A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 29 November 2020, the first Sunday in Advent , by Revd Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Isaiah 64:1–9; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; Mark 13:24–37
Good morning brothers and sisters!
This year we have done the same thing like before. The Church arranged clean up during the weekend before the 1st Sunday of Advent, to prepare for the new year of the church. The church was cleaned, the pews were polished and Christmas decorations were set up. One of the highlights in our church decoration is the Christmas tree. This is a real tree. Do you smell the freshness of the tree? This tree is special, not only because it is real and with bright lights on it. There are photos of people who are with us right now and those who have left Hong Kong for good or have gone home with God.
When I decorated the tree yesterday with brother Robert, I had a strong feeling of connectedness with people from KUC, past and present. I missed those who are no longer here with us. This Christmas tree is a tree of life, it is a tree of community, it is a tree of remembrance. Any friend who would like to be part of the tree, please give to any of our pastors (Pastor Maggie, Pastor Timothy or myself) a photo so we can put it up.
I am thankful to sisters and brothers from the church and residents from Bethune House who came over yesterday to help with the cleaning and decorating the church. Right before 1st Sunday of Advent, this has been a very busy time for Pastor Maggie to coordinate many tasks for the clean up and preparation for Advent. I am grateful for that.
Before I enter into my sermon, let us pray.
Opening prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for your coming to the world in human form. Your Word made flesh. May your word inspire us today and awaken our soul so we are always alert to focus our life in You. In Christ’s name we pray, amen!
**************************************************
Today we have begun the new church year with the season of Advent.
The word “advent” derives from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “arrival”. As the Latin translation of the Greek word parousia, it is a reference to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Our Church’s Worship Advisory Group has developed a theme for Advent this year: Re-visiting Christ’s Coming.
The words Re-visiting and Coming are both in present continuous tense, with the ‘ing’ (visiting, coming). It implies that as Christians we reflect on our life and faith, it is always here and now and is an on-going process in our life journey.
Re-visiting Christ’s coming
In reflecting on this theme – Re-visiting Christ’s coming.
I would like to begin with re-member:
We have first of all to know and remember who is God and what God has done for us and for the world.
Advent is a season for prophecy, calling on us to trust in God’s promise and to repent to God.
Isaiah is a profound prophet in ancient Israel to proclaim the coming of the Messiah who saved the Israelites and brought to them a new heaven and new earth. (Isaiah 65)
1. Prophet Isaiah affirmed to his people, the God who delivered them was the one who comes to meet with them. Is 64:1 it says, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence”. God is ever present to his people in need of his salvation. The presence of God is revealed through the power of nature as described in the Book of Isaiah.
2. Jesus Christ who was born in human flesh revealed Godself in a very different way. Jesus came to the world in human likeness. He shared our human brokenness, vulnerability, and weaknesses.
3. The Creator God and Redeemer God has full autonomy to choose in what way He comes to us.
I would like to share a story about a single mom. I name her Mary. Mary has two children, a boy and a girl. Mary faced tremendous difficulties when she filed for divorce from her husband because of domestic violence. She was economically dependent with very limited financial resource. Being separated from her husband, there were so many uncertainties in life and she was fearful to face her future. One day she broke down emotionally and was crying at home, feeling very broken, distressed and helpless. Her children came and said to her with a gentle voice: “Mom, don’t cry. God loves you.” Mary was very touched by the words spoken by her children. She did not expect her children of 3 years old and 7 years old were able to say something like this. She thought this was God’s gentle touch and comfort to her through her children.
From the story of Mary, we see how Christ came in disguise of the children. The children are little but their words of love carried power. Their words help Mary to reconnect to God. The words from her children revealed to Mary she is not alone. God is there with her.
When we re-visit Christ’s coming, it is important for us to remember the love of God. Jesus in his life had faced a lot of suffering and pain, and yet he was able to overcome as he was resurrected from the cross. Therefore, let us remember that we can see Christ’s coming and his presence in the midst of distress and vulnerability. The children of Mary have reminded us also Christ is present in the little ones and in those who are considered as powerless in the world. What is required of us is to be alert, to be watchful and to be ready.
How do we know Christ is coming and there is presence of God? God is love. Where there is love, there is God.
Like Mary’s children, if we share words and actions of love with those who are in distress and sadness, we are somewhere somehow revealing Christ’s presence right there in that very moment.
Today another scripture reading taken from Epistle/ Paul’s letter 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Apostle Paul has given us a good reminder and insights for our reflection to the theme today: re-visiting Christ’s coming.
7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Cor1:7-9
The second “re” for me to highlight is to re-claim.
In the chaotic, uncertain and unjust world that we are living, even Christians may have lost confidence and hope in God. I have often heard people asking why God is silent to injustice and suffering of innocent people. To answer these questions, I would like to use the spiritual wisdom of St Paul from 1 Corinthians that we heard this morning. We are living in a world full of challenges. And yet, Christ has given the people of faith and especially his disciples spiritual gifts and strength. We are always being empowered by Jesus Christ with his resurrected power! Christ has given us the resurrecting power to love and to encounter evil force. Jesus was wrongly accused as a political prisoner and put on the cross and suffered to death. But he never gave up to do good and justice. In Jesus, we recognized suffering and death are not the final destination. Apostle Paul reminded followers of Jesus, they are called into fellowship with Jesus Christ. We are members of Christ. It is the community with Christ at the centre and as the Head that have given us strength and hope. With a community that we belong, we are not alone. We have each other. Recently there is a saying commonly shared amongst people of Hong Kong under the current political uncertainty and instability – “to share warmth in a fireplace together”. It implies that people who share same values and vision come together to support each other. For Christians who share same vision and mission are called by Jesus Christ to form fellowship in His name so we are able to support one another for God’s kingdom. When I look at the Christmas tree in our church, I see hope. As I shared earlier, it is a tree of life and a tree of community that will never die. Our community is not an ordinary one. It has Christ at the centre. With Christ in our midst, we are empowered and are more courageous. Sisters and brothers, let is boldly re-claim the spiritual gifts of love and unity as a community in Christ.
When there are people who continue to seek justice and walk in the right way of God, this is the sign of Christ’s coming and sign of God’s presence. The small way we tried to do like writing letters to those who are put in jail because of seeking freedom and democracy is good enough.
Prophet Isaiah pointed to us in his prayer and dialogue with God – taken from (64:5) “You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways.”
God is a righteous God. Let us remember it and re-claim the gift of justice and God’s given righteous relationship with his people through our prayers and actions in pursuing truth and justice in the midst of a very ridiculous world full of lies and abuse of power.
Re-visiting Christ’s coming
The last “re” that I am going to share is “re-shape”.
Prophet Isaiah pleaded to God with this prayer:
“Yet, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are the work of your hands. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.” (64:9-9b)
Sisters and brothers, Advent is a time calling to return to God and center our lives in Christ. Let us humble ourselves, let go of ego and completely surrender to God, let our potter to remold us to be more like Christ and to restore the loving relationship with God.
As Christ’s disciples, if we are serious about our faith and our life, we have to listen to the word of God and follow Christ’s way.
The parable taken from the Gospel of Mark reminded us to be God’s faithful servant, to be watchful and alert of our spiritual life. In the season of Advent, the Worship Advisory Group has invited a number of friends from our community to write their reflections and share through the church Facebook. There are three pieces a week that will begin tomorrow. I sincerely encourage you to read it and if possible write down your own reflection as part of the Advent journey to identify areas that may require God to re-shape you.
May we all prepare a heart open to Christ’s coming in and have a fruitful Advent filled with hope, peace, joy and love in the new normal challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
May God bless you and our community so we will be a blessing to others, and to bring hope, peace, joy and love to the world!
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, November 29, 2020
