Be Advent

Charlotte Collins Reed

Christ Church Episcopal

December 2, 2018

1 Advent C

          The stories of my childhood included both “Chicken Little” and “The Boy who Cried Wolf.”  “Chicken Little” is an ancient folk story in which the main character, Chicken Little, believes that the sky is falling and the world is coming to an end because an acorn has fallen on his head.  Depending on which of the many versions of the story you read, the moral of the story is some variation on “Don’t jump to conclusions,” or “Don’t be a chicken.” “The Boy who Cried Wolf” is one of Aesop’s fables.  In this story, a little boy cries “wolf” and summons help so often just to get the villagers to come running that one day when a wolf really does appear, no one comes to help. 

          This morning’s gospel reading reminds me of both of these stories.  On the one hand, ever since the gospels were written, people have read the signs of the times to indicate that Jesus’ return is imminent.  Wars, rumors of wars, plaques, famines…at various points in the gospels disasters both natural and human-made point to the return of Jesus and the end of time as we know it.  When those events do happen, which is far too often, we can easily believe the end is here.  The sky is falling.  On the other hand, year after year on the first Sunday of Advent, we hear Jesus predict his return.  Depending on which gospel we are reading, we hear some version of "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. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”   Just in the past year, there have been natural disasters enough to satisfy this description, to say nothing of the disasters we humans have managed to create.  And still Jesus has not returned.  Is Jesus the boy who cried wolf?

          So, here we are on the first Sunday of Advent, hearing about Jesus’ return, however and whenever that is going to happen, accompanied by scary events that we do not want to think about, when what our hearts really long for is a tiny baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. 

          The reading from Jeremiah makes a little more sense as an Advent reading, as we are pointed to God’s promise to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  A branch shall spring up from David, who will bring justice and righteousness to the land.  Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.  As Christians, we understand this person to be Jesus and Jeremiah’s words fill us with great longing for the Messiah and the peace and safety the Messiah will bring.

          The psalmist describes God in a way that does not at all fit with the dreadful events described in the gospel.  In the psalm, we hear “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.  Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.”  In the reading from 1 Thessalonians, Paul is full of joy and love.  So, what gives with Jesus this morning?

          Immediately before our gospel reading, Jesus has told his disciples about the persecutions, hardships, and hatreds they will endure as his followers.  What Jesus is describing as a future experience is actually the reality of his first century disciples.  Jesus is encouraging those enduring great tribulation by telling them that, in the midst of their suffering, he is quite near.  Jesus uses dramatic language because the experience of his followers is dramatic as they are handed over to synagogues and prisons, as families are divided, and as their temple is destroyed and the faithful are scattered.  Jesus is not crying wolf here.  These events are actually happening and the sky is really falling for his followers.

          In the midst of persecution and hardship, Jesus tells his disciples to raise their heads and look.  Be alert.  Effort is required to see Jesus in the midst of the suffering of the world.  But the promise of Jesus is that the Kingdom of God is near even and especially when God seems utterly absent. 

          Jesus is not saying “The sky if falling” nor is he crying wolf.  Jesus is telling us to look.  In the midst of natural disaster, personal hardship, and national and global tragedy, Jesus calls us to see where the Kingdom of God is breaking through.  Jesus calls us to believe his promise that he is near and to watch for him.  Jesus calls us to make Advent an action word, to do Advent by finding Jesus in unexpected places, and by looking for Jesus in those places where he seems most absent.  But Jesus also calls us to be Advent.  As followers of Jesus, we are called to show others that Jesus is present.  Advent calls us to use our lives to reflect the God who wants safety and peace for God’s people, the God of compassion and love, and the God who draws near in those times when God seems most absent. 

          Advent is a time of preparation for the arrival of the Christ Child.  I believe that when we keep a holy Advent by looking for Jesus in unexpected places and using our lives to reflect the Love of God for the world, we also prepare ourselves and the world around us for his arrival whenever, where ever, and how ever Jesus decides to come.  In this holy season, let us both  Do Advent and Be Advent. 

                                                                             Amen.