Sermon
Advent 1 – December 1-2, 2007
Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 24:37-44
Hillary T. West
Today marks the beginning of the Church year. Happy New Year everyone! Obviously this is not the same new year we celebrate in a month. This is the new year for the Church, and it always begins these four weeks before Christmas with this season of Advent. Advent is Latin for the words, “to come to”, or coming; the coming of Emmanuel or God is with us. So, as we prepare ourselves over these next weeks. We’re intentional about getting ourselves ready for the celebration of the birth of Christ. So, over these next weeks we’ll read and hear all about keeping watch, paying attention, and getting ready for the birth of Jesus Christ.
In today’s lesson for Advent One, we’re challenged. Jesus tells us how things can be if we’re not ready when the Son of Man, as he calls himself in Matthew, comes into our midst. He preaches strong language in this Apocalyptic Discourse. Folks will endure battle, loss of hope, suffering, challenges and trials. This troubled time will not end without pain and disappointment before the Son of Man comes. These early followers of Jesus saw their world plummeting and crashing all around them. All they knew to be solid and secure was being pulled out from under them. The gospel writer is keen on telling us how, in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we are brought whole, made safe. And, even in pain and suffering, Jesus does bring hope.
Now, we remember that the gospels are written well after Jesus’ death. In fact, Matthew’s gospel was probably written as many as 60 years after Jesus’ resurrection. The early Church believed that Jesus’ return was imminent. But, it didn’t come. So, while the writer of Matthew tells us a beautiful story of how to be the church because of Jesus, it’s clear that he felt the urgency to give folks hope; to hold onto the promise of Jesus as God with us, the one who saves. So, he tells of Jesus predicting his coming.
In this 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus’ return, his coming, is known as the Parousia. This is the only time in the gospels we see the word Parousia. Parousia means, coming, arrival, or presence, a being near. But, in 1st century Palestine, Parousia was a common term when referring to the arrival of a political official, a governor or a king. So, we learn from Jesus that the coming of the kingdom, the presence and arrival of God in Christ is a coming that commands significant power and authority.
The victory that Jesus wins for us in his life, death and resurrection, will be the glory that changes us forever. With Jesus in our hearts, our world can never remain the same. Jesus reminds us over and over again in Matthew’s gospel, of a new world, the kingdom world. Trust in God, all is possible; have faith; forgive one another; be humble; love God and love one another. This is how kingdom living is. So, get ready. We don’t want to miss it when it comes. We don’t know when the Lord is coming, says Jesus. Only God can answer that question. So, be ready, stay awake, pay attention, be aware. The Son of Man will be coming at an unexpected hour.
Jesus goes on to remind us that in the time of Noah when the flood came, people were going about their business. No one was prepared for the power of God’s saving presence in their lives. They were caught off guard. They didn’t know of his coming. The emphasis is not on knowing when God comes. But, rather, the emphasis is on being ready, paying attention to Jesus in our lives; how Jesus makes himself known to each of us, in all that we do.
Jesus goes on to paint a challenging metaphor for us. When God breaks through into our lives; when the kingdom is ushered in, it will be like a thief in the night, who comes to steal our hearts and invade our souls with love.
He comes to transform us into Christ followers, into the very beings who love as Jesus loves. This coming of Jesus, is intrusive and mighty and there’s no stopping him. And, it’s not an invitation. Jesus comes at the will of God, not at our will. And the promise is, that he comes. So, over these next weeks we’re making our lists. We’re checking them twice.
How do we want to pay attention and prepare for the coming of the Lord?
Well, Jesus says, don’t worry about fitting him into our schedules. There’s no need to mark a time and date on the calendar for Jesus. God’s time is not our time. He’ll show up when we least expect it. So, we might just want to stay awake, be alert to how this invader comes to love us so completely. Over these next weeks our lives are getting busier and busier. Trees need to go up and be decorated. Lights need to be strung. Candles need to light up windows. Wreaths will be hung, gifts bought and wrapped and sent, parties planned and attended, school performances, trips back and forth to family and friends, cards need to be sent, cookies baked. As we tick off each day on the calendar it seems that we push harder and harder to get it all done. So, how about, instead of adding one more thing to our list, we decide that our many activities are actually Advent activities: activities that show us signs of how Jesus shows up.
Now, I’m not going to stand here and tell you not to do any Christmas preparation until the actual day. (Then you’d never show up for Christmas Eve worship). But, maybe as we’re getting ready for Christmas, we can be alert to ways where we see the coming of Christ.
So, if you haven’t put up your tree yet, you may want to think about hanging your tree upside down this year. You see, the Christmas tree actually is a religious symbol used as early as the 7th century to teach the trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Hanging the tree upside down served as a symbol of God coming down to us as Jesus Christ. Lights on the tree have served as reminders of the very stars in the sky that lit the way for the shepherds and wisemen to find the Christ child lying in a manger. Decorations on a tree originally symbolized the fruits of the tree of life found in the Garden of Eden. While over the years Christmas trees and our wreaths have emerged in all sorts of different colors, the color green is the sign of growth, and evergreen reminds us of eternal life in Christ.
Today you see our Advent wreath with four candles. Purple is a penitential color used in our hangings and throughout the church during both Advent and Lent. Using this same color during these two seasons reminds us of the connection between Christ’s death and resurrection for us, and the gift of his birth. The three purple candles represent signs of the expectation and hope of the new king who is to break through into our lives with the promise of a new age. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent as a sign of the joy to come with the birth of Christ. Finally, the white candle is the Christ candle, its color signifying purity. As the center of the wreath it is a symbol of Christ as the center of all that we are, all of our existence, lighting the world with his love.
There are countless ways to pay attention to the coming of Jesus in our lives. In the Milling Area we have made a list with definitions of common rituals and traditions that may help you in paying attention this Advent season. You’re welcome to help yourself and use these suggestions over these next weeks.
Now, this is a season of great joy. There is much to celebrate and much for which we are thankful. We are a blessed community. Life is good. During this Advent season, we want to be ready, and pay attention to how Christ is in our lives. So, when December 25th comes ‘round, and it most definitely will, we can celebrate the most precious gift of love that God has given us in Jesus Christ.
So, when we’re standing in line waiting to see Santa, maybe we can take a minute to think about what it’s like to wait to see Jesus. As we cook and bake Christmas meals for family and friends, maybe we can just take a minute to think about what it would like to have Jesus show up at our table. And, as we share in our gift giving, which is thoughtful and generous, maybe we can spend just a moment paying attention to the gifts Jesus gives to us. It might be small and insignificant at the moment. But, try, give yourself this opportunity, and look ever so closely this Advent season for how Jesus chooses to appear.
Yesterday when I left for church all the men on our street were out raking away. Actually, they were spending more time standing around talking, leaning on their rakes, than actually raking. But, when I got home after worship all the leaves where in big piles ready for the city to collect.
And, I noticed as I drove up our little street that somehow, most of the houses were now lit up. Somehow our neighbors found time to put their candles in their windows, and strings of lights on their fences and trees, lighting a festive way for all. And late last night, a quiet knock was at our door. Our dear friend of 30 years, who lives across the street, was carrying his glass jar and measuring cup. “How about 2 cups of sugar so I can finish making my Christmas fudge? I’ll bring you some when it’s finished.
Jesus keeps showing up, over and over again. In neighborly friendship, in signs of hope, in generous and thoughtful folks who care enough to keep trying. What a glorious gift, this precious Jesus, who chooses to break into our lives and push his love upon us. What an amazing Jesus who never gives up, who comes and comes and fills us with hope.
This Advent, let’s pay attention to how Jesus comes. He’ll come unexpectedly, so keep watch. He’ll take our very hearts, and fill them with his love. His love is everywhere, and is the very gift promised for each of us. And, this love of Jesus Christ, it’s enough, enough to carry us through this Advent and all the year to come. Rejoice, Rejoice, God is with us. Look Around.
Keeping Advent
Advent = begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent means coming, and is characterized as a time of anticipation, expectation and hope. The liturgical color for Advent is purple. Purple signifies a time a prayer and fasting as well as royalty. Historically Advent has been seen as that time when we prayerfully await and prepare for the coming of Christ the king.
Advent Wreath: evergreen and circular design symbolizes the eternal and constant living and growing of Christ in God within us. The four candles remind us of the four centuries between the witness of God in the Hebrew scriptures to the birth of Christ in the New Testatment.
Purple candles signify hope, anticipation and waiting. As each candle is lit, we are reminded that Christ is the light of the world and through him we are brought from darkness into light.
Pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent to remind us of the joy of Christ to come.
White candle lit on Christmas is the sign of Christ’s purity as the center of all that we are.
A prayer to recite when lighting the Advent Wreath candles:
O God, our heavenly Father, help us during this advent Season to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ Child. Help us to make room in our hearts to love Him above all others, and give us strength to do as He would have us do, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Nativity Manger: the empty “stable” can be placed out during Advent and hay can be added daily to the “stable” floor. Each day, children may wish to add figures, one at a time to the “stable” until Christmas Eve, where the Christ child is finally added by the youngest child of the household.
Gift Giving: Jesus Christ has given us the greatest gift of all, the love and mercy of God. As we’re buying and giving gifts this Advent, pay attention to the spirit in which we give rather than the size or amount of the gift. Give freely and with an open heart, as Christ does. Maybe this year gift giving is a note that states: thank you for reminding me of how Jesus loves. This year, I’ve given in your name a financial gift to _______________ as an expression of Christ’s generous spirit. May you always know his care for you in this season and throughout the year.
When shopping with our children, invite your children to pick an ornament from a giving tree, purchase, wrap and deliver gifts to those who may not have Christmas without your help.
Tacky Light Tour: Pile into the car to see the Tacky Lights or the beautiful light show at Bloomendal. Cherish the family time together recalling how Jesus came first into the world under a starlit sky surrounded by his parents, and those who came to celebrate the joy of how Jesus is the light of the world.
Santa Claus: visit with Santa and tell your children of the very first Santa, St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor in the 4th century, the patron saint of children. Legend tells us that three young women in Nicholas’ town were so poor that they were unable to marry because their father could not afford a dowry. Nicholas is said to have secretly, in the night, thrown gold coins through their windows so they could offer a dowry and marry. Secret gift giving from Santa has derived from this legend.
The name Santa Claus is the slurring together of the syllables of the words Saint Nicholas by children of both Dutch and German descent and spelled Santi Klos.
Birthday Party for Baby Jesus: Invite neighborhood children to celebrate the greatest birth of all. Remember what gifts were given at Jesus birth. Gold symbolizes faith that triumphs over adversity; the gift of the Wise Man symbolizes Christ’s coming Kingship; the crown that goes with this Kingship, however, is the crown of thorns. Frankincense symbolizes the divine nobility of Christ and our adoration for his priestly presence in our lives; the Wise Man connected to this gift is often linked to the chalice as a sign of priesthood. Myrrh denotes humanity, charity and bitter sorrow; and this Wise Man reminds us of the anointing of bodies as Christ was anointed; often a cross is linked with this fragrant oil. Gifts may be for those folks in the community who struggle to have Christmas.
A Christmas Tree blessing: O God, who in the midst of this holy night, did send your Word to dwell amongst us to be our true light. Bless this tree, we ask you, which we have hung with signs of your creation and with lights. Let it remind all of us who behold it this season of the mystery of his life among us, and may we be grated as living branches into the same Lord Jesus, who lives and reigns with you now and forever. Amen.
A Christmas Creche Blessing: Bless, O God, this Christmas manger, which we have prepared in honor of the birth of your only begotten Son. Through the mystery of his incarnation all creation and the works of our hands have become holy and the worthy birthplace of Emmanuel, who is God with us, now and forever. Amen.
