An Advent Moment - A Sermon for the First Sunday in Advent December 3 2023
GOSPEL: Mark 13:24-37
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.
[Jesus said:] 24“In those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
25and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then 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. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven 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. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It 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. 35Therefore, 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, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
This really feels like an Advent moment.
Now and not yet.
Coming.
Waiting.
Expectation.
Newness.
End times.
For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year
Wish lists.
Shopping.
Spending.
Preparation.
Anticipation.
For others, this is a time of dread, anxiety, despair.
Rising cost of living
Reminders of loss of loved ones
Broken relationships.
This is a season of weariness.
The sun is setting earlier and earlier each day,
daylight wanes,
evenings are brightened by bulbs of various sizes,
we humans ought to be hibernating in the cold and dark
resting, sleeping,
waiting for spring.
But this is hustle and bustle time,
no time for the weary to rest,
and God’s Word says “Keep awake”
keep alert,
wait for the master to return,
be ready.
It feels like an Advent moment.
It takes a lot of energy to stay ready.
And, frankly, this invitation isn’t so inviting.
Stay awake and be ready for the Master’s return,
but we’ve been waiting,
two thousand years.
Waiting is hard.
Often it is the waiting that is the hardest:
waiting for the diagnosis,
waiting to see if treatment works
waiting for the phone call,
waiting is hard.
Don’t just wait - be ready.
Stay awake.
No rest for the weary.
Our world is weary.
Wars
Humanitarian crises
Mental health
Physical health
Polarization
Economic uncertainty.
Oh that God would tear open the heavens
and save us.
It sure feels like an Advent moment.
Advent is a season of now and not yet.
We look to the manger,
preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas
We look to the Day of the Lord,
waiting, readiness for Christ’s second coming
We join ancient Israel
in longing anticipation for the coming Saviour.
Christ will come.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Advent is a season of mystery,
the mystery of faith,
the mystery of Christ’s coming.
And in this Advent moment,
I’m not sure we like the mystery,
the waiting,
the readiness,
staying awake.
We hear Jesus say that we can see the signs
the sun will darken,
the moon will not give its light
stars will be falling from heaven,
powers in the heavens shook
the Son of Man coming in the clouds
When you see these things taking place,
you know that the Son is near.
It’s like some kind of code we want to break
so we can know when the Son will return.
But we shall not know the day nor the hour,
only the Father knows this.
We haven’t seen this happen:
stars, moon, sun - falling.
it hasn’t happened, yet.
But I came across something this week
about the mini parable of the master
putting the slaves in charge
something I find profound,
and it’s sort of a code that Jesus broke for us.
First,
the call to stay awake, to be ready.
Jesus says,
“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.”
Be ready together.
You need not stay awake,
you need not stay ready on your own.
You need not wait alone.
We are the body of Christ together.
you do not need to keep watch of the gate
and keep the kitchen running
and tend the fields.
Be ready together,
together we are servants of the master,
I’ll take a turn on watch,
and you can swap me out when I’m tired.
If you’re no good in the kitchen,
then take your turn in the field.
We can be ready together,
and like the coming Master,
Jesus the healer
who found rest and retreat
amidst the pressing crowds,
The weary can find rest in this Advent time,
while the faithful stay awake for them.
You can’t be ready for the Master
if you’re burnt out.
We can stay awake,
we can be ready, together.
This is the gift we share today
as we welcome new members,
as Michael receives the gift of baptism,
we are in this together,
we need not journey alone.
Second, the signs we can see.
We have not seen the stars fall.
But we’ve seen the Master come,
in the evening,
at midnight,
at cockcrow
and at dawn.
Remember, Jesus shares this mini parable in Jerusalem
right before Christ’s passion.
The Master came at evening,
instituting the Lord’s Supper,
bringing life, forgiveness, nourishment
in this blessed sacrament.
The Master came at midnight,
in prayer in the garden,
with betrayal by Judas,
not with violent defence,
but in obedience to the Father.
The Master came at cockcrow,
hearing Peter’s denial,
yet with his face set towards the cross.
The Master came at dawn,
on trial before Pilate,
and in victory and power
when Christ was raised at dawn.
Therefore, keep awake, Jesus says —
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.
My fellows followers of Christ,
we have seen the signs,
Christ has come,
and Christ is come.
People have been trying for centuries
to try and break the code
and figure out when Christ shall return,
but we can also spend so much time and energy
trying to figure it out
that we miss the reality
that Christ is present,
that Christ is with us now.
Perhaps the second coming of Christ
happens every day,
for Christ comes
in those who hunger and thirst,
in those who are strangers and outcasts
in the sick and the prisoner,
in the poor, the widow,
the orphan,
and in you.
Truly I tell you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.
This sure feels like an Advent moment
We pray,
stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.
Oh that you would tear open the heavens
and come.
My friends,
Be ready and see the signs.
The stars are falling,
and it is a new morning.
For Christ is coming,
and Christ is come.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
