Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!

Brothers and sisters,

If we believe the new age mystics and the statistics, Christianity is dying.

Look around you. Even here, we are not packing ’em in.

What we are experiencing in the United States is something that occurred in Western Europe around thirty years ago.

Barbara Pym’s book, Quartet in Autumn, pegged the phenomenon back in 1978. She wrote of Edwin, loyally faithful, almost obsessed with the Church of England. Edwin attends on Sundays and Holy Days. He knows all the parishes in his locale and their forms of worship. He knows all the pastors. He knows every bit of clerical and liturgical ephemera.

Edwin comments on how empty the churches are, sometimes its only the vicar and Edwin at services.

At one point in the book Edwin works with one parish’s ladies guild, seeking to help one of his co-workers. The ladies are well into their golden years, the oldest well into her eighties. There’s no young blood.

Depressing, because Edwin remembers the good days, the packed churches, the grand worship of God. He has a Christianity of memory.

Most Americans consider themselves to be believers. That has to be good, right?

Unfortunately that really equates to very little.

People define themselves as spiritual, but not religious. They don’t go to church. In another generation their children will have no concept of church other than it being an odd looking building they run across from time-to-time.

Their concept of God, if they should even have one, will be one in which God is kind, loving, and forgiving. God who really doesn’t bother much with what a person does. As a matter of fact, that particular god has no requirements at all. You can do as you please as long as you are —nice.— You can even forget him.

Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,

—What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?—¨

The people went to see John because he was a rock. He proclaimed God’s word and didn’t soften it for anyone. Remember last week when John called out to the Pharisees and Sadducees saying to them, —You brood of vipers!”

John told of repentance and he spoke of a faith that was grounded in the eternal truth of God; truth that does not bend to the will and desires of man, but truth that requires us to bend and to be humble. It is that truth that supersedes all we see, all we think we know.

My friends,

The call must be made.

I opened by restating Isaiah

Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!

That is our job. Your job and my job.

We need to fill these pews, and not just these. We need to fill the pews of the churches in every village, town, and city. We need to get God’s people in attendance at this banquet. We need to make them strong because their faith is weak or non-existent. Their course is frightening.

Its the Holiday season. Cards are being sent, calls are being made, little gifts are being prepared for co-workers, neighbors, the postman, teachers, bus drivers, delivery men, and pretty much anyone of those special folks you run across all year.

When you make that call, send that card, or drop off that gift, issue the invitation.

If you are a little taken aback at verbal communication then write it.

Dear Jane,

Thank you for all you have done this year.

I would be very happy to have you join me at my church on Christmas Eve. We have a Christmas concert at 9pm on Christmas Eve and Holy Mass follows at 9:30pm. We are located at 250 Maxwell Road in Latham, next to the Times Union Building off Wolf Road. If you cannot make it I will keep you in my prayers.

Brothers and sisters,

Think of what you do when you arrange for those all important events in your life. Your children’s wedding, graduations, birthdays and anniversaries. Think of the expense and the work.

For all the expense and work people only come because you ask. People come because you care enough to ask.

We need to ask. All the events, all the specials, all the press about the Good News of Jesus Christ is worthless unless you and I ask. Not someone else, not your husband or wife, or pastor, or deacon – but you. Not only on Christmas, but extend that invitation every week.

Call the kids on Thursday night. Tell them that you will pick them up. Ask the elderly neighbor who cannot get around so well, —Will you go with me?— Ask the family who’s so busy, harried, and stressed out. Ask the immigrant. Ask the rich. Ask them all.

Afraid that they might become a burden – and start asking you too often? The objective truth is this. People need this moment. People need this grace. People need this foundation – the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. You and I need to offer them an entryway to this moment.

John was not moved. He stood strong with God’s word as his assurance. We need to stand strong, give that assurance, and pass on the strength the world desperately needs.

Jesus said:

—Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.—

Every soul that hears the word of God and comes to believe will be greater than John the Baptist. He or she will be born into the Kingdom of God.

Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes to save you.

You have those words and work to do. Go and do it.

Amen.