Advent I, Year B- Mark 13:24-37
To be preached at St. John Lancaster, God willing
Burning buildings in Missouri. Hideous and inhumane executions in Iraq and Syria. Suicide bombings in Nigeria and Israel. Long standing social norms questioned and old structures tottering. I suppose one could make the argument that figuratively at least, the sun is darkened, and the moon does not give her light, and the stars themselves fall from the skies. If I were so inclined, I suppose I could find several good reasons to be discouraged, and afraid, and even without hope. But as today’s Gospel lesson points out, our faith does not give me that option. Jesus often told his followers not to be afraid. In today’s lesson he takes the admonition a bit further. He says that we need to look beyond the troubles of this present age, and remember that at the end, our faith will be vindicated, and he will return to receive us as his own.
In the days leading up to today’s Gospel narrative, Jesus had been in Jerusalem preparing for the Passover. He had been attacked by his enemies and questioned and belittled at every turn. Through false flattery and direct argument and conniving misrepresentation they had attempted to make him mad, or goad him into saying something actionable before the law. But our Lord kept his head and he did his best to keep the heads of his disciples fixed on the task at hand. Finally, he answered the questions so many were thinking about and told them that in their lifetime, things were going to get bad- very bad. And he told them a series of parables which taught them that the people who held to their faith would find a strength beyond themselves which would ultimately bring them to vindication and deliverance by God himself. The message holds as true today as it did then, and it is for us the message of Advent, which starts today. There will be a time in human history, and in each of our lives, when situations will get out of control. The mess we have made by our bad decisions, bad actions, and omissions, both individually and as a species, will come to haunt all of us,and no real distinction will be made between the innocent and the guilty. But, says Jesus, look around you and realize that I told you things like this would happen, and that it is the necessary precursor to my Father working in your lives. Don’t be totally discouraged by difficulty or even by catastrophe. Rather let those things remind you that I have promised to come again and receive you as my own. When that happens, we will be together forever, and I will make all things new.
How is your Advent faith today? Can you look at these “signs of the times” and see in them a call to cling more passionately than ever to the promises of deliverance that Jesus gives to all those who follow him? As you look upon this font and remember your own baptism, do you sense the witness of the Holy Spirit that indeed you are a child of God, and that he will be with you every day of your life? As you come and receive Communion today, do you anticipate that miraculous cleansing and sense of belonging that will assure you of the reality of God’s love, and help you to push through your fears and embrace the calling of God in your life?
Some people might say that such a faith is just so much psychological manipulation, and that simple faith is for simple minded people who refuse to acknowledge the realities of the world. How sad and lonely it must be for them. Better to face my fears and situations, my doubts and my hardships in the knowledge that Jesus who came once as a baby, born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem, will come again to vindicate this faith of mine and yours which may be mocked as childlike, and spurned as simplistic and superstitious. But we know it on this day to be otherwise than as our detractors would maintain. Childlike it may be, for our Lord admonished us to come as did the little children in innocence and expectation. Simplistic it may be, for God’s love for us is not a complex formulae that we need advanced degrees to comprehend. Rather it is a simple proclamation that every man and woman and boy and girl can be called to experience in real time. Superstitious it may seem to those who have already made up their mind that it is false, but we who have experienced the washing away of our guilt and shame in the waters of baptism; we who have pressed with our teeth the sacrificed flesh of Jesus Christ and who have drunk the blood of our God, we know in our hearts the truth of it all, and in that truth we find the strength to press on in the face of every adversity. ‘Blasoned on our arms is that eternal Name of the Christ, and we cry with our forbearers, Spes mea in Deo est, my hope is in God! For as we gaze upon the blessed Name of Jesus, we realize with that Emperor of old, In hoc Signo Vinces, in this sign, you will conquer!
And so the end of the matter is this. Never let the difficulties of life cause you to lose sight of the promise of Jesus that he will return to vindicate all things and to receive us as his own. Things may get worse in our individual lives, or they may get better. The world will always be filled with inexplicable evil and tragedy. But we are called to keep our eyes on Jesus, and to face the world without succombing to our fears or to discouragement. The great fact is that Jesus is coming again. Hold to that fact. Remind yourself of it in the jewelry you wear and the artwork with which you decorate your home, and the music you listen to, and the sacraments you receive. Jesus is true to his promises. This is a wonderful world, and we are a blessed people to have been placed in it. Our friends and family are blessings from God, even when they might not seem much like it. But even with so many good things about us, difficulty still comes into the world, and sometimes it is hard to cope. When that happens, and it will, might we all remember today’s Good News from St. Mark’s Gospel. Jesus is coming again, so stay awake, keep doing good, and keep creating beauty, and keep yourself disciplined and committed to demonstrating the reality of our new life in Jesus Christ. And one day he will come again to make all things right, and to receive us as his own.
An old story is told of a young squire who faced overwhelming odds when his city was attacked. Everything seemed to be lost, and as he rushed into the breach he cried out “Spes Mea in Deo est!” (My hope is in God!) His fellow citizens followed him, and even though he lost his life that day, his example of faith and courage so inspired his fellow citizens that the tide was turned and the city was delivered from those who would destroy it. The enemy of our souls, Satan, brings many things into our lives which can fill us with fear and discouragement. This city which we attempt to build for God is threatened by so many different things, by so many realities, and so many fears. Sometimes it helps us to do something objective which helps us to personify or anthropomorphise the issues we face. So now I would like you to do something which may seem scandalous, but somehow it seems appropriate, even in a traditional service in the Episcopal Church. I invite you to assume with me the part of Constans, the young squire. Stand with me and face the east, towards Jerusalem, where Christ will return. Imagine in your mind that you are facing those things which make you afraid, or worried, or discouraged. Raise your right hand and at my instruction say with me three times, “My hope is in God!” Are you ready? Now, hands up. Get Ready, Get Set, Go! “My hope is in God!” “My Hope is in God” “My hope is in God!” You may be seated.
Do you feel a little silly? But do you feel better? Do you feel like you have experienced a thing which will help you to face those realities that crowd into your life? Remember that Jesus is always with you, and that he is coming again. Claim his promises as your own. Face the issues that are so real, with him by your side. And may this Advent be for you a time of healing, and strength, and assurance that God is with you always. AMEN.
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