BE ALERT!

(A sermon preached December 3, 2006 at University United Methodist Church, East Lansing, by John Ross Thompson)

Scripture texts - Luke 21:25-36, Jeremiah 33:14-16

Do you ever get annoyed with scripture?
Why do we have such depressing scriptures at the beginning of a festive season?
And why in a busy season, do we need to be told again, “Be Alert!”
Isn’t there enough anxiety already in a hectic time of the year?

We are not just awaiting a child in a manger.
We are awaiting the one who rules all creation and is in us.

Some believe that God has acted. We believe that God continues to act.

“Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again” is one of the most ancient Christian liturgies. We use it regularly in our communion ritual.

For this Advent season, let’s say it this way – “Christ has come. Christ is coming. Christ will come again.” The powerful part of this message is that God is not finished yet. We celebrate the mystery of what God will do in our lives.

Later, we will focus more on the child in the manger.
But, first, we must deal with the darkness of the world and do something about it.
Today, we focus on all that God does again and again as God comes to us.

The world is a mess.
War – disease – hatred – judgment of others – all of these are prevalent.
It often seems like there are more questions than answers.
Jeremiah knew that – their nation was about to be overrun with invaders.
But he bought land from his uncle as a sign of his faith in the future. It was a crazy thing to do, or a move of great faith in the future.

At our Advent Bible study this week, we focused on the word “longings” for this season. We realized that God gives us longings for the truth that is coming at Christmas, and therefore these longings are holy.

As we move through Advent, we move from the reality of a broken world to a time of hope. We know that right will prevail.

Martin Luther King said, “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.”

How does God come?
--in the leaves on our fig trees (see the Luke text)
--in scripture
--in music
--in prayer
--in baptism (like today)
--in Holy Communion (also today)
--in the voices of others

During the colonial period in American history, an eclipse of the sun caught the members of a New England state legislature off guard. In the midst of general panic, a motion was made to adjourn, but one of the legislators stood up and said, “Mr. Speaker, if it is not the end of the world, we shall appear to be fools. If it is the end of the world, I choose to be found doing my duty. I move you, sir, let candles be bought.”

Bring on the Advent candles!

Christ has come. Christ is coming. Christ will come again.