Jer. 33: 14-16;
1 Thes. 3: 9-13; Luke 21: 25-36
I am excited to share with
you something very beautiful –
a microcosm of the kindom of
God. (show a branch covered in
lichen)
Jeremiah 33 reads:
The days are surely coming…
I will cause a righteous Branch
to spring up …
The branch I brought to
church with me is dry and dead. It was broken off its tree by heavy winds and
torrential rain. It was discarded to rot at the side of the road with other
tree debris. The dry stick, bark falling off, reminds me of death and that earthly
life comes to an end. I reflect that life
is full of struggle and desperate circumstances. I am ever-more aware that the world
is a place of brokenness. I am reminded of the lives of people who are hanging
on for dear life. The days are surely
coming … dry wood, broken branches, peeling bark … the day is here!
And the day comes – to this world
of brokenness, in the midst of debris- it comes with hope and promise. Of that day, the Gospel of Luke says, stand
up and raise your heads because redemption is drawing near. (Lk 21). What
does it mean that redemption is drawing near? It sounds too good to be true. Take
a look at the branch, what appears dead and broken is encased with beauty and teeming
with life.
I will cause a righteous
Branch to spring up…
Lichen on this branch -any
branch- is beautiful. Diverse in colour and texture. It is alive.
Lichen is a composite organism;
to be an organism requires a relationship between an algae and a fungus, and usually
includes another organism mixed in for good measure. This lichen is self-sustaining and does not
take nutrients from the branch. It is not a parasite. Lichen lives in symbiotic
relationship with other creatures; when found on tree bark, it does not hurt
the tree in anyway. Lichen on a branch does not signify that a tree is sick or
dying; it means that Tree has a companion, a beautiful friend.
Luke 21 reads:
look at the fig tree and all the trees; as
soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is
already near. So, also, when you see these things taking place, you know that
the kindom of God is near.
The kindom of God - is near. It is right here on this branch.
Lichen is an organism with a symbiosis so intricate and well-balanced that it
is considered a self-contained mini ecosystem. It is adaptable, living in most
environments – from deserts to arctic tundra- thriving
on all most any surface. It doesn’t take nutrients from others. It lives in
relationship – a community of living organisms- and gives beauty to the world.
It leads by being the first living creature to grow in areas devastated by
disaster, first to bring life after landslides and fire. And it is multi-generational,
having a long lifespan – with a constant dedication to a slow and regular
growth rate. Lichen is among the oldest living creatures.
As the shortest day of the
year creeps closer, as the trees have lost most of their leaves, and as
temperatures turn colder, we know that winter is coming. It can be a little
depressing to bring out our coats and boots, watch it rain for days on end, and
prepare for indoor living. It can be depressing to settle in for another season
of avoiding large gatherings of people. It can be almost too much to hear more and
more unsettling headlines in the news.
I understand why people
asked Jesus for signs: signs of hope, signs of freedom, signs of redemption,
signs of God coming near, signs of the kindom.
Long nights can make life feel
like a dry dead branch…
Jesus, as his response was
so often, replied with a parable, look at the fig tree… look at Lichen on
a branch.
The prophets responded to their
warnings of doom, destruction, and judgement with colourful language flourishing
with promises of righteousness, justice, blamelessness, wholeness.
The parable of a branch
covered in lichen, reminds us to not focus on the world as seen through
headlines or reported to the -enth degree of brokenness. We are called to stand up and raise our
heads, because redemption is drawing near. Through this Season of Advent look
around and be enchanted by beauty that embraces that which appears dead and be
awed by places that are teeming with life. Look at Lichen and how it grows – a
community that works in relationship to create and be an organism – well-balanced
and whole. This is the kindom of God.
And may the Lord make you
increase and abound in love for one another and for all…
May God so strengthen your hearts
in holiness… (1 Thes. 3)
Amen.
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