Peppered With Hope
Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel reading for the first Sunday of Advent. It was sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Gospel: Luke 21:25-36
[Jesus said:] 25“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
29Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
REFLECTION
The first Sunday of Advent always focuses on the future coming of Christ. It all sounds so overwhelming and yet, this text is peppered with hope. In the first few verses, we have the warning signs in the sun, moon, stars and on earth. Then there’s the good news about our redemption drawing near.
In the story of the fig tree, when we see “these things taking place,” we know the kingdom is near. These are hard things. Here the good news is that Jesus’ words will not pass away.
Every generation thinks that they must be the final one before the return of our Lord. Things are so bad. How could they get any worse? Luther wrote:
It seems to me that within the space of ten or twelve years, there have been such storms and tempests and waters roaring as have never before been seen or heard. We are to consider, therefore, that although in former times these signs came singly and at less frequent intervals, now they appear many and frequent. In our time both sun and moon are darkened, stars fall, distress of nations is present, winds and waves are roaring, and many other signs are being fulfilled. They are all coming in a heap. (from a Sermon by Martin Luther, 1521)
So, in the midst of out of control forest fires, mounds of snow, floods and war, how are we to cope? We are to raise up our heads because our redemption is near. We are to trust in the never-failing Word of God, living a life of faith in Christ.
Pastor Ivy Gauvin
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