1AdventC, Sullivan Park Care
Center, November 29, 2015 by Annette Fricke
During
the aftermath of the now named “Windstorm of 2015”, I resolved to clean up more
than just the mess that resulted from needing to clear out the freezer
compartment of my refrigerator and the overflow of water from my kitchen sink. It was time once again for a new
beginning. I thought it best, despite
losses to plunge into the effort of getting my living space back into a more
respectable “normal” clean and organized apartment. I washed the rugs, dusted, mopped the floor,
and washed the essential laundry. My plants have been relocated to a proper
place in the waning sun where they can drink in what rays might be available as
the days grow shorter. I promised myself that despite the mailing today
announcing the increase of rent once more, I would trudge on; doing my best to
tighten my belt even further and hoping my raise at work would fill in the gap
where expenses would threaten to usurp my paychecks. I am thankful for family who put up with me
and my habits for several days, knowing full well that many did not have
someone else willing to share heat, light, food, and a place to shower and do
the laundry. Beyond that, my niece’s
family even offered to share Thanksgiving dinner with them. They even giggled
when I told them that I reasoned I didn’t have to brush my teeth before I came
because I still had a toothbrush there. This will not be a storm that will fade
quickly from my memory. There is no usefulness in becoming angry or depressed
at something beyond my control. It’s
done; it’s over. It’s time to move on.
This
type of gospel text comes to us not only at the end of the church’s liturgical
year, but at the beginning as well.
Today is the first Sunday of the church year of a season that only has
four Sundays preceding Christmas. We are
now in the season of Advent. The word
advent is from the Latin meaning coming. During this time period, we will see
readings that emphasize both the need for repentance as well as hope. Thus the liturgical colors for the season can
be either purple, as in Lent or blue.
Blue has become a preferred color in many churches denoting hope. When we repent, we prepare ourselves for the
coming of Christ, both the birth of Christ and the second coming of
Christ. We look forward to celebrating
Christmas and also the second coming of Jesus in power and glory. These elements are descriptive and inclusive
of what we call apocalyptic literature.
This
Lukan text proclaims loud and clear for all to read and hear that the Messiah
is coming. The message is the same for 70 CE when it was written for a very
different culture and happenings as it is for today in 2015. While many people have predicted the end,
they were all wrong and the end is yet to come.
There is almost an implicit message if we read between the lines that
predicting is of no value. If that was
the case, why should we be on guard or alert?
That would in no way be logical.
Is
it not true that our lives are marked by beginnings and endings all the time
and that we are frequently in a state of confusion because of that very
phenomenon? For example, is a graduation
an ending or a beginning? Isn’t it the case that we also call this same event a
commencement? A birthday or anniversary
is a commemoration of the past and also a look into the future. Our whole lives are a state of being
somewhere in the middle all the time: that is where I was, this is where I am
and the future is yet to come. Some days
are lived in reminiscing, some lived in the moment, and still others dreaming
of the future. And God’s story is the
same with a beginning at creation which is the past, the continual giving of
the Son and the Holy Spirit which is the present, and the consummation of God’s
saving grace at Jesus’ second coming.
Our lives parallel God’s. God has
the upper hand in all things, can and will make it happen. This is still the beginning of the end of all
things. Despite how many storms or
earthquakes we experience or live through or upheavals in our personal lives,
God remains the eternal provider for all that is necessary for life for all of
creation. God still has in mind the
restoration of God’s kingdom and will bring it to completion. Caring that much about each and every one of
us and all of the created order is God’s purpose. God will not abandon us or leave
the work of redemption unfinished. Jesus
promises that God’s word will not pass away.
That
is why we can sing with confidence, “My hope is built on nothing less than
Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” It is
Jesus who is the foundation of our hope.
It is Jesus who is the solid rock of our lives if we will but cling to
him. “In every high and stormy gale my
anchor holds within the veil.” But most
of all, our hope is in that fourth verse which goes like this, “When he shall
come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found, clothed in his
righteousness alone, redeemed to stand before the throne!”[1] We have a sure hope in Jesus. In the words of the fourth verse of another
hymn, “My soul is waiting for the Lord as one who longs for morning; no watcher
waits with greater hope than I for his returning. I hope as Israel in the Lord; he sends
redemption through his Word. We praise
him for his mercy.”[2]
Do
not be like those who have no hope, who with every twist or turn of life think
it must be the end. It is not the end,
but only the beginning, and even ends have beginnings. We live in a confused and muddled world, a
time of great anxiety about all sorts of problems. We live with war planes, terrorism,
destruction of lives and property caused by humans or the natural universe in
which we live. Our hearts are tugged and
pulled every which way when we hear the presidential debates. We want a president who will advocate for us
and our needs, being fair to all the citizens of the United States as much as
possible. We want a president who will
seek justice for people both here and abroad.
The time is here again when there will be another change in the
governing body of our national government.
It is up to us to vote our conscience among those candidates who are
elected by their respective parties. Yet
despite all the upheavals, no matter what happens here in our world, remember
and think about your overriding hope in Jesus.
Jesus is the one you belong to and Jesus will bring you the redemption
you have waited for all your life. God
will not disappoint you.
“When
you become confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves and the shaking of
the heavens, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing
near. However, be on guard so that your
hearts are not weighed down with the worries of this life. Be 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.” Remember, your
redemption is drawing near.
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