Advent

We live like people who expect to be around forever. Many have ceased to watch the eastern sky. Many no longer pray “Maranatha—come quickly, Lord Jesus.” Many would frankly be disappointed to see all of this come to an end. We’ve settled in—we’ve bought long term CD’s, built houses and lands, gotten comfortable. We’ve given our place of watchfulness over to conspiracy nuts and book peddlers. But make no mistake—Jesus said there will come a time when the King will appear in all His glory. There will be a reckoning. There will be judgment. The old will be rent apart…all things will become new, and just, and full of life.

Today is the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, a day that still lives in infamy. Some here at Hopwood remember that day...a day the United States was invaded by a hostile force bent on destruction and domination. Everyone who heard the news knew that life in the US would never be the same again.
Today we gather in the dark, dead of Winter, with our country fighting two wars, with our economy bleeding jobs, with disease and poverty ravaging the peoples of the world, we gather this morning to remember a an entirely different kind of invasion.

    You can tell a lot about God by his actions in history.  You can also learn about him by watching what he refuses to do.  History as we know it could have been rolled up like a scroll in the 15th year of Tiberius.  But that was not God's way.  Instead, He came quietly; barely a ripple was visible as He broke into history. So total was God's commitment to allow us to maintain our human freedom that he hooded the Divine light that might otherwise have blasted through this world like a laser beam-- He took on the disguise of a man, the form of a helpless baby boy...alone he stepped into the desert of human existence.

    This morning we light the first candle of Advent.  Isn’t it strange that the brightest season of light begins in darkness with the lighting of a single candle?  I don’t know about you, but I could use some light, for the darkness is deep.  Killing and famine and division and pain have their hands on our throats.  Uncertainty and gloom surround our own violent involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Concern over the health and livability of our earthly home is worrisome.  Dark clouds of anxiety and doubt shadow our families and relationships, making it hard to see your hand in front of your face.  And here’s another strange thing...the readings for this first Sunday of Advent, this first Sunday of the Christian Church’s year begin with news of apocalypse...signs in the heavens, raging seas, troubled nations, fearful people.  Bring on the light!

            Christmas can catch you unprepared...Christmas can come while you’re asleep.  Perhaps that’s why the church celebrates Advent...so we can have time to ponder the coming of Christ, so we can take time to prepare for his coming...his coming at the end of time...and his coming into our lives right now. 

Christmas is a time for surprises. A couple of years ago, Jill was hoping to get a bicycle for Christmas. When Christmas morning rolled around, she was surprised (and hopeful) to find a HUGE box near the tree. It was a little oddly shaped to be a bicycle, but hope springs eternal. She tore into the box, only to find a slightly smaller box inside. The smaller box was opened to reveal a slightly smaller box inside that one too. Snickers from the youngest brother gave away the perpetrator of this demented scheme. Box after box was unwrapped. Jill’s expectations dropped as the boxes reduced in size. Thoughts of a bicycle were erased...she’d be lucky to end up with a pair of shoes...or a Barby doll...or a candy bar. The boxes went from small to tiny. The final wrapper was removed to reveal a plastic box that once held tic-tacs. “Oh great...thanks... what is it?