Sermon - November 28, 2010Year A - The Year of Matthew - Advent 1
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Apocalypse - The End of Time - Judgment Day - None of these sound like Christmas themes. This is because Advent is less about Christmas and more about the new creation that is coming with God's kingdom. It is a kingdom made certain by the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
When Christ ascended; he promised that he would return. Waiting for his return has been the primary task of the Christian Church for all these centuries.
Advent focuses on that idea of waiting. In the Bible, waiting is a consistent theme. Abraham and Sarah waited. Noah waited. The Israelites waited for freedom. The exiles in Babylon waited to be returned home. The Israelites waited for the Messiah. For whatever reason, God seems to want his people to wait. Perhaps because it is through waiting that character is revealed as much as it is built.
Christians wait for the end time, the Day of Judgment, and the resurrection. We wait for Christ to usher in his kingdom in fullness. However, too often we forget that we are waiting for the end of time or that we are to live expecting Judgment Day. That is one of the reasons Advent is here. Advent arrives to remind us that Judgment Day is coming and in it is the hope of the Christian faith, and we are called to live in a certain way as we expect that return. However, too often we live as if the end will never arrive. As Jesus says, "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."
Today's Gospel is part of the apocalypse from Matthew where Jesus addresses people’s concerns about the end of time. He does this, incidentally, from the Mount of Olives from which would begin his own arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus was certainly aware of what might happen to him as he spoke. We have a suggestion here of how universal that end will be—it will affect everyone, believer and non-believer alike. People engaged in work, and people partying are two extremes of those who will be caught up in the coming of the Son of Man.
People were just as curious then as now. They wanted to know when, who, and what. Jesus does not answer these questions directly. He does not want people to be afraid of living, but he wants people to live in a different way. It is by living in a way that is different from the world that we prepare for the coming of Judgment Day.
Today, we also read from the Epistle to the Romans. In it Paul, who also senses the immediacy of Jesus’ return, focuses not on when it will be or what it will be like, but how we should live as expectant people.
Paul tells us to be awake, lay aside works of darkness, put on the armor of light, and live honorably. He does not have any interest in doomsayers or seers predicting destruction. What Paul wants is for people to behave like disciples and followers of Jesus.
Paul's Letter to the Romans is the great work of the Apostle. It is the summary of his teaching and work for all the years he was a servant of Christ. It is a letter born from years of toil and suffering for the Gospel. Wisdom has grown out of Paul's experiences. He has wisdom about living, waiting, and expecting. Paul shared the early Christians’ expectation of Christ’s return. He was one of the first apostles to proclaim this apocalyptic gospel.
Paul placed his confidence on God and not on mankind. He could see that humans make a mess of this world. God was the only one in whom we can have full confidence. Paul urged the Christians in Rome to live as examples of Christ in this world not because he thought they could bring about some form of Utopia. He urged it because by example they could proclaim Christ crucified and his kingdom. Paul is telling the Romans that they should make no mistake, the end is coming, and it will come as a surprise.
One of the things that began to happen in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries is that people began to believe that mankind is by nature good. Deep down, people are by nature good; all one has to do is remove the restrictions that hold back this basic nature and we will have a perfect society. That is a nice sentiment; however, it is on contrast to Christianity. It is an idea that will lull us into sleep, whereas Jesus tells us to be awake.
This is what Christianity says, "Each human being is a gift. Each human being is valuable. Every single person needs to be given dignity and respect. God created each person. God also loves each one of us. Every person is sinful. This means that no matter what we do, how well we do it, or how good our intentions, everything will have flaws and a bad side as well. This means there is no person, family, community, state or nation that does not have a dark and negative side to it. However, because God created us and still loves us, he sent his Son to save us.
The only community or kingdom that will be perfect will be the Kingdom of God. This is the kingdom won for us, and it is for this kingdom we wait. Watch, wait, and be alert, the kingdom is coming. Until then live life in fullness and joy. Each of us is a gift to this earth. Each of us is a treasure given by God to a wounded world. We are called to live reflecting to others the dignity, love, and compassion shown to us by God. It is in living this way in joy and dignity that we prepare, watch and wait for the kingdom that is promised to come and gather us to the throne of Christ where we are joined with the saints who have gone before us. Until then live in peace, harmony, and joy. Amen.