By Rev. Rhonda Thorndale
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
Luke: 21: 25-36
Happy Advent everyone…. Advent is a significant season in the Christian calendar that marks the beginning of the new church year. Many of you know that the word advent comes from the Latin word meaning “to come.” So, something or someone is coming to us in this season.
A little background first…. Advent is a four-week season of preparation and anticipation for the birth of Jesus. It's a time to reflect on our faith, renew our commitment to our beliefs, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christmas.
We usually break into four themes:
Hope… a time to reflect on the hope that Christ brings to our lives and to the world…a time of hopeful waiting
Peace… a time to emphasize the importance of peace, justice, and reconciliation in our personal and collective lives.
Joy… a time to cultivate joy, gratitude, and generosity, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Love…the season reminds us of God's unconditional love for us and encourages us to share that love with others.
This season brings us traditions, and practices, like our “hope” candle we lit earlier. They encourage us to cultivate hope, peace, joy, and love, as we await.
The First Sunday of Advent always focuses our attention on the future. It’s a theme that runs through today’s gospel and the entire Season of Advent.
What comes up for you when you look toward or think about your future? We all have a future and we all deal with it in our lives. Some look toward to the future with fear, anxiety, and worry. “People will,” Jesus says, “faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world.” When have you felt like that? Others look to the future with hope, eagerness, and optimism. They “stand up and raise [their] heads” with anticipation and expectancy.
There are countless ways to see God's work in the world:
Through the tireless efforts of advocates and activists working for justice and equality.
In the resilience and hope of communities affected by oppression and marginalization.
Through the selfless service of healthcare workers, teachers, and other caregivers.
In the beauty and wonder of creation, which inspires us to care for the earth and its inhabitants.
We most often think of what’s coming as Christmas and the birth of Jesus. And it is, but I also think it is bigger and more than that. In today’s gospel Jesus speaks of the “‘Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.” I think that’s a metaphor for the future. I tend to think of Advent as the coming of our future, and a time when we prepare, as best we can - if we can - for that future.
I am not talking about the foreseeable future but the unforeseeable future. We all have both. Most mornings Tom and I will ask each other, “What’s on your agenda today? Any appointments? What time do you start teaching?” We talk about the foreseeable future, the future we can plan and maybe have some control over. And most days this does work.
While we can plan and prepare for the foreseeable future, the unforeseeable future comes “like a thief in the night.” It takes us by surprise. It’s completely unknown and unimaginable. We can’t understand or make sense of it. We’re not prepared for what is happening. How can you prepare for what you cannot see, know, or understand? It’s those times when we say things like, “Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined or guessed that,” “No, that’s not possible; it can’t be,” “God only knows” …those unexpected things that happen and suddenly our life is changed. I wonder if that’s how Mary felt at Gabriel’s announcement that she would give birth to the Son of God.
This Advent season, we're invited to awaken to hope. In a world filled with uncertainty and darkness, it's easy to lose sight of the promise of new life.
Jeremiah's words offer us a glimpse of a future filled with justice, righteousness, and salvation. The prophet reminds us that God is always working to bring about a world where all can thrive. In Jeremiah 33:14-16, we hear:
"The days are surely coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.'" (Jeremiah 33:14-16)
In these words, we're reminded that God's promise is not just for some distant future, but is already being fulfilled in our midst. The "righteous Branch" that will spring up for David and could be a symbol of the hope that we have in Christ.
Jesus challenges us to stay awake, to be alert to the signs of the times. We're called to live with intention, to prioritize our values, and to work towards creating a world that reflects God's justice and love.
We're invited to awaken to hope. In this world filled with uncertainty and darkness, it's easy to lose sight of the promise. Staying awake and being alert to the signs of our times requires intention and effort. So, what can we do? Maybe:
Stay informed about current events and social justice issues through reputable news sources.
Engage in respectful conversations with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
Pray for guidance and discernment, asking God to help you see the world from a divine perspective.
Take action by volunteering, donating to causes you care about, or advocating for policies that promote justice and equality.
As a member of the Iona Community, based in Scotland, our second commitment is to working for peace and justice, wholeness and reconciliation in our localities, society and the whole of creation. Each month when our family group meets, we discuss various topics relating to this.
As I ponder this rule, I'm reminded that justice is not solely the responsibility of governments or institutions. Rather, it begins with me, in my own community and with my daily interactions. This rule encourages me to examine my actions, attitudes, and biases, and to consider how they impact those around me.
Working for justice and peace is not a passive endeavor; it requires intentional effort and a willingness to confront systems and structures that perpetuate inequality. In my locality, this might mean advocating for affordable housing, supporting local organizations that serve marginalized communities, or simply being a listening ear for those who feel voiceless.
In a world that often seems fragmented and divided, we need a powerful vision of hope and transformation. By working together for justice, peace, wholeness, and reconciliation, we can create a more compassionate, equitable, and thriving world for all.
I think about a friend who works with a local non-profit organization that provides food and shelter to homeless individuals. Through their tireless efforts, I see God's work in action, bringing hope and dignity to those who need it most. I'm reminded that God's work is often done through the hands and feet of ordinary people like you and me.
Stories inspire us to stay awake to hope and to work towards creating a more just and compassionate world!
In our scripture passage we heard: "'There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.'" (Luke 21:25-26) In the face of uncertainty and chaos, Jesus calls us to stand tall, to lift up our heads, and to look towards the future with hope.
Advent does not promise an escape from the circumstances of our lives or the world. The promise of Advent, is the possibility of the impossible, revealed and fulfilled in the midst of unforeseeable circumstances.
The foreseeable future falls within the scope of our power and possibilities. Things are manageable and, for the most part, we know what to do. With the unforeseeable future, however, “there are no guarantees, no contracts or warranties…. There is a lot of risk”. That’s why Jesus says, “Be on guard that your hearts are not weighed down…. Be alert at all times. Pray.” He’s reminding us that the impossible is the realm of faith, hope, and love.
That means we do not give up when the sands of our life are shifting under our feet. We do not give up “when we come unhinged,” when our ability is driven to its limit, “when we are overwhelmed.” And we do not give up on ourselves or each other.
It isn’t about rosy optimism or determined perseverance, but about staying open to possibility of the impossible, to a future we could never imagine. It’s about the call of faith, hope, love, courage, compassion, beauty, forgiveness, healing.
We don’t know what the future holds for us. But the things of Advent speak about the possibility of a new life, a transformed life, and they call to us from the most improbable, unforeseen, and impossible places of our lives. They pull us into and through the rest of this day. I think that’s what hope is.
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