Liturgy: “Surprise! A Mess of Straight Paths”
Clearly, God loves to surprise His children—so let’s be ready for that mutual joy, eternally.
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 40:1-11
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Dr. Mark Hijleh, provost:
I was a dreadful child when it came to birthdays and Christmas. No matter how hard my mother tried, she usually was unable to keep me from discovering what gifts I was going to receive. I was quite adept at finding and unwrapping wrapped gifts, and then re-wrapping them without detection. So the surprise was lost. I often regret my impudence in that regard—it was not only I who lost out on the joy of surprise, but also my mom when I was unable to hide my foreknowledge. It’s a wonder she kept trying.
Despite the many words and experiences of preparation that God gave humanity, the birth of Jesus the Messiah as a helpless baby was quite a surprise. Even Mary got a real shock when the angel visited her with the advance news. What a mess! An unplanned pregnancy, an awful journey to be registered for the census with no decent place to stay at the destination, a bunch of strange shepherds and dignitaries showing up uninvited—the latter of whom brought some weird gifts for a baby, indeed. Surprise! But the upendedness did not end there: After a three-decade life as a carpenter and three years as an itinerant preacher, Jesus is snuffed out by the government for treason at the height of his ministry. Real death and real grief. (Later, real resurrection). Surprise! “Love your enemies and do good to those that persecute you”—Surprise! What a mess!
Yet, well in advance: “comfort, comfort.” And, in retrospect, we see where we lost our way: We didn’t really believe that a straight path could or would (or should?) be made. The way of Jesus was and is a mess of straight paths. We are waiting for a gift we already have, counting the patience of our Lord as salvation. Righteousness goes before him (us) and makes his (our) footsteps away. Surprise! The gift is Jesus himself, God Himself in flesh. The source and definition of all good. All-sufficient in Himself. Not a means to an end. Surprise! Our waiting—what a mess! Our misunderstanding—what a mess! His sovereignty—what a mess of straight paths!
Somehow, unlike the gifts I was so keen to see ahead of time, the gift of Jesus is one we can know before, during and after with nothing but the right kind of surprise. Clearly, God loves to surprise His children—so let’s be ready for that mutual joy, eternally. Tenderly we have been spoken to. As lambs in his arms we have been gathered. We have been and we look forward to as well! “According to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells”—but they were and are here as well: Surprise! Behold! Prepare! The glory of the Lord shall be (has been) revealed.