. Living as if it is summer –
turning on the air conditioning in the winter – is just plain stupid.
the “other shoe”. Ecclesiastes, as
cynical as it is about human fate, and while it is certainly not syrupy sweet,
does not drip with bitterness as it contemplates the times and seasons of human
life. Instead, the ancient Teacher
offers wisdom in the form of the rhythm of the seasons. We don’t control when winter comes, though we
can be ready with shovels, salt, and a warm jacket. And, when winter comes, we can treasure the
icicles hanging from the gutters, the sparkle of the snow after hardening over
night, the cadence of scoop-toss down the driveway or walk. Insisting that it is not winter is counter
productive. Living as if it is summer –
turning on the air conditioning in the winter – is just plain stupid.
Likewise
life. There is a time to be born and a
time to die. There is a time to break
down, and a time to build up. There is a
time to mourn and a time to dance. We
have zero control over those times, those seasons, and when they come into our
lives. But we can learn to dance in
rhythm (Davis, 184). “God has made
everything beautiful in its time” (3:11).
Unfortunately, some of our translations change the word beautiful to
“suitable”, a shift in meaning that removes wonder and focuses instead on
functionality. Functionality is good, but
the wonder must not be overlooked. God
has made everything beautiful in its time.
Welcome it.
life. There is a time to be born and a
time to die. There is a time to break
down, and a time to build up. There is a
time to mourn and a time to dance. We
have zero control over those times, those seasons, and when they come into our
lives. But we can learn to dance in
rhythm (Davis, 184). “God has made
everything beautiful in its time” (3:11).
Unfortunately, some of our translations change the word beautiful to
“suitable”, a shift in meaning that removes wonder and focuses instead on
functionality. Functionality is good, but
the wonder must not be overlooked. God
has made everything beautiful in its time.
Welcome it.
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones
together
together
Work – Word and Flesh: “It is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and
take pleasure in all their toil. I know
that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor
anything taken from it” (3:13-14).
take pleasure in all their toil. I know
that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor
anything taken from it” (3:13-14).
There are
two interesting things about these verses.
First of all, the work of human beings (which does not last) is placed
along side the work of God (which endures).
Second, the lasting work of God is described in terms familiar in the
Jewish tradition, but not in relation to work.
This phrasing shows up in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 in relation to the
Torah (Davis, 184), the law, the covenant . . . God’s revelation, God’s Word:
“You must neither add anything . . . nor take away anything” and “Do not add to
it or take anything from it”.
two interesting things about these verses.
First of all, the work of human beings (which does not last) is placed
along side the work of God (which endures).
Second, the lasting work of God is described in terms familiar in the
Jewish tradition, but not in relation to work.
This phrasing shows up in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 in relation to the
Torah (Davis, 184), the law, the covenant . . . God’s revelation, God’s Word:
“You must neither add anything . . . nor take away anything” and “Do not add to
it or take anything from it”.
John’s
gospel describes Jesus as “God made flesh” (John 1:14). These lines from Ecclesiastes suggest that
our work – though in itself it does not endure – our work has the potential of
joining God in making Word into human Flesh, of bringing revelation to
manifestation. We can’t control the
times that come into our lives. We can’t
do work that endures. As Ecclesiastes
points out, there is always someone to come after us and mess it up
(2:18-19). But when we work toward God –
whether it is doing dishes or paving streets – we give flesh to Word.
gospel describes Jesus as “God made flesh” (John 1:14). These lines from Ecclesiastes suggest that
our work – though in itself it does not endure – our work has the potential of
joining God in making Word into human Flesh, of bringing revelation to
manifestation. We can’t control the
times that come into our lives. We can’t
do work that endures. As Ecclesiastes
points out, there is always someone to come after us and mess it up
(2:18-19). But when we work toward God –
whether it is doing dishes or paving streets – we give flesh to Word.
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time to every purpose, under Heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from
embracing
embracing
Wait – Time and Eternity: “God has put eternity in their hearts” (3:11). The translation of this phrase into English
varies greatly. We have “eternity” and
“a sense of past and future”. Well,
which is it? The ancient Hebrew language
did not have a word that corresponds directly to the English word
“eternity”. This word, ‘olam,
comes closest. It is a word for lots of
time, time beyond calculating. It can
refer to great antiquity – distant past, long dead, ancient hills – or to
indefinite futurity – “for ever”, “everlasting arms”, “without end” (BDB
Hebrew Lexicon). It is used in 3:14,
“I know that whatever God does endures forever.”
varies greatly. We have “eternity” and
“a sense of past and future”. Well,
which is it? The ancient Hebrew language
did not have a word that corresponds directly to the English word
“eternity”. This word, ‘olam,
comes closest. It is a word for lots of
time, time beyond calculating. It can
refer to great antiquity – distant past, long dead, ancient hills – or to
indefinite futurity – “for ever”, “everlasting arms”, “without end” (BDB
Hebrew Lexicon). It is used in 3:14,
“I know that whatever God does endures forever.”
We are
locked in time, but eternity is in our hearts.
We need to be, to some degree, outside of time. Augustine points out that measuring time
necessitates being outside of it. How
can you measure the past when it no longer exists? Unless, of course, you are able to step
outside of time by means of memory. And,
how can you anticipate the future when it does not yet exist? Unless, of course, you are able to step
outside of time by means of expectation (The Confessions, Book 11 “Time
and Eternity”, chapters 20-21, 26-28).
locked in time, but eternity is in our hearts.
We need to be, to some degree, outside of time. Augustine points out that measuring time
necessitates being outside of it. How
can you measure the past when it no longer exists? Unless, of course, you are able to step
outside of time by means of memory. And,
how can you anticipate the future when it does not yet exist? Unless, of course, you are able to step
outside of time by means of expectation (The Confessions, Book 11 “Time
and Eternity”, chapters 20-21, 26-28).
We are
locked in time, but eternity is in our hearts.
“God has done this so that we should stand in awe before him” (Ecclesiastes
3:14). The Biblical term for this is
“wait”, “wait on the LORD”. It is not
waiting, as in fidgeting in line at the grocery store behind a person who has 7
more items than are appropriate for the express line. It is waiting as in letting go of time and
practicing trust. It is waiting in the
present, not stuck in the past or the future, because “with you, today is
eternity” (Augustine, 11.13.16, p 287).
It is waiting that makes us conscious, not of how much we have to do and
how little time we have to do it.
No. This waiting makes us
conscious of eternity and the presence of God (see T. S. Eliot, cited in Davis,
185). Only then do we discover that
there is actually enough time for everything that is important in life. Because God has appointed a time, a season,
for every matter.
locked in time, but eternity is in our hearts.
“God has done this so that we should stand in awe before him” (Ecclesiastes
3:14). The Biblical term for this is
“wait”, “wait on the LORD”. It is not
waiting, as in fidgeting in line at the grocery store behind a person who has 7
more items than are appropriate for the express line. It is waiting as in letting go of time and
practicing trust. It is waiting in the
present, not stuck in the past or the future, because “with you, today is
eternity” (Augustine, 11.13.16, p 287).
It is waiting that makes us conscious, not of how much we have to do and
how little time we have to do it.
No. This waiting makes us
conscious of eternity and the presence of God (see T. S. Eliot, cited in Davis,
185). Only then do we discover that
there is actually enough time for everything that is important in life. Because God has appointed a time, a season,
for every matter.
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of peace, I swear it’s not too late
T. S. Eliot writes,
Time
past and time future
past and time future
Allow but a
little consciousness.
little consciousness.
To be
conscious is not to be in time
conscious is not to be in time
But only in
time can the moment in the rose-garden,
time can the moment in the rose-garden,
The moment
in the arbour where the rain beat,
in the arbour where the rain beat,
The moment
in the draughty church at smokefall
in the draughty church at smokefall
Be
remembered; involved with past and future.
remembered; involved with past and future.
Only through
time is time conquered.
time is time conquered.
(Four
Quartets, cited in Davis, 185)
Quartets, cited in Davis, 185)
Today we celebrate the Lord’s Table. It is one of those special and powerful
moments in which eternity overlaps in the present in an intense and personal
way. It is an opportunity for each of us
to say “Yes” to the presence/present of God in Jesus Christ, to renew our
covenant.
moments in which eternity overlaps in the present in an intense and personal
way. It is an opportunity for each of us
to say “Yes” to the presence/present of God in Jesus Christ, to renew our
covenant.
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for every purpose, under Heaven
. . . I
swear it’s not too late
swear it’s not too late
Resources:
Ellen Davis.
2000. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,
and the Song of Songs, Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press.
2000. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,
and the Song of Songs, Westminster Bible Companion. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press.
Augustine.
Translated by John K. Ryan.
1960. The Confessions. New York: Image, Doubleday, Bantam.
Translated by John K. Ryan.
1960. The Confessions. New York: Image, Doubleday, Bantam.
Pete Seeger, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There
Is a Season)”
Is a Season)”
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon. (Electronic version integrated into
Hermeneutika’s BibleWorks).
Hermeneutika’s BibleWorks).
