Advent1A—11/27/16
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Pr. Scott Kramer
Anybody remember the 1970 book “The Late Great Planet Earth?” Some of you who are younger might be more familiar with the “Left Behind” series of novels and movies that appeared in the 1990s and early 2000s. These best-sellers used today’s reading from Matthew, with other Bible passages, to describe the “end of history.” The idea is that God will suddenly one day appear in the clouds to snatch away Christians from the Earth, leaving behind those who are unfaithful to be destroyed. This seems to me a somewhat selfish interpretation of Scripture; it is not what we believe.
Today’s reading from Matthew says nothing about God snatching anybody away. In the days of Noah before the flood, Jesus teaches, when people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage–just living their lives–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.
I remember that June 18, 1974, was a beautiful day. But that evening in the Midwestern town where I grew up storm clouds rolled in. The tornado sirens wailed, and sure enough, that night a tornado tore through the city. It left our house standing, but across the street a neighbor’s garage was destroyed. Elsewhere in the neighborhood one house was flattened, and one right beside it left standing. One was taken. One was left. Whether it’s a tornado, or a hurricane, or earthquake or flood, the result is often the same. Lives and property are “snatched away” in one place, while nearby, lives and property are left unharmed. For some reason we call these natural disasters “acts of God” but our Creator does not cause death and destruction. Certainly, God does not protect us while ignoring other people. Instead, our God empowers us to respond in such situations with compassion and care for people whose lives have been shattered. That is who we are.
We are in the season of Advent, and the point of Advent is not to make us ready for God to whisk us away into heaven. No, the season of Advent is very down to earth; calling us to be alert and ready to set aside self-interest for the sake of the world God loves. Keep awake therefore, Jesus teaches, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming…
Keep awake. There may be popular movies and books and even churches that interpret the Bible in a way that cast us as God’s favorites. Last month there was released into theaters a different—maybe more faithful– kind of movie with a title straight out of today’s gospel reading. In v.38 Jesus speaks of the time of Noah. As in those days before the flood people were eating and drinking. The name of the movie is just that: “Before the Flood,” and it’s about climate change. There are still people in the world, even in high positions, who deny climate change, even as the waters are rising in Florida, even as people’s livelihoods are disappearing. Some of you who are from island nations know first-hand that your homeland is being swallowed up by the waves. But as in the time of Noah many people seem unwilling to pay attention. To be Advent people is to…
…Keep awake. In his letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul echoes Jesus when he writes, You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. But do we? Do we really know what time it is? To what extent do we see how God is at work in the world and our place in it?
The prophet Isaiah holds before us a vision of the kingdom of God, when nations 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. Sounds impossible, right? But here is a man—Isaiah–who is not distracted by some self-centered fantasy of being protected or whisked away from the troubles of the Earth. No, Isaiah holds before us a vision of God’s kingdom. To be Advent people is to be awake to the ordinary, messy, and often difficult opportunities for justice, peacemaking and reconciliation—to get our hands dirty, to roll up our sleeves, to be advocates for groups of people who are ignored and without voice–starting in our homes and neighborhoods and communities. To be Advent people is to…
…Keep awake. As Paul puts it, now is the time to 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. In other words, set aside selfishness and live for the sake of the world God loves! To be Advent people is to be awake to the appearance of Christ among us, for as Matthew teaches, the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. To be Advent people is to…
…Keep awake. The season of Advent reminds us that the greatest threats in human life are often not external but internal: fear, anger, hatred–these can eat us alive from the inside out. In today’s Prayer of the Day we ask God to save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation: which is another way of saying the prayer we pray each Sunday—Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil…inside us! The greatest threats to our souls are not “out there” but “in here.” To be Advent people is to…
…Keep awake. Two thousand years ago, was anyone looking for God in a little town called Bethlehem? Was anyone looking for hope and salvation among ordinary people? No! Just like people today they were looking for kings and conquerors to save them. Not even those whom God intended—a man named Joseph and a young woman named Mary—not even they were awake; at least, not right away!
But slowly, eventually they understood. Advent is a short season—only three more Sundays. And three weeks from today we will hear another story, in which Matthew tells us that when Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. To be Advent people is to…keep awake!
So, dear friends, welcome to Advent! May we also, like Joseph, wake from sleep, and do as the Lord commands us. Now is the time to ponder how God is calling us away from self-interest and distractions, to the presence and power of Christ to save us…and the world God loves!
AMEN
Leave a Reply