God's Promise

by Susan Peyton

An audio version of this sermon is available here.

Good morning.  Or perhaps, Happy New Year?  It just doesn't sound right, does it.  Today is the First Sunday in Advent – the beginning of the church year.  I don’t think the media, or Hallmark has judged Advent particularly noteworthy.  Certainly you can buy a set of 3 purple and 1 pink candles for your Advent wreath.  And Advent calendars are out there, generally with chocolate behind every window.  The hymns for Advent are wonderful, but no one really recognizes them as Advent hymns.  I started thinking through what precedes January 1^st, the New Year most people recognize.  And since most New Year’s resolutions may involve eating healthier, shopping less and drinking less, there tends to be more eating, drinking and shopping before New Year’s, to kind of get it all in by January 1^st.  So for comparison, here’s a few things that happened during November.  (disclosure, please do not take any of this data as a political statement).  The beginning of November, 119 million people voted for the top two presidential candidates.  During black Friday weekend, over 247 million people went shopping, and they collectively spent over  $ 1 billion.  And over $ 6 billion was spent on the presidential race.  In both cases, that is a lot of money being spent.  And, a lot of people standing in lines to get some deals. 

But waiting is not something everyone does easily.  Advent, a time of preparation, of waiting, not for Black Friday super deals, but for the deal of our life and soul.  But, the readings this morning, they certainly confuse things.  (And when I asked Paul if I could preach here one more Sunday, why didn’t I read the lessons first?!)  Who doesn’t like waiting for a baby to be born?  Everyone is expectant, trusting everything will go just fine.

Instead, we hear Jeremiah.  Talking about the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel.  Not the birth of Christ, but rather, the second coming of Christ.  Rather confusing.  Okay, let’s try the psalm for today.  David seems to be hedging all bets with this one.  First, Oh God, I trust in you.  Um, but by the way, just don’t embarrass me, and especially not in front of my enemies.  Then back to the straight and narrow.  Lord, I wait for you all day long, and ask that you teach me and lead me the right way.  Um, just another little thing, could you possibly forget about the things I did when I was younger?  I really did some things I’m not proud of, so maybe you could simply love me so much, that you will be merciful.  And I know, that those who believe in the Lord will know His love, and his faithfulness to them.  This psalm, almost sounds like something any of us might think when we’re being honest with ourselves and God.  Some days we are strong in God’s love, and other days feeling a little foolish for some of the things we have done.  One historical note.  David starts this psalm by saying “To you, Oh Lord, I lift up my soul.”  During his time, that actually referred to lifting up your hands, showing that your hands are empty, no weapons, no gifts.  Symbolic of presenting yourself to God.  And in his psalm, he did bare his soul to God.  I’ve sinned, and I hope you love me and will show me your mercy. 

So on to Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.  The first letter Paul wrote.  This one really struck me as part of a letter I might receive.  Wouldn’t this be a letter to receive from your grandmother, or aunt?  Dear Susan, I give thanks to God daily for being blessed to have you in our family.  I can’t wait to see you again, and I feel strongly that together we can work out what may be troubling you.  And may God lead us on our journey to you.  And bless us and strengthen us.  A beautiful benediction in the middle of the reading, and another reference to “the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”  Again, not His birth.  Hmm. 

Okay, I’m holding out hope for Luke’s lesson. “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.”  For several years now there always seems to be a natural disaster somewhere around the globe. But that has been happening throughout the ages.  This latest was Sandy, but there was the one in Japan, and Katrina.  “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with …the worries of this life.”

So these short four weeks of Advent, will pass in the blink of an eye.  We really need to be waiting, not just to celebrate Christ’s birth, but watchful for his second coming.  And we need to slow down, and pray not to be dragged down by the commercialism of our world.  The season of Advent can’t become a shopping marathon.

I saw a video on youtube this week.  Any website that is bustedhalo.com sounds alright by me.  Advent in 2 minutes.  It has some pithy advice.  Don’t confuse Lent and Advent.  Lent is like spring cleaning, and advent is cozier, a time to welcome a special guest.  Remember to find joy in waiting.  And also, if you are sick of Christmas by December 25^th, you haven’t done Advent right.

So this journey we are on together.  Our first stop is one we can almost see.  Gathering in 4 weeks to celebrate Christ’s birth.  But each week, to light a candle, to remember who and why we are waiting.  To slow down, to prepare during Advent, to balance the temptations of this world.  To realize our days are shorter, and we are in darkness more each day.  And perhaps identify if the darkness is just outside, or is it within us.  To use our ordinary time, driving, or walking, or waiting on hold, to slow down, to pray, to reflect.  And maybe, to use the circumstances of Christ’s birth as a pattern of giving for Advent.  For Mary and Joseph, who had no shelter without the stable, think of the homeless.  For the animals in the stable, who provided warmth and company during his birth, remember our pets, and those animals who have been abandoned.  And for Christ, who came into this world a baby, remember the children without parents, food, homes or medical care.  Perhaps, our Advent traditions should be more about others, and less about ourselves.  No matter what is happening around us, we have God’s promise.  A promise beyond Christ’s birth, the promise of God’s kingdom.  Amen.