Take Time, Make Space

 This is the sermon I wrote and Kristie Bloomquist preached for me at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, while I was home with COVID. Thank you Kristie! Good job! The text is Mark 13:24-37. 

Today is the first Sunday of Advent! We lit the first Advent candle, the one of hope. And what is the gospel about? It’s not about a cute little baby or a manger. It seems to be all about disasters and death. Likewise, it doesn’t seem to go together, does it?

The thrust of this gospel reading is not a dystopian future as is portrayed in movies and elsewhere. Jesus is teaching his disciples, disciples throughout the ages, how to live and believe in the midst of tragedy—how to be alert for his coming.

Jesus comes to us in many ways. That can be seen with the eyes of faith. In Advent, we look for the coming of Christ as the One who will return in majesty and power at the end of the ages. We also look for the incarnation of the Savior of the world. In the midst of all of that, there looms the cross because that sweet baby will become the adult, the Son of God who is crucified. 

Jesus teaches in a very hands-on way. He tells them what they will see…you’ll see this and this, then THAT will happen—his return. We just don’t know the when. Even Jesus didn’t. 

Jesus is so concerned about his followers understanding what is going on that he gives them two understandable illustrations. The first concerns the fig tree. What point is Jesus trying to get across with the illustration of the fig tree? In scripture, “…the fig tree provided both food and shade for Israelites, and even clothing in the story of the fall.” Here in “Mark 13 the fig tree is a positive image for the arrival of God. What is now in bud will see its fruition” (Sundaysandseasons.com). Jesus is coming again!

The illustration of the man taking a trip is like a mini-parable; the point of which is no one knows the time when the Lord will return, so we have to be ready. As Jesus said, “Stay at your post. Keep watch” (v. 37)—the final words of this gospel text. 

In the midst of all the hard things in life, first, we’re to take courage because Christ is with us. God arrives not only in the future of our lives, but in the here and now—in the laughing and crying and pain and pleasure. 

How do we get through the hard times? Remember what God has done in the past. Just as Advent is about more than one coming of Christ, so it is in our daily living. Has God ever let you down? God is with us even in the worst of times. 

We can’t help but think of those suffering in Ukraine and the Holy Land. Their cry goes up, “How long?” Some have the strength through their faith, but what of the others? Their needs are so great. We need to help them by prayer for them, of course, but also by giving to help ease their pain. How frustrating it must be for them and for all in the midst of suffering to have no idea when relief will come. 

The movie, “Jesus Revolution” is about the Jesus people movement of the sixties and seventies that began in California. Some might call it a revival. In those days, there was great emphasis on Christ’s second coming. Early contemporary Christian music strongly accented Jesus’ future return, reigning in glory. One such song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” by Larry Norman, says:

Life was filled with guns and war

And everyone got trampled on the floor

I wish we'd all been ready

Children died, the days grew cold

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold

I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind

The Son has come and you've been left behind

That’s a pretty scary ending. As Lutherans, our emphasis isn’t so much on the immediacy of Jesus’ return, as it is for some churches. The big picture for us that Jesus is presenting is he’s coming, there are signs, stay alert. We don’t have to be concerned about when if our eyes are on Jesus. If we can see him with us, the when doesn’t matter. 

But how do we do that? Especially, this time of year, advertisers demand our attention to what we must buy for Christmas, how it’s just around the corner. There’s not much time left. Lean into Advent and its message for us. 

The author, Linda Grenz, counsels us:

Advent calls us to hope for the coming of Christ. This positive hope comes from knowing that we already belong to Christ and already live in communion with him and each other. Through grace we are made ready [to] meet Christ, both in our daily lives and at the Day of Judgment. Advent reminds us to take time to watch, to make space for that waiting which is so important to our spiritual journey, and to look to tomorrow in positive hope, living expectantly for the coming of Christ.  

Amen!

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