Advent I, Year C

"Preparing for Christ--and Christmas"

November 30, 2003

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke’s Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lessons:  Jeremiah 33:14-16;  1 Thessalonians 3:9-13;  St. Luke 21:25-36

Having heard our gospel lesson, you might be a bit confused about where we are in the Church Year.  Last Sunday, we observed the Festival of Christ the King, when we focus on that time when Jesus will return in power and glory.  The Sundays before that, we were in a period we call, Kingdtomtide, when the lessons direct our attention to Jesus' second coming--remember, we talked about the "birth pangs"--the beginning of the end of earthly time.  That was helpful--it prepared us for our celebration of Christ the King.  But now, are we not in the season of Advent?  The color is blue--the color of expectation, and of night, and of royalty--as we prepare for the coming of the Christ, born in Bethlehem in the still of night, as a baby, who would be King.  We know that with Thanksgiving past, it's just a short time till we're celebrating the Christ-mass--so, why this gospel text?  Why a reading from St. Luke that would fit better, in Kingdomtide?  Why a reading that would seem to better prepare us for the Festival of Christ the King--rather than the Festival of the Nativity of our Lord? 

     The reason that the first Sunday in Advent normally focuses our attention on Jesus' second coming, rather than his first, is because the two are intimately related.  Although we just observed the Festival of Christ the King, last Sunday, we all know that Christ the King, has not yet come, in power and glory to judge the world in righteousness.  We celebrate that festival as "already, but not yet".  Christ is already our King--but He has not yet returned to claim His kingdom, and bring it to fulfillment.  Christ is already our King, because He was born in Bethlehem--the Son of the Most High God; born to become our King, by giving His life on the cross, for us, and for our salvation--so that, raised from death, He might be King for all eternity.   All the Christmas prophecies point to that fact, proclaiming that this Jesus, this son of Mary, this son of God, would be "King of Kings and Lord of Lords"--that to him would be given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him--and His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away--his kingship shall never be destroyed.

     This Kingship is "already"--established--though it is not yet, "fulfilled".  It is already--but not yet.  So, on Christ the King Sunday, we celebrate that Jesus has come, but that He will come again in power and glory.  During the season of Advent, we celebrate similarly, that Jesus has come at Bethlehem, but that He will come again, in power and glory.  The word "Advent" means, "coming" --and in this season, we celebrate, and focus on, not just one of the ways Jesus comes--we celebrate and focus on, not just Jesus' arrival at Bethlehem--the lessons point us, throughout this season, to the fact that Jesus came, and that He will come again.  That just as surely as Jesus was born in Bethlehem to be God with us, Jesus will return, with the full power and authority of our Triune God--to fulfill the promise made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah;  to execute justice and righteousness.  And though we have preparations to make for our celebration of the Christ-mass--Christmas;  we also have preparations to make for Jesus' final return.  As pressed and pressured and determined as you might be to have all your preparations just so for your household's celebration of Christmas--Jesus is urging us, challenging us, yes, even warning us, to be preparing ourselves also, for His return.  He says, "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.  People will faint from fear and foreboding--for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up, and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."  Jesus assures us, promises us, once again, of the age-old prophecies given by God in generations past;  that there will be an end of earthly time--that the Messiah will return to execute God's justice and righteousness.  And we are to be ready, so that when that time comes, we will not be cowering in a corner somewhere;  we will not be hiding, ashamed;  we will not be caught, figuratively speaking, with our pants down.  Rather Jesus says, "When you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

     What, then, are Jesus' words to us?  What does He want us to remember, when we see these things taking place?  He says,  "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation--with idle, frivolous amusement and indulgence;  we are not to have our hearts burdened by drunkenness, and the worries of this life,  distracting us so that the day of the Lord's return catch us unexpectedly, like a trap.  Rather," Jesus says, "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." 

     The truth of the matter is, Jesus knows all too well, how weighed down we get with idle, frivolous amusement;  with indulging ourselves;  with eating too much and drinking too much;  with the worries of this life that can be so distracting, we live day by day forgetting that Jesus is coming again, not alert at all times, not even alert some of the time, but caught up in living, and struggling, and planning, and reacting.  This pre-Christmas season can be the hardest of all--to remain alert, keeping our hearts and minds fixed on Jesus, when all around us is hustle and bustle and rush here and rush there.  Which is why God gives us, not the pre-Christmas season, but the season of Advent.  The season of Advent, when we hear, NOT,  hurry up, mail those cards, buy those gifts, wrap those presents, decorate that house, but, "Be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed down;  be alert at all times, praying, that you may have the strength to remain faithful--that you may have the strength to be obedient;  that you may have the strength to escape--all these things that will take place--so that you may stand up, and raise your heads, before the Son of Man--as your redemption draws near."  That is the greater, the more valuable, the more pressing, preparation, this Advent season--to prepare, not so much for the coming of Christmas--as for the coming-- of Christ!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.