2022 Advent Devotion 1
November 27, 2022
“Too Much Noise”
By Rev. John F. Backe
To us, to all in sorrow and fear, Emmanuel comes a-singing, his humble song is quiet and near, yet fills the earth with its ringing; music to heal the broken soul and hymns of loving kindness, the thunder of his anthems roll to shatter all hatred and blindness.
Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn v. 2 Marty Haugen
I want to hear Emmanuel singing but we live in a noisy world. There is noise inside me, telling me lies that I’m not good enough or I’m not doing enough to end war or hunger. There are times when the noise of the world is so loud that I can’t hear myself think. Or pray. Or hear the cries of those who are hurting, who need to be heard and seen. As I write this, I am overwhelmed by the cacophony of election campaign ads, full of vitriol and divisiveness. The sounds of war in Yemen and Ukraine and Armenia, crying children in Syrian refugee camps and the arrests of Iranian women; gunfire in schools and stores. Please Lord, make it stop! Add arguments about stolen elections and conspiracies and the screed of Christian Nationalist false prophets, stir in the latest Kardashian wedding news and other celebrity gossip and I feel enveloped in a miasma of despair and anxiety. Rather than a soothing environment of white noise that might allow me to relax into appreciating life or focusing on faithful growth and response, I land in a toxic cloud of confusion and resignation. Why bother caring, nothing will help, problems are too big.
Now comes Advent, its own invitation into darkness but leading towards seeking the light, searching for a new sound, a song of renewal, a shared chorus of God’s good news among us. I’m familiar with all sorts of images of Jesus, from classical Renaissance and Medieval expressions to contemporary posters of a "wholesome" (often white) Jesus playing soccer or baseball with small children (really) to blasphemous militaristic armed Jesus mowing down his enemies (more really).
But I am also God-gifted with an imagination, an openness to seeing old things in new ways, to hearing old stories with a different inflection. I seek the company of others, a community of creative, concerned caring siblings who will share that journey, those new discoveries. I’ve known about the Lord of the Dance, but now I’m told of Emmanuel, the God among us, who sings new songs; songs of healing, and peace, songs of justice and love. These songs might come as a still, small voice or in sounds we cannot hear but only feel. When we join our hearts and voices singing these songs, living these songs, we make a great choir of saints that overcomes the noise.
Prayer
God with us, help us pray not to be heard but to listen for your prayer sung into our hearts.
Amen!
You make our collective work possible by your witness for justice every day in your church, community, and Annual Conference. MFSA does not receive any financial support from the United Methodist Church's giving channels. 100% of our budget is funded through your membership dues and your generosity in giving.
John Backe is a retired Lutheran pastor living in New York City. He serves on the National Council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA.