In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Every four years, we are bombarded with endless news reports, editorials and punditry explaining, questioning and pointing out why this politician's strategy will work, and why that one's won't. And we're getting an especially large dose of it this year, with the screenwriters on strike, so no new episodes of "24", or "Desperate Housewives" to provide us with diversion and escape. So, you just can't turn on the radio, or TV, or internet, without hearing something about the strategizing of Hillary, Barak, John, or Mitt, Rudy-okay, or Mike. And although you might be tired of all this strategic talk-I'm kind of in that mindset-and it's gotten me wondering, as I've read our gospel account several times this week-what in the world was Jesus' strategy? If Jesus came to be the Savior of the world-if Jesus came to save all people from their sins, beginning with the Jews-what kind of plan, what kind of political maneuvering, what kind of counsel was given him, that suggested leaving Judea and going to the boondocks, was a good tactical move?

     Now, on the one hand, most of us don't know much about middle-eastern geo-politics in the first century A.D. We hear the introduction to our gospel lesson today, and it means little to us, because we're not really sure where Nazareth was, let alone Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. And along with that, even the prophecy of Isaiah in our first reading, quoted by St. Matthew, is Greek to most of us, in spite of the detail Isaiah gives, saying, "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles." The only Zebulun most of us have heard about, is Pike-and if you want to learn more about him, see our resident historian. But about that place, most of us know little, so that we miss the point of it all-processing it by concluding, "Oh, Jesus is moving around a bit." But, as with each and every potential candidate for the presidency in our country, in the life of Jesus, there is always a strategy-there is always a reason why Jesus went here, or stayed there. The problem is, when you really try to evaluate Jesus' strategy in this instance, you first end up scratching your head, and asking, "what was the plan here?" Because, think about it-while Jerusalem was not the center of the world, it was the center of Judea-the home of Judaism, the location of the Temple, the focus of Jewish religious Law and study and deliberation. Everyone expected the Messiah to come, and to come to Jerusalem-to assume the throne of David, depose the Herods and the Romans, and rule a theocracy for thousands of years. If Jesus was to be the Christ, the anointed one, he was sure headed in the wrong direction! Like the questions about Fred Thompson's late start, and Rudy's plan to skip early contests, or Hillary's use of Bill on the campaign trail, anyone looking at the path of Jesus, in purely strategic terms, would wonder what he's up to. Because from the beginning, it seemed not to make tactical sense. A king should be born in Jerusalem, right? But Jesus was born in a little village called Bethlehem, surrounded not by soldiers, but by shepherds. Jesus then should have grown up in Jerusalem and learned the ways of power and position, right? But instead, Jesus was taken to a foreign land, Egypt. Then Jesus would return to the capital city of Judaism, Jerusalem, right? Rather, Jesus' parents took him to Nazareth, north of the capital. Then, having been baptized and anointed with the Spirit, having heard that the predecessor, John the Baptist had been arrested, Jesus then should have gone to Jerusalem, right? But instead, Jesus goes further north, out of so-called Jewish land altogether! Jesus was heading away from Jerusalem, not toward it! Jesus was headed away from the center of Judaism, toward Galilee of the Gentiles! What kind of political strategy was that!? And then, when he got there, did he begin to proclaim a program of real change? Did he pull out a brand new, exciting message that would captivate the hearts of his audiences? Once in Capernaum, did Jesus unveil a platform of real change that would cause people to say, "hey, this guy is gonna change the way things are in Washington-er.Jerusalem! This guy is gonna throw the bums out, and take the throne, and things will really be different, politically and economically for us Jews!" No, the only change Jesus advocated, was an interior change, of heart and life. In fact, the message Jesus proclaimed, was the same old message they'd been hearing from John the Baptist for years! "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!" Ho-hum. You think people are bored with the candidate's messages this year-how did Jesus' proclamation, that was actually John's proclamation-how do you think people heard that, when what they were wanting to hear, were promises about overthrowing the Romans, and getting a real Jewish ruler on the throne! What most Jews in Jesus' time wanted was political change-a King after the order of David! And what they got, was a preacher-a simple, itinerant rabbi who seemed to be fleeing Jerusalem, rather than confronting it. And the best strategists would conclude that. The best political commentators, would see that right away. Jesus was not the right man for the political job-as most Jews understood it. But Jesus was, the right man for the job, of Savior, as God saw it! And that, of course, is the issue.

     The issue was, and is, that God was concerned, not with politics, necessarily, not with political, economic strategies-God was concerned with the salvation of the world. God was concerned with the fulfillment of his plan, to redeem the world, to bring people back to Him, from their sin and disobedience, yes, to bring Light to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death. And God was concerned to have that Light come to all people, wherever they might be-whether in Galilee of the Gentiles, or the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, or Egypt, or Rome, or Jerusalem! God's plan, as prophesied by Isaiah and the other prophets, was to have the Light shine on Jews and Gentiles, alike-here and there, and everywhere-to have the Light shine on shepherds and Wise Men-to have the Light come to Samaritan women, and prostitutes, and simple handmaids. And as this plan had been laid out, by God through the prophets, for ages-with the advent of Jesus, it wasn't going to change. God didn't change strategy when Jesus came, or adjust the plan according to the polls that said the Savior really show go directly to Jerusalem. God's plan for the salvation of the world was set, and the coming of the Messiah, and the preaching of the forerunner, John the Baptist-all happened in accordance with this one great, divine strategy. Which was, not to change the King in Jerusalem, not to change which worldly power was dominating Judea at the moment-but to change the world, by changing people-through, repentance.

     Strangely enough, when we think of a strategy to change the world, we think in terms of elections, and governments and armies. When we want to change the world, we think in terms of changing laws, and passing ordinances, and working to force nations to improve living conditions and uplift human rights. When God thinks of changing the world, He thinks of sending a Savior, who, by His presence, changes hearts, which changes lives, which transforms families and communities, which then impacts nations, and finally, the world. Which takes a lot more time and patience, but ultimately, is the only change which will work, and last. Because it's systemic change-- from the inside out. It's change which will endure, because it's transformation, and it's transformative. All of which naturally, bugs people, who want change now, and want to change the world themselves. It's dismissed by many people, who won't wait for God to bring in His kingdom, in His time, but want, instead, to build the Kingdom ourselves. But we people of faith, see the pattern in the seed. We people of God, trust God's plan and God's strategy, and can accept and live with what seems to be God's slow, deliberate, as St. Paul says, "foolishness"! For to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. The power of God that seeks to touch hearts and turn all people to repentance. The power of God that sends Jesus, not just to seats of power and influence, but to Galilee, and Tennessee and Teller County. The power of God that chooses, not just kings and emperors and princes and presidents-but fishermen, and tax collectors, and ordinary folks, without training or degrees or distinction-but with only, changed hearts-because the kingdom has come near, in Jesus. The power of God that chose, Peter and Andrew and James and John-and you and me-to be Jesus' followers-to be Jesus' disciples, sharing the Gospel, and inviting people to come receive, not the next president of the United States-but the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, who comes near, in bread and wine-in His Body and Blood, that feeds and nourishes, even as it changes and transforms. That is God's plan and God's strategy-always has been, always will be-the kingdom of heaven come near, to bring us to repentance and change.

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.