Claimed, gathered and sent

This is the sermon I preached for the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 1, 2019, at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was Matthew 24:36-44. When on a road trip, do you find yourself being just a little antsy—wondering how much longer it will take to get to your destination—checking your watch? It’s hard to wait. I don’t like to wait either. When I’m on a road trip, I frequently check on my phone just how much longer it will be until I arrive at my destination. I enjoy watching the minutes and hours decreasing. And I do take a certain perverse pleasure when traffic is flowing along well and I make good time. After all, I do have a lead foot. Just ask Ray. This is one type of waiting, but there are other, less pleasant types of waiting. It’s not easy to wait for medical test results, especially if something is wrong. My daughter, Sarah, has spent the last two years having every kind of test imaginable to find out why she is tired all the time. Finally…there’s a diag...

It's hard to wait. Let's talk about this coming Sunday's gospel lesson. What are your thoughts and insights? This was sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.   Gospel: Matthew 24:36-44   [Jesus said to the disciples,] 36 “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had k...