Ezra 1:1-4; 3:1-4, 10-13 - December 10, 2023

In those days, a decree went out… but not that decree from Emperor Augustus. We’re not there yet. Give it a couple of weeks.

Instead, this decree went out from King Cyrus. In the ancient land of Persia, the King who ruled over many, many lands and peoples had his heart stirred up by the Lord. His proclamation was sent throughout all his kingdom: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has charged me with building God a house in Jerusalem.” God had set the plan in motion. 

And so out of exile, the Israelites, who were once scattered and disheartened, heard that call to return home. The pilgrimage began from distant lands back to what was left of Jerusalem. The scattered remnant that we heard about last week was coming back to the sacred city. 

Once there, the need to rebuild the temple became a priority. First, the altar was restored and sacrifices were offered up to God. Then the foundation of the temple was laid. There was joy - overwhelming joy - with cymbals and songs and praising and giving thanks. The foundation of a new hope, a renewed covenant, was laid on the very ground where ruins currently were.

It is here that the Israelites celebrated the Festival of Booths, a memory of temporary, wilderness shelters and enduring, secure faith. 

But along with the shouts of exuberance, other emotions surfaced, too. Some, who were worn by the length of the years, wept at the memory of the former glory, now reduced to rubble. Tears flowed as they remembered what was and what could have been.

It was a range of emotions. As some weep for what was, others cheer for what will be. And yet, in the blend of sorrow and joy, a sacred rebuilding unfolded. It was witness to the God who stirs hearts, calls the scattered, and lays foundations in the midst of ruins.

This is actually a really wonderful story, full of God acting in and through the wide spectrum of human emotions.

But… and I don’t mean to be blunt about this, but so what? What does this have to do with Advent? What does this have to do with St. Philip? What does this have to do with you and me? 

Well, for starters, there is complexity in this story. And like most things, complexity is what makes the story real. There’s not one interpretation, not one theme, not one emotion happening here. 

So, to those “so what” questions, take this season of Advent. While the season seems straightforward, a myriad of emotions come along with this time of year. We’re supposed to be joyful, anticipatory, waiting for Christ! But having only those emotions isn’t real. Of course, this time of year comes with its own set of confusing feelings. Often, we’re too busy to focus on what needs to be focused on. We’re stressed and occupied over things that don’t have much to do with Jesus coming. 

On top of that, for others, this is the first Christmas without mom or dad, without husband or wife, without a friend, sibling, or partner. It’s not a festive celebration, but a reminder of a broken world, a broken family, a broken life. What was, what could have been, but no longer is. 

There are diverse ways to approach this season, and this text recognizes that. And yet, within and despite the range of emotions, through the coming Christ, God is still able to bring something new, to rebuild, to lay a foundation in the midst of ruins - a foundation for new life, new worship, new everything.

For us as the congregation of St. Philip Lutheran, we, too, have our diverse thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. And all those emotions come out when we are in a period of wandering the wilderness. 

For the past several months, maybe it felt like that. No Director of Music Ministry stirred up a lot of feelings - despair, stress, restlessness, apathy… and some even felt the pull to step up to hel. But that time of exile is over. God has called John here; our wandering is over.

Now, I’ll stop short of saying that John is the Promised Land, but with his gifts and talents, God is definitely laying a foundation for us to build something wonderful in worship and welcome. 

Even more than staff changes, God has been stirring hearts here at St. Philip to renew this sacred space where we gather. God has stirred us up to renovate and renew. 

And with changes - especially big changes - come emotions. Uncertainty, hesitancy, excitement, anticipation, joy, loss, grief, jubilation. It’s reminiscent of the Israelites. As some weep for what was or is, others cheer for what will be.

The Temple in Jerusalem was about people being able to connect better with God. The goal was to be a place where God’s presence dwelled among the people. And while we can and do gather here to encounter God, just imagine what it could be. 

While there will be physical changes, it’s not about renovation for renovation’s sake. It’s about renewing this space so we can enhance the worship, allowing individuals to connect more deeply with God, making this space more inviting and inclusive for those of us here now and those who aren’t here yet. 

This building can embody who we are as a congregation, letting all who come here see we are people who worship and welcome, reflecting God’s own invitation and hospitality to all people. 

And the physical renewal can lead to a spiritual renewal among us. The Temple renewed the people’s relationship with God, and we have a chance to renew our worship, refresh our community, and recenter us in our relationship with God. 

And that is how it also connects to us individually. The God who stirs hearts, calls the scattered, and lays foundations in the midst of ruins does that in our lives. 

We’ve touched on the range of emotions in this story and in this Season… and we should recognize it in our lives… and know that God is still present. God still wants to build up something - whether we are in exile, the wilderness, or among ruins in our lives. God lays a sure and strong foundation.

So, for the more reflective among us, what is it in our lives, your life, that needs that renewal? What needs restoration? What needs rebuilding? 

Where is God stirring our hearts, calling our scattered schedules and minds, and laying a new foundation? 

Sometimes, it’s simply a time out from our busyness. Sometimes it’s incorporating more holy habits. Sometimes it’s a mid-week Holden Evening Prayer service. Sometimes it’s more personal than that. 

But this story hits us on multiple levels - great and small, in our whole range of emotions, whether we long for what was or are excited for what will be…

In it all, God stirs hearts, calls the scattered, and lays foundations in the midst of ruins. And it is all a foreshadowing of the arrival, the work, the life of Christ, who brings eternal joy and renewal.

Christ is the promise of a sure foundation.
In Christ, we are called together.
In Christ, our hearts are stirred.
In Christ, we are renewed. 

Christ is the hope of everlasting relationship.
In Christ, our exile in sin and death is over.
In Christ, our hearts can rest.
In Christ, we are promised a place. 

As we navigate the complex emotions of Advent and witness the diverse responses within our lives, may we secure ourselves in the promise that Christ is our sure foundation in every season. In the midst of changes, renovations, and the array of emotions, may we, like the Israelites, catch glimpses of God's renewal. 

May God’s stirring of our hearts
and God’s laying of new foundations
bring us to the joy and hope of abundant life in Jesus Christ our Lord.