December 15, 2019
Hope Lutheran Church
Rev. Mary Erickson
Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Christmas Doldrums
Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” The John the Baptist we meet today is a far cry from the John we encountered on the banks of the Jordan River.
• This John is in chains.
o That John roamed as free as the wild animals.
• This John is powerless against the Roman Empire.
o That John proclaimed the coming of God’s new reign.
John had been so bold and sure! He preached with powerful earnest. He had proclaimed with a rare fervor. John had spoken with a fire. Repent! He’s coming!
And then at Jesus’ baptism, he’d pointed Jesus out. This one! This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John knew! He knew with certain declaration!
But now, John’s vision wavers. He’s yearning for some direction, some sign that his actions were not mistaken. He had been so certain, but now he’s not so sure. Is Jesus the one? Is he the promised Messiah? Is he, indeed, the fulfillment of the long-awaited Messiah? Or must Israel still wait for his arrival? Shall they wait for another?
We think of Thomas as the Bible’s figurehead of doubt. But John doubts, too.
Things look differently from behind bars. Prison has taken the wind out of John’s sails. He’s in the doldrums.
The doldrums occur in certain regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There are areas around the equator where the prevailing winds can come to a complete standstill. The ocean becomes as glassy as a mirror. These calm periods can extend for days or even weeks. In the era of sail powered ships, the doldrums put a stop to any progress at sea.
We say a person can get the doldrums, too. Their emotions lead them to a place where they just can’t do anything. They’re stuck. They’re inactive and suffer from a mild depression.
John has the doldrums. The wind is out of his sails. His prison sentence has left him stagnant.
We think of this holiday season as being one of the most joyful times of the year. But many people find themselves suffering in the doldrums just like John. Our mood can be anywhere from a Blue Christmas with Elvis to all-out Grinchiness.
All the busyness of the holiday season can take the wind out of our sails. We’re easily distracted by our enormous to-do list. These special details are meant to enhance our celebration. But they can easily morph into a daunting list of chores: Bake the cookies, write out the Christmas cards, mail gifts to distant family, prep for the big family feast, help with the Christmas concert at the elementary school. The meaningful traditions lose their significance and just become exasperating.
The Christmas season is especially difficult for people who have suffered a loss. Celebrations remind us of who is no longer there. Their absence leaves a painful and empty hole. For the lonely, the newly divorced, this season of togetherness can leave them feeling isolated. The doldrums creep in and leave us dead in the water.
And then there is doubt. Christmas doubt, plain and simple. Right along with John we wonder, “Are you really the one who is to come? Or shall we look elsewhere for ultimate meaning and significance?” Even as we light the third candle of Advent, the darkness of doubt can overshadow the soul.
Doubt is just part of faith. It’s just there. If there is faith, then there is doubt. It’s just part of the enchilada! And doubt has its benefits. It keeps faith invigorated. Doubt acts like a kind of whetstone. If our faith had no doubt to rub against, it would lose its sharp edge. Its brilliance would dull.
The Desert Fathers in the early church understood that spiritual ennui was actually a sign that the Holy Spirit was astir. The crusty old faith is crumbling apart. We’re sloughing it off. And from the center, a new, tender, green shoot is emerging. But it won’t germinate, it won’t reveal itself so long as the hard seed shell encases it. The old ways must die, they must break up. Then the Spirit can breathe in something new, something that you’ve been yearning after for a very long time. Doubt can be our friend.
The doldrums. John was in the thick of them. How John addresses them is noteworthy: he goes to Jesus. His doldrums don’t drive him further from Jesus. John doesn’t back off from Jesus. He doesn’t distance himself even farther away from Jesus. No, when he feels this stagnation, he moves in! John sends a message to Jesus. He addresses his question directly.
And then Jesus responds in kind. “Go tell John,” he says. “Tell John what you’ve seen.” The blind can see, the lame can walk. Lepers are made clean, the deaf can hear. And at long last the poor hear some good news.
“Are you the one, or shall we look for another?” What Jesus tells John mirrors the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus’ actions fulfill the promises of God. If John has doubts, Jesus points to the healing and liberation he brings. He directs John to the scriptures and God’s promises.
How do we prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas? How do we remedy the Christmas doldrums? Look to John. Instead of retreating into isolation, move closer to Jesus. Spend some time pondering his actions.
Secondly, develop a habit of reading the scriptures on a regular basis. Staying rooted in the promises of God enlivens faith. Faith is sparked through the word. Our pink Taking Faith Home sheets have recommended Bible passages to read for the coming week.
And finally, look around you. Keep your eyes open for someone who might be caught in the Christmas doldrums. Being touched by just one person who cares can make a world of difference.
I saw a quote on Facebook by Amy Weatherly that really speaks to this:
“You’re going to come in contact with an awful lot of people who are at their absolute breaking point this week. Friends, family, co-workers, teachers, strangers in the grocery store, retail workers. While it may be the merriest time of the year for some, it may be the saddest, most stressful, loneliest, most heartbreaking for others. We’re all busy. But we’re not too busy to be kind, caring, and patient. Remember, the best thing you can give someone this season is love.”
The doldrums visit us all. But be assured, the Holy Spirit is working something new in our midst. Blow, Spirit, blow! Breathe among us! Fill our sails, that we might travel our course by faith in you. Amen.
