Advent 1-A:                   Isaiah 2:1-5; Ps 122; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:36-44
Holy Trinity, Wyoming                               Fr. Joseph Neiman (12/2/07)

Collect:

Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant, Nicholas of Myra, a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea; grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt and grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Homily: “Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming”  (Mt 24:42)

My brothers and sisters in Christ, ministers also in Christ’s name.

Friday we awoke to hear of a plane crash in Turkey, more killings in Iraq, statistics about how many people (over 2 million) worldwide are infect with HIV/AIDS, and the continuing suffering of the people of Bangladesh as a result of that cyclone or what we would call a hurricane.

 

Disasters happen. In the Gospel of Matthew, to which we turn now on the First Sunday of Advent, Jesus speaks of a time of chaos and suffering and warns his disciples – and us: “Keep aware, therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming” (Mt. 24:42).

 

I will not take the time this morning to go into the background for such ominous sayings of Jesus. Let’s instead look to some of the implications of them.

 

When suffering and disasters strike and many around us are killed, we easily move to the question: why me? Why didn’t I die also. Or when we become ill or in trouble, we quickly ask: Why is this happening to me?

 

If you remember back to the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, shortly afterwards as the media was debriefing people, we heard statements that spoke to a renewed awareness of the preciousness of life. We heard people speak about how their lives would be changed for the future because of what they had experiences or seen. It is in this sense that I believe Jesus is telling us to keep awake. We need to be aware beneath the structure of our daily routines and relationships of their precious quality. Each day when we awake, it is good to thank God for another day, for those whom we love and those who love us, for indeed love is the vital energy which makes life precious.

 

Becoming aware means “waking from sleep” as Paul describes this to the Romans. He urges them and us to “lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Rm 13:12).

 

Each Sunday this Advent season we have wonderful visions of light from the ancient prophet, Isaiah. The prophet looks forward to the restoration of the earth and of human relations according to the design God had originally for both before human sin entered. We see an aspect of this same vision stated in the final book of the New Testament, the book of Revelation, which speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth” at the end of time (Rev. 21:1).

 

We’re well aware here at the beginning of the 21st century that we need and hope for a time when nations will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” and when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Is 2:4).

 

The Middle East conference, which President Bush convened this past week, speaks of such hope. Can the people involved come to an agreement over their conflicting visions about what to do about several important issues? Can the Iraqi government lead their people back to a time of justice and peace, of reconciliation and new energy for the future?

 

And what about us? Are we hopeful about our future and the future of the world?

 

Our homework for this weekend (I give homework and let the good Lord do the testing): take some quiet time, light a candle if that helps, put yourself in the presence of the good Lord, pray the Lord’s prayer thoughtfully, and consider what is your vision of your future?

 

A Methodist bishop once said in a sermon, we should live our lives not pushed by our problems but led by our visions. St. Nicholas caught the vision of Isaiah and of Jesus and lived accordingly, as will hear in a moment. We can also. Rekindle the light of Christ in your heart and let it shine in your lives this week.

 

“Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Mt 24:42).

God bless you and keep you this day and always, and remember that the good Lord does indeed love you more than you can ask for or even imagine. Do you believe it?