In Isaiah 9.6 we read:

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulders, and his name will be called ‘wonderful counselor, to an original understanding of what is a vigil is. Remember I said,

Tonight in our vigil – we seek, new hope, a new basis for living – a new start.  . .  and we believe the birth of Jesus is a basis for such a hope.  “For unto us a child is born.”

I wish to go back a step however. We began  this evening reflecting on what is a vigil – a candlelight vigil. And I referred to several significant vigils that have been held this year. You might feel this service tonight is in fact different – and in a sense you could be right; but I would like us to get back to an original understanding of what is a vigil is. Remember I said,

“In general terms a vigil is an occasion of keeping awake, of keeping alert – for some special purpose – like hoping and praying for a recovery of a person, or remembering a tragedy and hoping for a changed  or renewed situation.”

There is also a meaning that a vigil is just the service a day before a major religious festival. Tomorrow is Christmas – and so this is the Christmas vigil, or on Holy Saturday at Easter, the Easter vigil, is just the service before the celebration of Easter day, or for our Catholic sisters and brothers – there so called Saturday night mass, is in fact the vigil for the coming day – the Sunday when we again, week by week, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

I have noticed a trend, however, we  seem to be having more and more vigils these days. At least there is more and more public displays of the outpouring of grief when a well known personality dies or is taken ill – and a vigil is mounted. There are flowers left, candles lit and people gather in a sombre and subdued mood. Who would ever forget the death of Lady Dianna Spencer? It is a related phenomenon to the erection of white crosses at the scene of a car accident fatality in memory of the one who died.  Sometimes the white cross and a vigil are combined.

Something is not right – there is an inexpressible grief – there is a hope for a better day – we remain awake and alert, keep vigil, for a new future and as a sign of respect. We want to do something.  So tonight, what are we hoping for?

The prophet Isaiah kept vigil for his land of Judah.

It was a time of high drama in the middle east – and sadly it always seems to be the case. The Assyrians were in the ascendancy: a particularly brutal outfit. Now the states of Israel – that is just the northern tribes (the children of Israel were divided into two nations – Israel in the north, and Judah in the south); well just Israel and Syria formed an unholy alliance against the Assyrians and in the meantime sought to defeat Judah. Meanwhile in Judah, the southern kingdom,  there was a new, young king, Ahaz, on the throne. What should he do? Should he give into the invaders from the north of Israel and Syria, or seek outside help. Perhaps even seek help from the dreaded Assyrians?

It was at this point, a dark moment in the nation’s history, that Isaiah confronted the king with a simple message: “Trust in Yahweh; trust in God. Be quiet; keep calm.” Wait – if you like,  keep a vigil.  Ahaz however, was not so sure. Yes he would trust in God, but then God had no army. He wanted a sign. A sign that Yahweh could be trusted; a sign that the power of Yahweh could be his hope. This sign did not have to be a stupendous miracle – something even from the ordinary course of life would suffice. He wanted however, to base his hope on something.

So Isaiah mentions a sign. Quite simply a child would be born to a young woman; he would be called Immanuel “God with us”. Hence the prophet could make the claim “unto us a child is born “. And the child? Well Isaiah most probably was merely referring to the queen, Ahaz’s wife, and her child, Hezakiah, the next king of Judah.

Simply,as the nation waited during these dark days, Isaiah affirmed that the birth of a child from the house of David, was a sign that God was with them. It was as if his prayers through  this painful vigil were answered.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined. “

Christians of  course have simply appropriated this reading and seen it refer to the birth of Jesus  - which I guess is fair enough – but we must first understand what is happening when we do this.

Tonight – if you like, at its darkest point, in the middle of the night  –  we await a new light. We look around us, we reflect on our lives, we ponder our world and our community. From deeply personal tragedies, to local, communal and world-wide despair – we keep awake – we want a better world. This night we seek the assurance things can be different.  We await the in breaking of God into our lives and the world.

Of course all around us there are signs of hope, if we care to look; and we can see signs that God is indeed with us, even if this world does seem somewhat dark and grim. This is more than just being optimistic  – seeing the glass half full, when those around us see a glass half empty. The friendly greeting and the care of a neighbour; the commitment of volunteers – here at CAN or in so many fields and facets of our community life; and the birth of a child – even today, all are indeed signs that God is with us. But as we know this vigil is for God – in the form of the Christ child that we remember and keep awake.

Why would be await of all things the birth of a baby – surely there are more significant things to await. However, as the prophet says , for this child, their “authority would grow continually. There shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.” (vs 7) We are talking about that quaint phrase “the government shall be upon his shoulders”. This is about political power. Hope here, had a hard edged – a political side. And the birth narrative of Jesus  – surprisingly also has a political edge. In Matthew’s gospel – all that argy bargy between Herod and the wisemen was deeply political. We are talking here about a child, an unknown child, and the might of the Roman Empire and their political lackeys like Herod. Even the angels in Luke’s gospels were bringing the good tidings at a quite specific time. Luke sets the story very specifically “in those day a decree went out from Emperor Augustus”. The empire dominated all life – and yet there was hope. Life would be different.

However, this new rule, will not be with might; an army that might confront the Northern Kingdom of Israel, or Syria or even Assyria. This new king will “establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.” (vs7)

Justice and righteousness – not power and might would be basis of this new hope. We in this vigil, seek, a world which is respectful and inclusive. For the angels outside of Bethlehem, this new kingdom will be of peace. (2:14) The sign was not a mighty army massing in the City of David. Rather the angels said:

This will be a sign for you; you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.

Tonight it is dark. Our flickering lights, fight against that darkness. However, we have hope. We seek a better world. We await the birth of the Christ – who will not bring about  change with just the click of the fingers – it will be with justice and righteousness.

Let us – just take this time in silence to ponder, to ponder – to mount our vigil and wait.

mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.’”

Tonight in our vigil – we seek, new hope, a new basis for living – a new start.  . .  and we believe the birth of Jesus is a basis for such a hope.  “For unto us a child is born.”

I wish to go back a step however. We began  this evening reflecting on what is a vigil – a candlelight vigil. And I referred to several significant vigils that have been held this year. You might feel this service tonight is in fact different – and in a sense you could be right; but I would like us to get back

Several weeks ago, the founder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs died. He had been ill with pancreatic cancer, so his death was not unexpected. The reaction to his death was however, unexpected. Huge banner headlines, extensive analysis of his life, and much discussion about his passing on the fortunes of this enormous, iconic technology company, Apple. The gist of the reaction to his death was that he was a creative genius. He had changed the way we lived. His inventions were indeed epoch defining. People struggled to find the comparisons – was he an Edison, an Einstein, a Howard Hughes – even the Messiah.

Amidst all of this hagiography, which as some commentators noted was over the top; I was struck by the following sorts of comments about the future of Apple Computers and their new CEO. So people were saying, that – perhaps not initially – but soon, Apple would have difficulties. It would become extremely conservative in its decision making. It would always be wondering – what would Steve Jobs do? How would Steve have handled this situation or opportunity? It would lose its blythe spirit, creative instinct, its imagination and flair. It would not be free – it would be constrained by that frame of reference: what would Steve Jobs do? As for the new CEO, his abiding objective would be – do not muck it up. Again there would be a conservative response engendered because of the greatness of their founder.

Today in our Old Testament lesson Moses dies. Moses – the greatest hero of Israel – dies, with a hint that he perhaps still lives on, because no one knows where his grave is. But I wonder how Joshua, son of Nun – to give him his full title, felt at now being the leader of the Children of Israel. “What would Moses do?” would now no doubt have been a part of his thinking. After all there could have been no greater praise for Moses than these verses. . . actually sounding a bit like the praise we have been reading about for Steve Jobs:

“Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequalled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt. . . and for all the mighty deed and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

Who would be Joshua?

However, there is something significant here, and possibly significant for Joshua, and for us, to latch onto – Moses never entered the Promised Land. He saw it – he was shown it from Mt Nebo; but he never actually got there. So near – and yet so far. True he was a grand age – but still in fine fettle. Amazingly we read he died there in the land of Moab “at the Lord’s command”. (Deut. 34:5)  

So what is going on here?

Well there is some background to his death – at this point in sight of the Promised Land. It was sort of a punishment. Back earlier in the journey in the wilderness, at least according to the account of the incident when the Children of Israel had no water – in Numbers 20, it was a punishment. This was in the wilderness of Zin – and it is the incident at the place we now know to be Meribah. In Exodus, Moses satisfies Israel with striking the rock with his staff– and out gushes water. However, the take on this incident in Numbers is that the Lord says

“Because you did not trust in me – to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land I have given them” (Numbers 20:12)   

So not entering into the Promised Land was sort of a punishment for Moses for not trusting Yahweh – but I wonder if there was something else also going on here.

I do not know whether Steve Jobs, with his Apple Computers, was already in the Promised Land. His achievements in the development technology were prodigious – but was this all that there would ever be developed. Have we reached the end of such technological development? Certainly we have the view that technology and the possibilities with technology change very rapidly. All of us we know the speed of those changes. We understandably think that there will still yet be newer developments. So new gizmos and gadgets will arise. Steve Jobs perhaps in that sense was yet to reach the Promised Land. Others now will have to take us there.  

Moses certainly was not in that physical place called the Promised Land when he died – others had to lead the Israelites to do it. I think this is significant.. . for several reasons.

To begin with the Promised Land was not really Moses’ to give. This place – or perhaps it is more of a conceptual thing, a spiritual home – than hills, and rivers and cities and the like – but this Promised Land was the Promise of God. It was God’s side of the bargain, the covenant that they, the Children of Israel, would be God’s people. Indeed in the Numbers account of the Meribah incident – it was Moses failing to understand this was Moses problem. Moses had jumped the gun in trying to save the situation – and not patiently waited on the Lord.

However, more significantly Yahweh I believe is saying to the Children o f Israel that the Promised Land, is not just entered into, or comes to fruition, just by the work of one great and mighty leader – even the greatest leader the nation has ever seen. Others also need to be involved. Other leaders will need to take over (at this time it is Joshua) and that as time unfolds – the Children of Israel themselves will need to freshly see the presence of Yahweh in their lives – and in the establishment of their life in the land. There is an open future – which will now involve them all in a new way. The history, the tradition, the great and mighty deeds of Moses, but not just Moses but others like Miriam and Aaron, will now need to be built upon; built upon, but at all times in the knowledge and presence of God.

Fast forward – say about 1500 years – to the time of Christ. Don’t we have the same issue? Matthew’s gospel even seems to want to call Jesus the new Moses. There is the structure of his gospel into five blocks of teaching (the new Torah – like Moses’ five books of the law), of having Jesus, like Moses himself, come out of Egypt, and of course having Moses on a holy mountain talking with Jesus in the Transfiguration. Whereas Moses was leading people to the Promised Land – Jesus was seeking people to live in the kingdom of heaven or kingdom of God. His parables and teachings, and indeed his life of love and compassion – was about – not so much a place, but a spiritual destination – a way of life – a sense of fulfillment and meaning. And at a basic level – Jesus, like Moses, does not quite get there. He is killed. The task is left to his disciples who are to believe, to have faith – that this way of life, this kingdom of heaven, will come to pass. The penultimate will become the ultimate.

The fear with Steve Jobs passing – is that Apple will freeze up, lack vision – atrophy. It will be become too conservative and be locked in a time warp. Although there could also be an equally disastrous scenario – they can have a CEO, a leader, who is so unconstrained by the past, or the values of the corporation, or even the memory of Steve Jobs – who takes them in all sorts of crazy and dead-end directions – and the corporation founders, withers and dies. It loses its way. Either is possible.          

I am sure you see the huge parallels here with the Christian faith and the future of the church . . .  and how we are to understand Jesus. How is Jesus to be understood today – as we are still journeying to that promised goal? He was taken from us 2000 years ago – just as Moses was taken from the Children of Israel – 3,500 years ago – while they both were on the verge of their Promised Lands. It seems that we could be conservative – and as has been suggested of Steve Jobs – ask the question “what would Jesus do”? Indeed there was a whole movement in the Christian Church last century which endeavoured to do just this – ask the question “what would Jesus do”? It arose out of a book by Charles Sheldon called “In His Steps: What would Jesus do?” Needless to say it was a very conservative take on the Christian faith.

As with the death of Moses – prior to the Promised Land – there is much teaching and reflection within Scripture as to how first the disciples, and then the Church, was going to handle this reality. It certainly was not predicated on freezing Jesus as just some historical character. Central to this thinking was the role and place of the Holy Spirit and the very idea and concept of the Trinity: we the church, are the body of Christ, living in the power of the Holy Spirit – is also part of that thinking. So the teaching in John’s gospel, the farewell discourses at the last supper – just before his death, is central to this. Jesus promises another counselor to be with his disciples – the gift of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion act in the same way for the church.

In a sense our gospel reading today from Matthew is also a part of this. Jesus is in the last week of his life. He is teaching daily in the Temple. And in chapter 22 of Matthew he is being constantly challenged by religious leaders who are trying to trap him. They come in waves. The Pharisees and the Herodians want to know about paying taxes. The Sadducees about resurrection, and then a lawyer about what is a succinct statement of the law. Jesus fends them off, but endeavours to turn the tables on them. He wants to know from all of these challengers about their understanding of the Messiah. They give a straight – historically accurate answer – the Messiah is the son of David. The trouble is that does not capture all about who we might call the Messiah – the Christ. . . Jesus. It is just prosaic – grounded in history answer; it elevates genealogy above theology – and does not show what is possible, and how dynamic and imaginatively we could understand Jesus . . .  even when he is killed. Jesus thus plays is challengers’ game by quoting a rather obscure verse of scripture to show that there are other ways of understanding the Messiah, than just “son of David”. The verse suggests he could be also called Lord – and as we know, many other things besides: like light of the world, the door, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life and so on. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit speaks into different contexts and at different times. God, the Holy Trinity, speaks into different situations yesterday, today and tomorrow.             

The Pharisees and co were floored. They had no answer. They drift off and plot – at least the historical demise of this person.

I find this exciting feature of the Christian faith. We are drawn into God’s understanding, God’s life, into the trinity of love itself – now, and into the future. We are not limited to just history and tradition – in each age we always need to ask who Jesus is for us today. Scripture helps us answer this question. It gives us a starting point, however, there is still yet more light and truth to break forth from his Word, as one of our hymns says.

During the week I attend a local interfaith forum. It was good to be able to affirm with fellow residents of Carlton our diversity and a respect of each other. However, it was at points an awkward conversation. My conversation partner was the Somalian Imam, Sheik Issa (literally Sheik Jesus) who presented Islam as being grounded in the life and times of the prophet. He was asked what we would call pastoral questions, but his answer was always grounded in the reference point of “what would Mohammed, the prophet, do and say”.  I felt his answers didn’t intersect with today, at least contemporary Australia. But when I was asked about the Christian approach, and the Bible was quoted back to me – for example, as to the mechanics of the ascension, or how we are to pray (ie do we sit down, stand up, prostrate ourselves etc) – it was very difficult to sound coherent in saying how I understood Jesus, or the Bible – if I didn’t want to say my faith was frozen in a Palestinian mindset and context of 2000 years ago. That is its reference point, but that is not where we are today.

Moses did not get to enter the Promised land – others now were needing to be a part of that journey; Jesus of Nazareth did not complete or fulfill the end of his mission about the kingdom of God – that was for his disciples and the power of his Spirit. Yet in both circumstances we would believe it is God who watches over the journey to these promised goals. We are need to be involved in that journey too. And as our Basis of Union delightfully says, we have the Spirit so that we may not lose the way.