Sermon for November 27
Advent 1-A
11/27/22 St. John’s
The season of Advent is a glorious time in the church, the beginning of a new year and a time full of anticipation, excitement, promise and even anxiety. Even before Advent beings, at the end the old year, we begin to be reminded of some of the trials that face those who are looking for the coming of Christ; even warnings about days of judgment, as the end times approach, and the need for courage and diligence as that day approaches. These experiences are real for us in our lives of faith and to embrace them is what Advent is for. All this we do in the context of waiting for the coming of the promised one: first as a baby in a manger at the Nativity, something that the child in each of us can certainly relate to; and also a waiting for the risen Christ who comes into our lives unexpectedly on a regular basis, and for whom we need to keep watch constantly. And finally, a waiting the coming the reign of Christ in this world and in our lives in its completeness, a dominion of peace and love over which Christ Jesus will reign for all eternity.
And so, all these elements are kept in balance in Sunday worship in our readings, liturgy and song . On the first Sunday of Advent our theme is the trials that we all go through on our journey of faith; on the Second and Thirds Sundays of Advent when John the Baptist plays a leading role in announcing the coming of the Lord and helps us to prepare the way in our hearts and in our lives; and finally on the Fourth Sunday, when we meet Joseph and Mary again for the first time, the angels, and this year in Matthew’s gospel even get the tiniest glimpse of the Christ child himself if we watch and listen closely enough.
Today’s service of Advent Lessons and Carols reaches back to the Hebrew scriptures and the ancient prophecies of the coming of this child, the savior. Our sung responses, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, are all Advent Carols, no Christmas music to be found here. Thank you for hanging in for that, and that brings me to my last comment about Advent.
The elephant in the room: that outside these walls and outside our homes there is a whole other thing going on out there in the world during these four weeks before up to Dec. 25th. And it’s called “The Holiday Season” and is has mostly to do with the stimulation of the economy much more than it has to do with the coming of the Christ. And it has to do with Santa Clause.
So, it used to be that after Thanksgiving, on that weird thing we call Black Friday, the Christmas decorations and the Holiday Music and the Christmas Carols would break out. These days it even begins earlier, like after Halloween. And can be a lot of fun. A time of joy for children certainly, we hope. A family time. It can also be a very sad time for some people, especially those who have lost loved ones over recently because for the very same reasons. The loss is that much more deeply felt. And that’s where we, as disciples of this Christ, can play a part, in sharing the consolation we get from knowing Christ in our times of sorrow and grief and loneliness.
And for better or worse, we participate in the Holiday Season, some of us more or less than others of us, and it is great for the economy and it can be a whole lot of fun, even while we observe the solemnity of Advent.
And, so all the more reason for us to keep the traditions of Advent alive. With the deeper, so much deeper resonances it has in us of the big picture of what God is doing for us and for all creation.
So, let’s get back to it. As we watch, and wait, and pray for the coming of the promised one, who brings salvation to us and all the world.