The First Sunday of Advent --- 2 December 2018

Luke 21:25-36

25 "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34 "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.

·       The weeks before Christmas are a time of preparation. Cards must be signed and addressed, gifts wrapped and hidden, trees put up and decorated, special foods for the dinner bought and readied. There is so much to do… on top of what each of us normally does every day! None of that stops, of course.

·       Then there’s the holiday movies! “Miracle on 34^th Street” will be shown at least 34 times and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” will come out. but usually only once. (By the way, watch the original cartoon, narrated by Boris Karloff. Accept no substitutes!)

·       It is one of the most stressful times of the year. Some people can’t keep up and some despair of getting it all done. It can be a tough time. For many, it is depressing. Everything has to be just right. Everything has to be properly prepared. Everything has to be done correctly according to each person’s traditions. Doesn’t it?

·       Who says? Really. Who says?

·       Yes, we have loads of things to do to make the holiday memorable and by that, to remember holidays past. But that’s not what it’s all about. Give yourself a break and maybe change how you see all this. Listen…

·       Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.

·       As much as we might prepare, we don’t have the final say; God is still in charge. God’s vision of what creation will be is greater and broader than our thoughts can fathom. If we can be aware of one thing in this Advent season, it might be best to realize that there is a lot going on that we cannot see. I’m not talking about conspiracies in politics or corporations or international diplomacy. I’m talking about grace in our everyday lives. Advent is about what God has done, what God continues to do, and what God will do.

·       There is a long history of this in the Church. "Since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153) Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time." The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.

·       Hearing of the longing for the Messiah of the Hebrew people and remembering the Incarnation and birth of Jesus at Bethlehem places us in the complete history of salvation. Looking forward to the return of Jesus Christ focuses our attention on the ultimate reason and direction of all creation and of our faith. As to the daily entry of Jesus into our hearts, we can realize the presence of Jesus now. That presence is reinforced and nourished by the Word and the Sacraments, as well as by the community of grace in the church.

·       What we do in worship over these next few weeks will help us remember the waiting of God’s people for the Messiah. We will also look forward with grace-filled anticipation for the promised coming of the Kingdom of God. The presence of Jesus in our daily lives can become clearer in our awareness of both our history and our promised future.

·       Please understand; our preparations for the festival of the birth of Jesus are good things. I love them a lot and I look forward to them every year. (I want you all to save cookies for me.) If we do them from a standpoint of grace, they are all preparations for Jesus’ presence today and his return that is yet to come. If we stand preparing, even our normal holiday preparation – watchful and hopeful- we can seek the kingdom without having to guess and fuss over when.

·       Remember our hymn:

People, look east. The time is near

Of the crowning of the year.

Make your house fair as you are able,

Trim the hearth and set the table.

People, look east and sing today:

Love, the guest, is on the way.

…may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints

W