Sermon, Advent 1 (Year C)

 So – here we are! December.

The first OF December.
The first Sunday in December.
The first Sunday of Advent:
It begins!

We are now in that gorgeous season of Both / And…
we’re in Advent: that liturgical season that invites us to slow down, be reflective, set our hearts to the gift of preparation…
both for the celebration of the coming of Jesus as a baby so many centuries ago – and also preparing for the second coming of the Christ – and all that entails!

AND… we’re in that secular season of pre-Christmas.
The lists, the tasks, the buying, the wrapping, the card-writing, the baking, the cleaning, the parties, the pictures, the hope that mail will start again…
It’s exhausting just thinking about it.

Here we are!
December. Advent.
Waiting.
As patiently as we can – trying to balance our desire to do-it-all
with our desire to be fully present and conserve the energy that we have.
The season of love: and the season of stress.

So – naturally we come to church, hoping to pause the noise of the world, and receive the comforting words that will help get us in the spirit of the season….
And…. We get the Gospel today.
Which can feel the OPPOSITE of what we’re hoping for.

Because it speaks of this apocalyptic time,
with warnings of calamities about to happen,
of feelings of terror and helplessness.
This, when taken out of context and in small snippets, can feel overwhelmingly UNhelpful. Dangerous, even. Depleting.

And golly, we get enough of that feeling from the news:
where we learn of climate disaster… political upheaval… financial concerns… of people and societies not knowing which way to turn…
We get enough of that harshness from the societal notion that we have to be perfect, that we’re under constant criticism and judgement – even from ourselves…

It’s no wonder that at times like these – like at so many times before –
we hear some folks saying the end times are here…

And: this is where I remind us of the emphasis of looking at the bigger picture: of not becoming stuck in one small section of scripture that can paralyze us with fear.

Because I don’t believe that is where God wants us to be:
Instead, I hear in these scriptures the eternal promises of God.
Reminding us to keep alert: to the truth. To keep awake: to God’s grace. To keep open: to the comfort of the Spirit.

The scriptures grant us assurance that we can be moved out of the chaos of the world; the disorder, the confusion, the disjointedness of it all.
Of course our world feels out of order; when we as humans have not kept God at the center of our lives.
For some, God is barely a footnote in their story.
And so: the creation reacts – and we all struggle – some more than others.

But imagine what could happen – what will happen – when we bring God back in to our story.
When we put Jesus as our friend, our teacher, our model of calmness and community.
When the morals that our souls desire become the cornerstones of our actions and words.

This week at clericus, the lovely Ann Salmon reminded us of the power of shifting the dynamic back to God:
Not asking God to stir up OUR powers, in our feeble and flawed efforts to dominate the world.
But instead to re-orient our prayers, that we may know the strengthening of GOD’s powers here on earth:
the powers of peace and justice, that overpower the principalities and greed and egos of this world.

Imagine.

Well, we don’t have to try too hard to imagine what is possible when the world keeps God at its centre.
The scriptures declare to us what is possible; and what is promised.

Jeremiah speaks of the coming of the Christ – and the reality of the promises that have been held for generations: promises of blessings and righteousness.
These are timeless promises - that have been fulfilled, that are being fulfilled, and are yet to be fulfilled.

The Thessalonians are reminded of the power of faith, and the strength of God, in their relationships with one another;
that the love they have received and are called to always share may give them the firm hearts to stand with confidence before God.

Jesus speaks plainly that when the Son of Man comes – when the second coming of Christ is upon us – that we might see, and recognise, and be standing upright – because we prepared while we were waiting.

While we wait for the Lord:
we wait for this month, as we journey towards the anniversary celebration of the birth of the Christ-child.
And we wait for the second coming of the Christ; journeying to the unknown time when we will see – and celebrate – his “coming in a cloud with power and great glory”,

While we wait: we prepare.
We prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord;
by acting as though our honoured guest will be along any second.
We pray with open hearts, open minds, a willingness to change and be changed by the presence of God.
We act for the community with the compassion of Christ, upholding the dignity of all.
We live with peace: peace in our homes, in our communities, and around the world.

We live in the time that is Advent – waiting – and Pre-Christmas – rushing.
And I suggest that this is okay: because this gives us the opportunity to carry Advent with us into the Pre-Christmas world.
The love, the blessing, the promise, the grace: all that is Advent

And in doing so, we might make the world a little bit of a better place:
Maybe the person behind us in line at the grocery store really needs to be smiled at – and reminded that there is goodness in the world – even if the recipes fail.
Maybe the parent of the screaming child at the mall needs a moment of peace as we distract the child and pick up the fallen mittens – assuring them of caring and concerned community, not of judgement.
Maybe the customer service folks need to hear “thank you” as they do their very best with situations that are beyond their control – for they too have their to-do lists to tackle..
Maybe we all need to hear words that we are okay;
maybe we all need to see indications that we are valued within society;
maybe we all need to feel that we are loved

For at times, we have all needed to know that Advent peace flowing on us, in our pre-Christmas rush.
And we have been the ones who have received love even when we struggled to understand our place.
And we have been the ones feeling disjointed, and disoriented, and shaken entirely out of place, and without our center to ground us.

So this Advent, I hope you are able to prepare:
Prepare the Christmas lists, for sure:
And prepare yourself for the Advent of our God: prepare to receive the love that flows.

For you ARE loved. The real presence of God, manifest in Christ, the source of perfect love – loves you. With a love that has already been given – and that never stops.

And, I really hope that you can receive this love,
and find little ways to share it with the world..
And make the world a better place:

A place with less chaos and confusion,
with more companionship and community.
A place where Christ’s return will be a time of celebration, completion, and comfort.
A place of Advent – in a Pre-Christmas world.

May God bless us all as we enter this season.