First Sunday of Advent

               December 2, 2007

     To marry or not to marry can be a deliberate choice in life, or it can be an unintended effect of a seemingly innocent misunderstanding.

     While attending a marriage preparation weekend, Walter and his fiancée,   Ann, listened intently as the leader said, “It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other.”  He then turned to the men and said, “For example, can you name your intended’s favorite flower?”

     Walter leaned over, touched Ann’s arm gently and whispered, “It’s Martha White All-Purpose, isn’t it?”  And thus began Walter’s life as an unintentional bachelor.  It might also help if Walter had seen the spelling of the word.

      It’s that time of year again.  We see the barefooted man in a long, tattered robe, carrying a sign that says, “The End is Near.”  We smile at the fanatic and go about our holiday preparations, doing our part to keep the economy from collapsing.  Sometimes we see a homemade sign along a country road or a bumper sticker warning us, “Prepare to Meet Thy God.”  Others say, “Jesus is Coming Soon.”  We conclude that the world does indeed have a few quacks in it.

     The Gospel for this First Sunday of Advent, in which we begin Year A of our Eucharistic calendar under the Revised Common Lectionary, is from St. Matthew’s telling of the Good News.  It is a teaching from Rabbi Jesus about the Second Coming.  We are given an opportunity to prepare to celebrate the birth of God Incarnate again by first taking a look at the fact that scriptures states most clearly that the Lord is coming again and that our last day is at hand.

     Although that is one of the central doctrines of the church, we have real difficulty with it, do we not?  We say the words, almost without thinking, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”  But for most of us time marches on just as it always has and our daily and weekly patterns just keep repeating themselves over and over again.  Life just keeps rolling along.

     It is into this worldly, mundane, and monotonous routine of life that the words of Jesus cut with razor-sharp precision.  Those words call us to a kind of watchfulness, a type of preparation, and a vigilant alertness that leads to an “other-worldliness” awareness that is of God.  Listen closely to what Jesus says.  “Then two (men) will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.  Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” 

     Apparently, the two men in the field were equals, earning the same amount from their labor.  At least, from outward appearances they were the same; yet one is taken and one is left.  The two women at the mill were doing the same work, just as others had done through the centuries.  The product that resulted from their labors was the same.  No outward differences can be detected; yet one is taken and one is left.  Our inquisitive nature would have us ask why this should be the case.

     Do we pay our allegiance to a capricious God who closes omnipotent eyes and points to one and not the other?  That’s the fundamentalist, predestinarian answer that some of our brothers and sisters might give.  I would want to say that something more profound is contained in this Gospel.  Jesus the Christ is talking about what is on the inside of us and not the outward appearance.  The watchfulness, the alertness, and the spiritual awareness are on the inside of those who are truly prepared.  Those who are alert to his coming again and look for it in faith will not be surprised.  Those who know in faith that this world is not their final destination can be in this world but not of this world.  This special ingredient on the inside does indeed affect our lives in a total, ultimate way.  Without that special ingredient this does become a “dog-eat-dog” world, where looking out for number one becomes the watchword.

     This First Sunday of Advent can be the time for us to become more aware of that special ingredient that makes life so rich, special, and full of meaning.  Advent is a time to become more aware that God is aiming all history at our redemption.  This is a time to become more aware that we are meant to be companions and colleagues of the living God.  We can only do that if we are alert, watchful, and aware.

     It has been suggested that the most dangerous “ism” we face is not the result of some political reality, but “somnambulism,” i.e. sleepwalking.  We live every day in the shadow of eternity and that is no reason for fearful or hysterical living.  The plain truth is that, by the grace of God, this is the only day we have.  We may not be physically present tomorrow.  Think for a moment.  How small of us, on our last day, to gossip and slander others.  How disgraceful, on our last day, to be sour and rude.  How dangerous, on our last day, to be judging and condemning others.  How unchristian, on our last day, to be filled with bitterness, resentment, and hate for someone who may have wronged us.

     Think for another moment.  What a privilege, on our last day, to be aware that we living in the presence of Almighty God.  What a refreshing change, on our last day, to be open and honest with our family, friends, and neighbors; forgiving and being forgiven, loving and being loved.  What a pleasure, on our last day, to respect the image of God in every person regardless of color, creed, social standing, gender, or race.  What a special moment, on our last day, to give thanks for the blood of Christ shed for every Jew and gentile, every male and female, for every person.

     This may be the only day we have.  We live this day in God’s presence because God has clothed us with the righteousness of the Son.  Perhaps that barefooted man in the long, tattered robe carrying the sign that says, “The End is Near” is no joke after all.  That special ingredient called faith does indeed do something for us in the present moments of life; affecting our view of ourselves and our attitude and behavior toward others.

     That special ingredient calls us to alert living, living on tiptoes, with our eyes, minds, and hearts focused on eternity.  We need to be reminded again and again that it is this special ingredient that allows a Moses to see a bush aflame with the presence of God while others stand around picking blackberries. 

     Amid all the hustle and bustle of this Advent season, and all the pressure to get through it quickly and with drained bank accounts, and amid all the anxiety and confusion of our time and our uneasiness over what may lie ahead, we need to take time to remember that the Lord Jesus will come again.  We know how to spell “flower” and “flour.”  We know the purpose of each.  The bulbs have been planted; the wheat has been sown.  God will give the growth.

     Jesus said, “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  Amen.

         ~The Rev. G. Thomas Mustard