Author: Rev Mpumelelo Qwabaza
Ecumenical Secretary: SACC Eastern Cape

REFLECTIONS ON ADVENT SEASON

Luke 1: 26-38

During the Advent season we symbolically participate in the waiting of the patriarchs, Kings, Prophets and Priests, as we await Christ’s final and glorious return. Something in the fabric of the cosmos shifted as creation became a fitting vehicle for God’s redemption work.

As we wait in long lines this Advent season, or as we wait for anything really, I think it is important that we remember the waiting of those expecting the Messiah, and always wait with patience, humility and expectant hope in a state of prayer.

The story of the annunciation by the Angel to Zechariah (1:5-25) immediately precedes this story of the annunciation by the angel to Mary.

The Zechariah story is like the annunciation to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15) in that both couples were old, beyond child bearing age, and both Zechariah and Sarah doubted.

The Zechariah story is like the annunciation to Mary in that neither Elizabeth (Zechariah’s wife) nor Mary is a likely candidate for motherhood.
Elizabeth is too old, so John’s birth will require a miracle. Mary is a virgin, so Jesus’s birth will require an even greater miracle.

Here Mary has the lead and Joseph is only a supporting actor, this is much different than in the Gospel of Matthew.
It is remarkable that, in this patriarchal society, Mary is front – and – centre in this story. Young men are expected to be seen, but not heard.

Also in the centre of the angel’s greetings are the words “Rejoice, you highly favoured one”. In Greek, the words are, “chaire kecharitmomene”. The alliteration is that Chaire keCharitomene reveals a grace that no translation can convey.

While Luke does not cite scripture, as Matthew does, the angel’s promise reminds us of God’s words to Moses at the burning bush. “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12)

In her not – very – large town, Mary would not often see a strange man, much less have him appear unexpectedly and address her directly. Mary is further perplexed by Gabriel’s words – Chaire kecharitomene meaning “Greetings favoured one”. We must remember that Mary is a female in a world that prizes male – an almost – child in a world that reveres age and wisdom – a nobody in a nowhere town.

In the preceding story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Luke tells of, that couples religious virtue, but we have none of that here. Nothing is said of Mary’s faith or character. Mary is not chosen because she deserves favour, but is favoured because she has been chosen. As Mary will say in response to the angel’s announcement, God brings down the powerful from their throne, and lifts up the lowly.

Conclusion

As Presbyterian, we’re often criticized for believing in predestination, that all things happen according to some pre – ordained master plan. Well, I am not here to defend Calvin or the doctrine of predestination, only to say I think we have an important perspective on faith others need to hear and that is simply that God is in charge. Nothing happens, good or bad, outside of the providence of God’s grace and love.

Believing this, we are able to take the unexpected events of everyday life and see them not as impositions that get in the way or as obstacles to be overcome, but as opportunities that can lead us into a clear relationship with God and those around us.

November 2011

Rev Gift Moerane
Ecumenical Secretary
SACC Gauteng Office

Mark 14: 9

Women continue to play a vital role in the life of the Church; But very often their works and enriching contributions in Church Ministry are fast forgotten. In the passion of Mark’s gospel, two of the twelve, the most spoken of - Judas who betrayed Jesus Christ and Peter who denied Jesus Christ at a crucial moment of His Ministry. There is an unnamed woman who anointed Jesus Christ but on the contrary, there is no mention of her role.  Though Jesus pronounced: “I tell you the truth, wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her”; it is worrisome that the prophetic sign action by the woman did not become part of the gospel knowledge of Christians. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, a Theologian and Professor of the New Testament, also lamented that even her name is lost to us.

How often do we repeat the same mistakes of forgetting the central role played by women in Churches, we even forget their names. One of the woman who played an important role in the Church history is Catherine Booth – dubbed “Mother the of Salvation Army", lived between 1829 – 1890.  How often do we hear her name about her constant help? She worked alongside her husband, the founder of the Salvation Army; she provided constant support to him throughout; she mothered this institution and continued to take care of her eight children at the same forming an army of Christian workers whose purpose was to carry salvation through the length and breadth of this world. Truly, she was filled with the Spirit of Christ.  Women are gifted; they need recognition and support at all levels of leadership.

Rev Dr Vuyani Vellem
Director - Centre for Public Theology
University of Pretoria

On Climate Change - October 2011

Psalm 24: 1 and 9

This brief reflection on the Psalm 24 will focus on the 1st and the 9th verses. In the first verse David poetically tells the whole world and those who believe that the whole constellation of creation is GOD's possession. This means everything in our planet earth; plants and animals, minerals, mountains, rivers, air, human beings even those things we cannot see...everything on earth belongs to GOD.

To say that David conveys this message poetically could be an understatement because traditionally, biblical scholars tell us that the book of Psalms is a collection of Worship resources that were used in the Jewish Temple. Viewed from the perspective of worship, what verse 9 is conveying is a powerful message. This verse carries the thrust of the message of this Psalm. Imagine the whole earth opening up its gates. Imagine the whole earth opening up its doors, imagine everything that has a head lifting up its head in order for GOD to have a majestic entry in this planet which indeed is HIS temple. Everything, every creature, every star and the galaxies must worship GOD.
Therefore, the challenge of Climate Change calls upon all of us to discern who the LORD of creation is. With deep holes on earth, left by those who mined gold and extracted other minerals, the suffocation of the whole creation due to carbon emissions, pervasive droughts, floods, most recently even  the threat to the Nile River - all of these challenges and signs simply ask all of us to know the GOD that must be Worshiped for the salvation of creation.

Romans 8:22

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time"

Paul's writings, particularly in the face of the challenges of the 21st century, must be read with an understanding that they were written in the context of empire. What is common to all empires is that they are able to manufacture their own forms, structures and rituals of religion. This is one of the most harrowing and vicious truths about the experience of people, animals, plants, in fact creation that is subjugated by an empire.

Perhaps, to put is differently,  in the ears of an empire, the groans of creation sound like melodies that are chanted to the praise and worship of an empire. The groaning sounds of children, sons and daughters, of men and women,displaced and scattered all over the globe by the might and the myths generated  by the shrines of an empire, sound like good melodies in the ears of an empire.

That Paul says that this pain is like that one felt at child birth must be very deep. It is fascinating that Paul uses a metaphor that strictly speaking, is a unique experience of women.  Do we not have to remember therefore, that one of the worst signs of an empire is exactly their  double experience of pain than men?  One could even say the hardship of a woman now triples that of men if today's experience of their suffering were to be our measurer.

Indeed the triad of economic, political and ecological must render the message that climate change beckons us to the pain of the unemployed, poor woman in the margins of society who is taking care of children abandoned by their fathers, or left by their parents as a result of illnesses that are rapidly claiming millions of  lives like HIV/AIDS in the violent patriarchal world of the empire. Creation is groaning!