the First Sunday of Advent ---- 30 November 2014

(Due to circumstances beyond my control or due to my lack of control, this blog entry was delayed.)

Mark 13:24-3724 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 "But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

• We all share some things. We all have some things in common with the people around us. There is, however, one thing we all – everyone of us – share: We have all been born. Every last one of us has gone through the experience of birth, surely our own. I don't remember my birth and I'd be willing to bet that very, very few of you here remember your's. Those present who have given birth to a child surely can never forget it, but remembering our own birth? Doubtful.
• Look at things from the infant's perspective for a moment. Where you are is a pretty comfortable place. You are warm, well-fed, and, barring accidents, fairly well taken-care-of. Things get a bit close after a while, but you don't want to leave this safe, comfortable environment, especially since it is all you know! Can an infant imagine what is beyond the womb? (assuming that an infant can imagine, of course.)
• When the time come for birth, it surely would be seen as a horrible catastrophe! What's happening to me? This doesn't feel good! Everything is a mess. What am I getting myself into?
• Let's just say that everything that follows is a complete surprise to the baby. No wonder they cry!
• But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
• This sounds horrible and frightening. It appears to be a catastrophe of cosmic proportions. But so does childbirth from the view of the child. This is one way of viewing the meaning of Advent.
• As we enter Advent, we can take up the hints, clues, and suggestions that the Scriptures give us.
• The question of “the day and the hour” always comes up. In this passage from Mark's Gospel, we hear Jesus himself say But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Through the history of the church, we wonder about what we consider delay, especially in the face of troubles and disasters. Many assume that since Jesus delays his coming, he's not coming or if he is coming, it could be years and years and years. It is Mark who takes different tack; Jesus is coming and he could be at the door right now! So be ready! Keep awake! This then is the reminder of Advent.
• There are of course many reminders of what is to come. There are also signs that we wish were not signs of what might be. Health problems can be an example. They can happen without warning and they can also serve as a warning. They remind us that we are not in full charge of all that goes on and they may tell us that things need to change.
• They can tell us that changes can be just around the corner and the corner is simply not that far away. We just don't know and we must keep awake.
• As to what is around the corner, we are promised far more than we could imagine. The season of Advent invites us to wait impatiently for the consummation of hope, longing to know God as fully as we have been known; to see no longer through a dark pane, but face to face; to love as we have been loved; to experience Jesus Christ as he is, and in so doing, to become like him.
• Our own understanding of how we live in the present with hope for the future tells us that Jesus is present now in the Word and in the Sacrament and in the community of believers. These signs of Christ's presence now point to what is yet to come.
• Mark's point remains: Christ is not with us as he once was, and he is not with us as he will be!
• Even if our life this this world is pleasant and blessed, we'd best not be complacent. The promise of God remains: There is more and there is better!
• How can we hold to this promise in the face of both the good and the bad of life? How can we constantly wait for something hoped for that remains unknown?
• Mark's Gospel tells us. Since the timing is unknown, we wait always, eagerly wondering if somehow now is the time.
• Now who actually thinks this way? Who could go through each and every day, morning, noon, and night, waiting for and looking forward to someone's return?
• The answer is incredibly simply: People in love do and that might be the best way to think about what Mark wrote. We wait because we are loved and we wait because we love. We wait for the full presence of the one we love.