First Sunday of Advent Yr C 2024
Advent • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 22 viewsIn a world steeped in turmoil and anxiety even more than the first century we have the promise of a “just shoot” that will spring up, which may seem more impossible now than it was then, and a call not to fear, but to keep our eyes focused on the coming of the “Son of Man.” This calls for vigilance in the midst of anxiety and strength to focus on his and joy as we “lift up our heads” to look at him. The behavior is not new, but the same loving God and neighbor, the same instructions Paul gave. So despite the anxiety in and around us focus on holiness and live with a lively expectation of Jesus’ coming and all will be well.
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Transcript
Title
Title
We have our orders - trust Jesus
Outline
Outline
Even more than in the days of the Roman Empire we live in troubled times
Even more than in the days of the Roman Empire we live in troubled times
Natural disasters continue apace, and we have broken the climate change target of 1.5o C this year.
There are wars of different types in Europe, the Middle East, Sudan, Nigeria among other places. Christian churches burn in Europe and this century is shaping up to top last century which previous held the highest number of martyrdoms title.
And closer to home we have been through a tumultuous election - and for sure a house divided against itself cannot stand - and from the announced policies of the incoming administration the amount of tumult will increase, both within the USA and between it and other nations.
And into such a situation God speaks his promise:
A just shoot will spring up for David . . . “The LORD our justice.”
A just shoot will spring up for David . . . “The LORD our justice.”
A shoot you may not notice as Jesus was not noticed, but still Judah, the Jewish people, i.e. all believers in Jesus, Jew and Gentile, will be saved, and the new Jerusalem shall dwell safely. Impossible, you might say, but it will be, for God has spoken.
Do not fear, but look for the Son of Man
Do not fear, but look for the Son of Man
Yes, there are all sorts of terrible phenomena out there and “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,” but that should not include Christians.
We are to be vigilant in another direction, to “look for the Son of Man coming in a cloud” because then our “redemption is at hand.” Yet this takes strength so that we “escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Our duty is to please God
Our duty is to please God
That is the call to vigilance, for we can get distracted by the world and become “drowsy . . . from the anxieties of daily life.” That requires strength to focus on Him. That calls for joy as we lift up our heads to look at and for him.
This is not new behavior, but the old “the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all . . . so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.” These are as Paul says, the old “instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”
It is just that in a world in tumult these instructions are harder to follow.
But whether you live with anxiety from past wounds, as I do, and need to living ignoring it with eyes fixed on Jesus or just pick up on the anxiety around you, the command is the same: love God and love one another, focus on holiness, and live with a lively expectation of Jesus’ coming, either for you personally or for the his final open coming.
Do that and all will be well.
