Reflections: Our Choice: Sit or Stand?

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 2 December 2018 by the Rev. Ewing W. Carroll, Jr. The scripture readings that day were Jeremiah 33:14-16, Luke 21:25-36.

Sometimes when checking into a hotel motel or guesthouse the receptionist will ask you, “Do you need a wake-up call?” My first experience of this was so strange. It was a bright, beautiful sunny afternoon; not a cloud in the sky. I thought to myself, “Why would I need a wake-up call in the middle of the afternoon?” Then it dawned on me what the receptionist was asking, “Do you need a wake-up call tomorrow morning?”

Today’s Old Testament and Gospel Lessons are about a wake-up call. Not from a guesthouse receptionist. Rather, from God. Writing from some kind of prison, the prophet Jeremiah dared to tell the King of Judah that in time, God would overturn his kingdom and the Jewish people would be freed from captivity and return to Jerusalem. Luke was writing to Jewish converts to Christianity. Like most Christians of that time, Luke wanted them to be prepared for the imminent return of Christ. Today. Not tomorrow.

Many modern day Christians like the earliest Christians, still believe Jesus will return this week; this day; or maybe this hour. You may remember an experience I shared with you a few years ago. While riding in a taxi from the airport to downtown Seoul, Korea, the taxi driver asked me, “Are you one of them?” I replied, “I’m sorry who is them?” “Well,” he continued, “There’ve been lots of people coming here this week. They talked about some guy named Jesus. They said he was coming to Mt. Walker this Saturday afternoon around 4:30. So, they gave me their watches, wallets, purses, handbags and jewelry. They said since Jesus was returning they wouldn’t need any of those valuable things. I was just hoping you were one of them and would give me your watch, your money, and jewelry.”

Advent is a time of hope and expectation; a time to re-live and to experience anew the beauty of God’s coming to us in the birth of a tiny baby. A time to sing “Come,Thou Long Expected Jesus” and then “Silent Night, all is calm, all is bright.” But that seems so unreal; so untrue; so unbelievable. In today’s world, where is there calm, brightness, peace, hope or joy? The Middle East, the birthplace of Jesus, is ablaze with destruction. Natural and human-made disasters continue to bring great harm all across the world. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that we live in very dangerous and difficult times.

But then these words of Jesus’ strike us like a thunderbolt: When life seems so difficult; so chaotic; when everything around us seems to be falling apart – “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” “Heads Up!” Regardless of the pains and problems of the world, Immanuel! God is with us. In Jesus Christ, our redemption – our wholeness is possible. So wake up! Prepare yourself for his coming!

Some people spend more time worrying about dying than living. Many Christians spend more time arguing about when Christ will return instead of celebrating the fact that he’s already with us. We ignore the chance and opportunity to live both in his presence and in his future coming.

Advent is a wake-up call; a time of hope; a time to prepare. Not looking out the window to see if Christ is coming – like he might be coming with Santa Clause, Rudolph and the other reindeer! No. It’s a time to look inwardly; at ourselves – to insure that our own lives reflect something of God’s love. To live in ways which show care and concern for others; to be signs and servants of God’s hope for a hurting and broken world.

A little girl asked her mother, “How come every year the Nativity Scene still shows Jesus as a little baby boy. Doesn’t he ever grow up?” How about us – especially in our own faith journeys? Advent is a time for us to choose – to sit [stay the same as usual] or to stand; to change; to grow in God’s gift of hope.

The challenge God offers us today- is not a warning or a wish to frighten us. No. It’s an invitation – to stop and look at ourselves; to see how we live; the ways we speak to others; the ways we use our financial resources; the things we seek to do to make this a better, safer and more loving world. And yes, to prepare ourselves to again welcome not just the Baby Jesus but also Christ our Savior.

Do we need a wake-up call tomorrow morning? Absolutely……No. We need it today! The choice is ours: to just keep on keeping on or dare to move ahead both IN and WITH the hope God gives. Come, Lord Jesus. Help us to stand up and raise our heads because our redemption is drawing near. Amen.

# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, December 02, 2018

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Our Choice: Sit or Stand?

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