Advent 20

The Third Saturday of Advent, December 20, 2008

Isaiah 10:20-27 

A remnant shall turn again, a remnant of Jacob, to God their champion.  Your people, Israel, may be many as the sands of the sea, but only a remnant shall turn again… 

A remnant.  A tiny, useless piece of cloth, left over from a big project.  In this passage the remnant is a small, powerless, rag-tag bunch of people who survived an invasion. 

Today many Christian groups claim to be this faithful remnant, this battered group of the faithful.  Small denominations, based on rules, not grace.  The group I joined in college (Christadelphians)  who called their faith The Truth and who knew that they alone would be in the Kingdom, claimed Holy Remnant status.  Another group, in my city, runs a healthy café and clothing store.  The women all wear Little House on the Prairie clothes, and the men all have beards.  Another remnant. 

The good news for us is that even if only a remnant turn to God, God embraces, comes to, all.  Wars and foolish alliances may kill many people, but God stands for them all, even the foolish. 

How do I dare say this?  By looking five days ahead.  You look, too, won’t you?  A tiny child is to be born, the Holy One of Israel.  There will be more animals than people attending His birth.  Innkeepers will have no room for Him or His parents; a crazed King Herod will try to kill Him.  Only a remnant will greet Him; but He, Himself, will proclaim that He comes for all, not just the faithful remnant.  He is coming to save Herod.  He is coming to save the poor and discouraged.  He is coming to save the Jewish leaders and the Pharisees.  He is coming to save a common thief and His Roman executioners.  He is coming to save Peter, the Rock, and Judas, the betrayer.  He is coming to save you and me, and all whom we love and despise, Us and Them.  

 He is coming to save the holy remnant, and the whole piece of cloth. Thanks be to God!