Enough of John the Baptist Already! a sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent

mandelaIn addition to Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew3:1-2, the readings today included Maya Angelou’s poem “His Day Is Done: a Tribute to Nelson Mandela“.  I am indebted to Glynn Cardy for much of this sermon and we are both indebted to John Dominic Crossan and Robert Funk for providing historical perspective. 

His Day Is Done

I set my prepared sermon aside. It just doesn’t seem appropriate to gather for worship and not mark the passing of a giant. As I work to find the words to praise the One who inspired Nelson Mandela, memories of the struggle engaged long-distance looking toward a prison cell for inspiration. A friend sent word of Maya Angelou’s tribute. “Thank-you. We will not forget. We will not dis-honour you…..We will remember and be glad that you lived among us.”