Living Ready, Pilgrim, Advent 1A, Nov 27, 2022

My second sermon at Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School during my Ministry in Context Field Placement in 2022-23 during my third year at LSTC.

Title Slide

Happy New Year! Today is truly the New Year, for the church, as we joyfully await and prepare annually to welcome Immanuel, God With Us, our God who became human in order to show us the way of Love and Life!

The next few weeks are designed to help prepare our hearts and minds through themes of hope, peace, joy, and love for Jesus’s coming. We who live in the middle of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection 2,000 years ago, and Jesus’ return in the soon but not yet, know that the season of Advent touches on both the incarnation and the Second Coming

Gospel of Matthew slide

First, let’s meet our writer for the majority of the gospel lessons over the next year. The gospel of Matthew is traditionally ascribed to the disciple Matthew, for a community of Jewish Christians, written about 35-40 years after Jesus’ resurrection. They lived in eager anticipation of the return of Christ and expected it to happen in their lifetimes. And with every year that passed, people became more confused, complacent, or downright cynical about the idea that Jesus was coming back at all.

So, Matthew’s gospel spoke to his generation and the generations to come about preparing for that moment, that hour, that day, that much-awaited event. There’s an emphasis on time, both Kronos (or clock time) and Kairos (which means God’s time). And that’s where the text has taken on a life of its own:

Matthew 24:40-44

Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Those verses have been used by faith leaders and writers to create anxiety, dread, and fear – pretty much anything but Hope, Peace, Joy and Love!

Preaching about the Rapture, sermons about the End Times, the Left Behind series of fiction novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, and similar apocalyptic writings have created among some Christians a culture and attitude of fear, of not being good enough to spend eternity with God.

I am convinced that Matthew had no agenda with this text to create fearful, paralyzed disciples of Jesus who were terrified about their loved ones being whisked away mid-sentence and being left behind because they weren’t prepared. These Christians in the latter part of the first century had enough to be frightened about.

Siege of Jerusalem slide:

In the year 70, the Roman empire destroyed the temple and overran Jerusalem. These followers’ lives were hard enough, believing in Jesus the Christ when other Jewish people still awaited the Messiah’s coming. We know they had challenges. We read in Paul’s letters when he and others were starting churches, they were collecting money for the church in Jerusalem.

So, when Matthew recalled the words of Jesus to be prepared, he was using them to rally the followers of The Way into joyous hope! Keep awake! Be ready! Jesus is coming soon! Really! Keep the faith!!!

What do we, as Christians, do with these texts in 2022, when Jesus still hasn’t come? Are we any different than Matthew’s early Christians? Aren’t some of us a little confused, complacent or downright cynical about the idea that Jesus could show up any day?

Save the Date slide

I know people who belong to churches whose leaders keep making predictions about the day of Jesus’ return. Many of those dates have passed. So the leaders read some more, recalculate, and give their followers a new date that Jesus is surely coming back. Talk about FOMO: the Fear of Missing Out.

But how did the Gospel today end: Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Every morning when I was young, my mom stood watch at our kitchen window, looking south over County Highway K, waiting for a glimpse of red flashing lights a mile and a half up the road, telling us it was time to run down our long driveway in time to catch the school bus. But there are no flashing lights, no billboards, no true predictions to tell us Jesus is coming. Nowhere in the Bible does it say when it will be. We have to live ready.

So what does “living ready” look like? I can think of three things that mark people who are living ready.

Living Ready 1 slide

First, people who live ready believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

OK, this seems obvious, but it’s a very serious matter. We asked our three confirmands about their belief in Jesus Christ just three weeks ago. We asked Camryn’s parents and sponsors last weekend at her baptism. As part of our worship, we profess our faith through the Apostles’ Creed almost every week. Why? It is ultimately a statement of belief AND belonging. As Ben Sternke put it:

“To say ‘I believe…’ is not so much to confess individual confidence but to confess corporate belonging and participation in the Church of Jesus Christ, across time and space. The communion of saints throughout the world and throughout the ages who belong to Christ and participate in the life of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

To say “I believe” is an act of faith that we need to practice regularly among people of faith. It is a communal building up – to increase our faith while we increase the faith of others.

Living Ready 2 slide

Second, people who live ready live as “set-apart people.”

They live in the world, but not of this world. They act upon their faith in how they live every day, not just under this roof. They live generous, thoughtful, helpful lives, because of who they are. From the people who allow someone with three items and three small children to go ahead of them in the grocery line, to the couple who set aside their lives for months to assure Mike and I were packed and moved to Chicago, they are considerate in things small and great. They consider their lives a gift, every action a way to use that gift.

Right now, think of one person who has modeled for you that Christ-like generosity, thoughtfulness, and helpfulness. Someone who is living in this world, but living set apart. Now on the count of three, we are going to shout those names together, in a burst of gratitude. Ready? One, two, three! ……

Living Ready 3 slide

And, third, people who live ready want everyone with them.

When that unexpected day comes, I couldn’t help but be disappointed if the crowd was underwhelming. I picture an uncountable mass of all people from all times and places. People who live ready want a party, a banquet for everyone on that day. They can’t help but share the Good News of God’s love and God’s grace for all people.

Many of you have heard the story of the anthropologist studying an African community who set a basket of candy by a tree and offered the candy to the child who could get to it first. The children joined hands, ran together and shared the candy. One child explained it to the anthropologist: “Ubuntu. How can I be happy if all the others are sad?” Ubuntu: I am because we ALL are.

In what seemed to me a twist on that Ubuntu story, a good friend of mine wrote about Life as a headlong race toward Home: sometimes picking up others along the way, sometimes being carried yourself when you fall or falter. Knowing that we are going to make it, she said, by the grand-slam that is God’s grace. And learning how to absolutely, positively, no-matter-what trust in that. That has become my own vision of what our hope, God’s kindom, looks like. Not something I win, not a date that I need to calculate, not something for which I sit passively in the window and wait, but living ready, running toward Home, holding hands with others until we all reach Home.

That, Pilgrim, is our hope this Advent season. Living ready means not living in fear, but living every day filled with hope. Believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior, living grateful, thoughtful, and helpful lives, and bringing everyone home.

Final Slide

That is our hope this Advent season. As we wait for the arrival of Immanuel, and as we wait for the return of Christ. As we prepare for Christmas parties and negotiate stores filled with impatient shoppers. As we try to hold space in our own lives and hearts for some much-needed Christmas peace. Stay awake, my friends. Stay awake, be prepared and live ready!

Hope Springs Eternal, Advent 1, Nov. 27, 2016

First Sunday in Advent (Year A)

Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016

Theme:  Hope Springs Eternal

Intro: The church year begins anew this week, the first Sunday of Advent. And traditionally, the texts have continued the apocalyptic texts of the Reign of Christ Sunday, the last Sunday of the year. It nicely closes the circle.

And as it does, churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary (with its Psalm, Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel readings) move from Luke back to Matthew. Why not John? Because John’s Gospel is so dissimilar from the three narrative (synoptic) gospels, it gets split up to spice up all three years. But I digress. I used to like Matthew more than any of the others – I wonder if this year will refresh that gift.

Reflection: The only healthy humanity, the only true discipleship, is to hope for the return of Christ, for the creation of a new earth with the overthrow of evil, injustice, and fear. What monsters have we become if we do not long for something like this? The means and the method do not need to be 'one like son of man coming in the clouds,' but if the vision is not there in some form, we have already perished. There is no hope left.

Andrew Prior, Uniting Church of Australia

Recently, my handbell director asked our ensemble a simple question: What do you think heaven will be like?

Sometimes he takes a pause in the middle of practice, reads a devotion, and invites comments. Last week was one of those times. Some people offered biblical answers, some quite different ideas. I realized it had been a long time since I’d tried to picture what God had in mind for us after this life is over. I remained quiet, but the question has stayed with me ever since.

And depending on the day you asked me, the answer could be several different views. In all honesty, some days I probably would say I’m not sure there’s anything. Other days, I am certain that God has a place or plan, but my mind has all kind of pictures of it, from seeing our physical bodies resurrected and an actual location that looks heavenly (give me tall pines, hiking trails and lots of lakes), to a final convergence of light, everything connected in a reverse Big Bang, spirit-pure and radiant. (I never did buy the “white-robed people walking on the clouds” vision, though, nor a Rapture, as many people think today’s lines in the Gospel imply. Too many issues with those pictures.)

What fuels most of my hope, though, is the idea of being reunited with family and friends no longer here with us, and finally seeing face-to-face the God who is so much mystery to me. So, I take heart in passages like today’s Gospel that gives us a glimpse of eternity.

So many people have focused their attention on salvation, however, that they forget the rest of this passage. “Stay awake.” Jesus says. “Prepare yourself now.”

And the only way I know how to be prepared for what is to come on that “day and hour no one knows” is to live my faith every day. To do the best job I can of letting Christ work through me this day and every day, knowing full well I’ll mess up. But God’s mercies are new every morning. So, I can keep trying, trying to live and love like Jesus did, hoping that something I do brings this world a little closer to compassionate, peaceful and just – a little closer to what God envisions it could be. And that would be heaven -- perhaps that’s exactly how Christ will come.  

Faith App:  What would you do if it was your final day? Make that phone call, reconcile with a friend or family member, spend time with a child? Be prepared: practice those “someday” actions now.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding, ELW 246

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, ELW 254

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, ELW 257

The King Shall Come, ELW 260

Bread of Life from Heaven, ELW 474 (communion)

For the Bread Which You Have Broken, ELW 494 (communion)

Lord of All Hopefulness, ELW 765

Awake Our Souls, Tim Timmons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQR0bd1BhbA

A lot of us pray, we pray hard

With promises made when times are dark

But few are remembered

Few are surrendered

The anthem rings in spite of us

In war and peace, inviting us

To listen to the sound now

Of the kingdom calling

Awake our souls, awake our souls

Tear down the walls, dance in the freedom

Awake our souls, awake our souls

Open our eyes to see it ‘cause

Everywhere the King is, there is the kingdom

Everywhere the King is, there is the kingdom

Everywhere the King is King

There’s so many days, I miss it

Fighting for my way instead of yours

But when I surrender

I wake to remember

 

Live Like That, Sidewalk Prophets

With Every Act of Love, Jason Gray

Even So Come, Passion/Kristian Stanfill

LESSONS

Isaiah 2:1-5 They shall beat their swords into plowshares … spears into pruning hooks.

Psalm 122 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Romans 13:11-14 Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Matthew 24:36-44 Keep awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Summary of the Lessons:  Advent has been considered a passive time. The themes for the four weeks – Hope, Peace, Joy, Love – all are nouns. Advent is known for its emphasis on people quietly remaining waiting and watchful. But all those words are opportunities for action. Hope in action looks like change and opportunity. Peace in action looks like defending the rights of all people. Love in action looks like assuring everyone has what they need. Joy in action looks like creating community and welcome. This week: Hope is the assurance of things to come.

OPENING LITANY  based on Psalm 122

L:  Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

C:  Out of the darkness, our great hope appears!

 

L:  “Let’s go to the house of the Lord!” they said.

C:  I was so elated – I couldn’t wait to go,     

L:  And before long I was gazing at the temple,

C:  Standing with them, inside Jerusalem’s gate.

L:  Jerusalem, the city that joins us together;

C:  A birthplace of faith at the crossroads of time,

L:  A worship pilgrimage for all of God’s people,

C:  Joining in a great litany of thanks and praise.

L:  Keep praying for peace within Jerusalem,

C:  Peace for all peoples starts within its walls,

L:  Because the Lord’s house is here in the city,

C:  Always will I hope for God’s healing to arrive. 

 

CONFESSION  loosely based on Isaiah 2:1-5

L:  Lord, we gather in your house of worship,

C:  Eager to please, eager to be seen as faithful,

L:  But our worship and praises often are empty words –

C:  Help us focus our hearts and minds on you.

L:  Lord, we call ourselves Christians in your name,

C:  Hearing your words, listening to your teaching,

L:  But the actions often don’t make it past the parking lot –

C:  Help us put your instruction to work in our world.

L:  Lord, we idealize your peacemaking ways,

C:  How poetic to beat swords into plowshares,

L:  But we create conflict so much better than compromise –

C:  Help us to understand each other and make a peaceful world.

 

(Silent reflection: soft music, such “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” could be played during the reflection each week of Advent. Or the music could be a softer version of the tune played for an Advent candle lighting.)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … Listening to you is the easy part – following you as disciples much harder. We recommit ourselves weekly to learning to serve like you did, living as if you were returning today. Help us live awakened to your presence among us in each moment.

Hear this Good News:  Come, walk in the light, knowing that not one person gets his or her walk with Jesus perfectly right. We are not clothed in our own good works, but in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come. You are forgiven of all your sins – go make the most of each day, sharing life abundantly.

In the name of …

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C: God of our Waiting … as we enter the season of Advent, we pray that you would prepare our hearts once and always for your presence among us. Stir us up, Lord, and make us watchful, because we know not what day you will arrive, only that you will surprise us with how you arrive. Keep us looking for you in every situation, in every face we meet.  Amen. 

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give thanks, most gracious God, for the hopefulness in this meal, a remembrance of the covenant shared with your people.  Send us as your keepers of this promise, that your kingdom will come, as we live expectantly, always seeking your good.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  Now is the time – today is the day.

C:  Stay watchful – keep awake!

L:  Live today and every day with your eyes wide open.

C:  Hopeful that your actions today bring the kingdom come.

L: Go now, people of hope, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God! 

First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: In the book’s first chapter, Isaiah lays out a harsh current reality: violence, bribery, desolation and trampling the poor. The second chapter is a restart by God, written about the future, a future filled with hope. 

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come

    the mountain of the LORD’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

    to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the light of the LORD!

Second Reading  Romans 13:11-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Writing the church in Rome, Paul reflects the belief that Jesus was coming back within people’s lifetimes. Paul encouraged people to remain engaged in Christ-like pursuits, even to suggesting celibacy and sobriety.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Gospel  Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: With the start of the church year, year A is primarily in Matthew’s Gospel. The first Sunday in Advent begins where we ended last week, with a view toward end times.

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.