Sermon First Sunday in Advent: 2010

Matthew 24:36-44

In the secular world, the holiday season has begun in earnest.  Shopping frenzy, Christmas Adds, seasonal music pumped through store speakers, and the round of Holiday parties will soon be in full swing. It won’t be long before  many partake in an annual office, or work, Christmas party. Many people really love work Christmas parties, and for good reason. It’s an opportunity to decompress, let your hair-down and engage in some good-old fashioned merriment amidst the green, red, and white decorations which have transformed the hum-drum of everyday work-space into  a little slice of winter wonderland.

            But in the last few years, it has come to the attention of many that while office parties can be a time for celebration, they can also be a time for trouble. Employers have traditionally sponsored office parties to give employees an opportunity to celebrate, to relax, to enjoy food and drink. But some have taken the office party as an opportunity to take things too far.  Instead of having a jolly drink or two, they get inebriated. Instead of engaging in friendly banter, they get obnoxious and insulting, and even aggressive. Instead of having a polite dance, they make inappropriate and unwanted advances to colleagues. They have taken things too far because they operate under a false impression. The false impression is that because the employer has sponsored the party, anything goes. That because the company has given its employees a few hours to make merry, it is time to take advantage of that time for selfish purposes. The false impression can lead to costly consequences—it can lead to serious embarrassment, discipline, and has even led to termination.  In recent years some employers have issued warnings in advance of the party, just to let people know that they are still at work, that the boss is still watching, that company standards still apply, that people are still accountable for their actions. And it is important that employees anticipate potential consequences.

            Now, while the secular world is beginning to enjoy the secular celebrations of Christmas with activities like office parties, the church places special emphasis on Advent as the season of anticipation. Advent celebrates two kinds of anticipation. The first is that it  remembers and celebrates Israel’s historical anticipation of the Messiah come into the world. Through our hymns and liturgy, including the lighting of the Advent wreath, we move through the space of that anticipation, leading to the Messiah’s arrival on Christmas in the form of the baby Jesus. From the perspective of that understanding, we anticipate what has already happened. But the second kind of anticipation speaks to what is going to happen, what has not yet occurred—this is the second arrival of Christ into the World. This is the anticipated event about which today’s lessons speak. These lessons contain both a marvelous vision, and an ominous warning. The marvelous vision is of reality created anew, an age of unending and everlasting peace. “They shall,” writes the prophet Isaiah, “beat their swords into plowshires, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”  The house of the Lord will be established and will be clearly visible. There will be no more death, or dying, or suffering. Christ shall reign for eternity. Jesus will preside at an unending feast when all will  be fed with God’s unending love.

            But the pathway to that new reality will not be an easy one. Scripture tells us that there will be much tribulation, and the people of God will be put through many trials. And in the midst of those trials, the people will be called on to trust in God’s promise that the new day, beyond the pain  will arrive. And God will continue to feed His people with the Word of promise. God will be faithful and steadfast. In that great and long in between-time, between the passing of the Old Age, characterized by sin and death, and suffering, and the emergence of the New Age ruled over by Christ, God will feed his people, will feed his people with food from the great eternal feast of love. During that great and long in between time, those who trust in Christ will live in the light of his promised return.

            We live in that time, brothers and sisters—the time between Christ’s great victory over Sin and Death, and his coming arrival.  Through God’s Word proclaimed, we have been fed with this promise. We have been given the gift of eternal life, and the promise of victory, even when it seems that death is triumphant. This is the greatest cause of celebration ever. This is the source of Christian freedom and confidence and joy. By forgiving our sins, God has made us part of this kingdom which will last for eternity.  This is the marvelous vision all Christians are called to proclaim.

            But what about the ominous warning? What is that all about?  In today’s Gospel Reading Jesus describes what will be a great age of complacency, and self-satisfaction, days much like those before the great flood which swept away all but Noah and his family. The complacency of the present will also be swept away. Jesus is coming to establish his rule, and this will catch many people unexpected. Just like the folks who don’t expect the boss to step in and exercise discipline at the out-of-control office party, most will be caught by surprise.  Jesus warns his followers not to be caught by surprise—not to live as if the world as it now exists will always be this way. When Christ arrives to establish his kingdom in fullness, things will not be the same. When Christ arrives the second time, he is not arriving to go to the cross. He is coming to run things according to God’s total and complete will—and there will be no room for anything which opposes God’s will. There will be no more room for the old ways of being. In today’s epistle reading Paul issues a stern “wake-up call” to the Christian community in Rome. As we read this, we have to realize that Paul does not know exact dates or times. As our Lord tells us—this knowledge is held by the Father only. But Paul knows that it is going to happen. He also knows that while each and every Christian has been internally renewed by faith, sin still has power in their lives. Sin, though ultimately defeated on the cross, still has the power to draw believers into trouble, draw believers into the worship of self, where self-satisfaction is the highest good, and where the grace of god becomes perversely characterized as a licence to sin, where God’s deep love and concern for the poor and outcast is ignored. Some of the Roman Christians were evidently having trouble understanding this, and needed a wake up call. We read what Paul said to them and we read what Paul says to us.

            We are to be ready. For Christ’s return could be at any time.  The text tells us it will be a sudden, almost intrusive entry into our reality.  And the world will be changed forever. It is quite easy to believe the idea that things will always be as they are—that the badness, the pain, the difficulty, will always be around. It is easy to get used to that idea and to live as if  the power of sin and death are ultimate—“eat drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” But this is not true. We have been shown the truth. The light of God’s victory has been shone on us, and we are called to live in that light, and to reflect that light, radiate, that light to others. We do that by putting on Christ. How do we do that? We do that by living out our baptisms. Yes, we are baptized once, but the baptismal process is a matter of a lifetime. Daily, we are called to die to ourselves, and live for Christ. Daily, we are called to put to death our selfish parts, and live anew. Daily, we are called to repent, and move away, from those ways that pull us in the direction of selfishness, and instead live according to our calling as saints. A New Age is coming, and it will arrive. But we are not disconnected from it. God is here sustaining us until that New Age arrives in its fullness. God has not left us alone. No matter how dark, how painful, how lonely: God has not left you alone. God feeds us with His Word and his spiritual food. In a moment this family of faith will participate in Holy Communion, which is the great foretaste of the Feast to come.   This meal transcends time, cuts across space. It celebrates what God has done, what God is doing, and what God is going to do. When we feast at this meal of forgiveness we are feasting in the New Age even while the Old age remains. A New day is coming, all things have been made new, Jesus will arrive. Until that day arrives, remain steadfast in faith, put on Christ, and always remember that He is with you always. Now, may the peace, which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Sermon: 25th Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 21:5-19

In the ancient world, a world marked by architectural wonders none could rival the majesty of the temple built in Jerusalem. The temple built by Herod was awe inspiring. It was cultural and religious centerpiece of Jerusalem. But more than that; it was a Holy Place. It was a Holy place because God dwelt there. God dwelt in the inner sanctum, into which a priest could enter only once a year, on Yom Kappur, to offer a special sacrifice for the collective sins of the community. Yes, the temple was a Holy place, and that temple was held in very high esteem by the Jewish community. But as important as that temple was; the temple was not God, and the temple did not contain God, like some kind of a box.

St Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, stated this boldly, when he witnessed before the Sanhedrin, who would pronounce a death sentence upon him. He said: “The most high does not dwell in houses made with human hands.”  This statement drew anger and outrage from men who had developed an idolatrous attachment to the temple, and this statement helped bring a death sentence down upon Stephen. The temple was a human construct in which God had chosen to dwell. And as a human construct it was not immune from destruction. In today’s Gospel reading Jesus prophesizes the destruction of the temple, and this is precisely what happened. In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the temple, raised it to the ground. What remains of it, is what is now referred to as the West Wall, or wailing wall. The remnant stands, and is important to the Jewish community. But it is not what it was, and does not hold the place of importance to the life of the community that the fully functioning temple did two thousand years ago.

            Who would have thought, two thousand years ago, that this architectural masterpiece could ever be destroyed? How many listening to Jesus took his prediction seriously?

            But Jesus said what he meant and he meant what he said. This was going to happen. And just as he predicted the destruction of the temple, he predicted catastrophies and disasters the likes of which the world has never seen.  All of this is to take place before Jesus Christ returns to earth to establish his kingdom for all eternity.

            The followers of Jesus naturally wanted to know when this will all take place, when the end will arrive. He did not give them a date, but instead described the  sequence of events that will follow. There will be false teachers, whose aim it is to lead the flock astray. There will be wars, rumours of wars, nation will rise against nation. There will be earthquakes and famines and plagues. Jesus made it clear that the end will not follow immediately, but history must unfold in its cataclysmic sequence.

            As we read this text the natural question which comes to mind is: When is this going to occur? When is this prophecy going to unfold?

            Texts like this are certainly open to a number of interpretations. But it is very very very, difficult to argue that this text does not encompass events which have and are currently unfolding. “Nation will rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom”. We hardly even need to point out the historical validity of this prophecy. From the time Jesus first spoke these words until now, millions and millions, and millions of human beings have died in war. Most of the death toll is a consequence of twentieth century warfare, in the two most destructive conflicts in human history. Plagues and famine continue to be realities. Secular interpreters will  see all of that as essentially random, but biblical prophecy speaks of the major events in history as moving toward something,--and that something is called the end time, or to use theological language, the eschaton. You may have also  heard the eschaton described as the day of judgment, when the  nations will stand before the righteous judgment seat of God. The Old Testament prophet, Malachi , speaks of this day in today’s first scripture reading. On that day the evil doers and the arrogant will not stand, but will stumble, and God will recreate reality anew. There will be no more doubt, no more uncertainty, no more evil, no more sin to separate humanity from God.

            God has given us a glorious vision of this future in the book of Revelation, which speaks of a New Heaven and New Earth, and a New Jerusalem—A New Jerusalem which will be different from the old one. The New One will have no temple. For there will be no need of one. God will be the temple. God will dwell amongst the people. And the people will not be subjected to pain, to death, to suffering. Every tear will be wiped from every eye.

            But before that, there will be much turmoil, and Christians will be called to witness to the truth through very difficult, painful, times. Through the difficult trials Christians will be called to stand fast to the truth which has been revealed to them. But through these difficult times Jesus has promised that his followers will not be left alone. He himself will provide the words and the wisdom. He will be the Word, which is the word of truth and of life.

            But the word of truth and life will be mocked and scorned. Those who follow Jesus will be ridiculed. The Word will not be popular, and the Christian will face tremendous pressure to renounce this Word. But against this  ultimate pressure, Christians will be called on to testify to the ultimate truth. When Christians testify, truly testify, they find out the cost of discipleship. Yes, some Christians will have to face persecution, and give an answer before formal authority. But for most of us in the west, our testimony happens in a different kind of court ; for the court in which the testimony takes place is not necessarily a formal court of law, but the court of everyday life. Our testimony as Christians  is made through what we say, but also, and mainly, through what we do, how we live our lives. And what Christians do, if they are truly following Jesus, will be hated. It will be hated because what they do cuts against the grain—cuts against the grain of a social Darwinist economic ethic of survival of the fittest, cuts against the grain of greed and exploitation and idolatry and brutality, cuts against the grain of greed and selfishness, and a “me first” way of doing things.

            As time progresses, Christians will appear more and more as the odd balls, and will attract more and more negative attention.

But do not lose hope.  The important point Jesus emphasizes is that Christians will face persecution and rejection—rejection even in their own households. The followers of Jesus will be betrayed and they will be hated. They will be hated, but they will not be left alone. Jesus will be there with them, Jesus will give them the words with which none of their opponents will be able to contradict or withstand.

Like the disciples of Jesus two thousand years ago, we would naturally want to know exact dates, exact times. But Jesus does not give that, and we are not to know that. Despite the rigorous attempts by some interpreters to figure out the exact date of the end times, this knowledge has been withheld from us—and for good reason. Clock-watching and working don’t go well together. The people Paul refers to today, the idle busibodies, had stopped working because they believed Christ’s second coming was imminent.  But God had not told them to put down their shovels because he was on his way. So let us not get focused on the question of when. But rather on the questions of where, who, and how. Where am I to do God’s work in the world? To whom I am going to proclaim the good news in word and action? And how am I going to proclaim the good news.  Clearly,  the work God has given us is the spreading of the gospel in word and action. And we must do so with God’s ultimate vision in mind. As St Paul tells us in today’s epistle reading, we must never grow weary of doing what is right—as a community and as individuals. There is no room for idleness. We must never lose sight of our true mission to the world. We must never conform ourselves to the world, at the expense of the Truth which has been given to us.  We must never allow ourselves to be led astray by false teachers who tickle our ears with the words we want to hear, but are words which contradict the Word of God, and lead us down a path of disobedience. We must never become so attached to our temples that they become God for us. Yes, this is a beautiful building, and its stained glass windows are a beautiful new addition. And many people have a fond attachment to this special place. But this building can never be an end in itself. It is a tool, a means to an end, and that end is the spreading of the Gospel and the love of neighbour. If it is not an effective tool toward that end, then, it is an idol. Know the truth, and the truth is this: No building constructed by human hands will ultimately stand—not even the greatest, grandest temple. But what will stand is the Word of God.

And that very Word is being proclaimed to us here today—in this gathered community. It is a Word of judgment, which pronounces the death of sin. It is a Word of justice which pronounces destruction on all   which opposes life and love. It is a Word of liberation, to all those oppressed by systems and tyrannys of this World. It is a Word of freedom to those held in bondage to sin. It is a Word of healing to those who are ill in mind, body, or spirit. It is the Word of life to those weighed down by the power of death.  It is the Word of empowerment, which moves the community of saints forward until that great day when God, who has done such marvelous things, will do the ultimate thing. Cling to this precious gift, and do not lose heart—for Jesus Christ is with us, Jesus Christ will feed us with his Word, Jesus will feed us with His wisdom. And his wisdom tells us that nothing or anything can separate us from the love He gives us—the love He feeds us with. God has indeed done--and is going to do--marvelous things, beyond all human imagining. So let us always and everywhere give God praise, trusting God’s Promise, and living out God’s mission to the world. Now, may the peace which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.