From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
Today is the first Sunday in Advent. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. I love the advent colors, I love the extra candles. I love advent hymns. I delight in the anticipation of Christmas. I love that pine and fir boughs start to go up on everyone's doors.
But I have a hard time capturing the spirit of advent in my life. Advent starts for us with these words, Be aware, keep alert, stay awake. Watch for the son of man to come. Watch for the birth of Christ. Watch for the reign of Christ. I am not as good at watching and waiting for Christmas as I was when I was a child when I would watch presents appear under the tree and watch my stocking slowly growing fat.
Now I miss the magic of the first snowflakes because I have places to be other than staring out the window from the breakfast table. I don't keep a count in my head of which neighbors have put their lights up so far and which haven't because I am too focused on the road into town to notice the houses on the street. I don't even notice the bell ringers for whom the season means charity and giving because I am too busy trying to work out a budget in my head for food, travel, gifts, dinner party contributions and a hundred other little things. All those things which make the magic of the season are not gone but they seem more and more dim. You might argue that that is good, clear all that noise away so that I can focus on the true meaning of the season. On Christ, God's great gift to us. On his coming at Christmas and his coming again to make the world new and whole and healthy. But alas that is something I'm not so great at either.
Maybe it is because Advent happens every year. Christmas Happens every year. Church Happens every week. God loves us all the time. What really makes today different? What really distinguishes today from any other day? And really furthermore there is war somewhere in the world everyday. People die due to disease, poverty and violence everyday. Our consumer culture pushes us to buy more than we can afford or need everyday. We turn away from Godly things to worldly things everyday. How is today any different? How does Advent change any of that?
There is one thing that we know is different about today, though you might not notice it if I don't tell you, today is the beginning of
the church year. It is funny and rather inconvenient that the church
doesn't follow the same year as the calendar and that is why for the
most part we ignore our New Year other than this little mention during the
first sermon of advent. But I like it. I like that because
we are Christians we get to celebrate the New Year twice. That things
are twice as new for us. It reminds us that in Christ all things are
made new all of the time. That the world is ever being called into the
reign of Christ and therefore ever being called to renewal.
And because of that ever present and unchanging call to renewal we are
to beware, keep awake and be alert.
Jesus uses the example of springtime and growth to illustrate
this. He says to think about a fig tree. You can watch a fig tree in the spring time. From any fruit tree really, first is it dead and dry, at least it seems to be but if you look closer you can see tiny buds. Even in the harsh wintertime. Then as the thaw comes you wait and you watch and all of sudden the branches are loaded down with blooms and then before you even think to go trim one to put in a vase the blooms are falling off but you can see new growth on the tree, you watch it's leaves grow and turn a richer green and then you know that summer is near. That fruit will soon cover those branches, that harvest will come and wonderful treats will come from the fruit. Every year it happens. Every year it is springtime.
Every year it is hard to imagine when we look out a dead slick leaves, at brown, muddy grass, at bare limbs and empty gardens that spring will ever come. But then as if by magic, all of a sudden the life that was there all along springs forth. Jesus says the kingdom of God works like this. St. Mark reminded the early Christians that the kingdom of God works like this and I'm telling you that the kingdom of God works like this. Like Springtime, sometimes hidden because of all of the mud and muck and cold but always there.
Advent happens every year and there is still a lot that is broken in the world a lot of mud and muck so to speak. I look out, or rather in, at the paper and the TV, the news feeds and radio programs and it seems like this world may never bear good fruit again.
When saint Mark wrote
down these words of Christ, he wrote them to people who were
experiencing similar trials. There were persecutions and Christians were
sorely tempted to join into rebellious mobs. It was a civil war. The
temple was being desecrated and most people were denying Christ while
others were claiming that they had the right way, the only way to get
to Christ and it was through them. Mark had his hands pretty full
trying to teach Christ's words to these people and so he reminded them that Jesus had said wait for me, I'm coming, it is Advent all
the time because I am ever coming into the world so wait for me but...don't just wait.
As a matter of fact, Jesus never says the word wait. Instead he says watch, be alert, be awake. Notice the reign of Christ
around you. Notice those who would overthrow the reign of Christ too.
Notice the distractions but don't be distracted by them. Notice the wars
and fight for peace, notice the consumers and strive to be a healer
instead. Notice those who claim they know the only way and share with
them the gospel. Notice those who deny me and love them anyway. But
most of all notice the buds forming on the trees. Notice the kingdom
breaking into your world. Notice that I am with you always to the end
of the age. Don't wait for me, idly sitting, letting the world go by, dozing on a seat like your plane is delayed.
Instead watch for me as you go about my work. Act with the authority I gave. Trust in the words of the prophets and be awake. Watch for the budding of the trees, the opening of hearts, the sharing of the gospel and know that summer is coming, that I am near.
Advent happens every year. Christmas Happens every year. Church Happens
every week. God loves us all the time. What really makes today
different? What really distinguishes today from any other day? Today, like all days, God is the same, but we are different we are being called to renewal, we are being called to awareness, we are being awakened and we are waiting anxiously for the coming of Christ's life among us. This is advent the time that means the approach, it is new year's day for us and we believe that today is like every other day of the church year because today Christ will make all things new and that is great good news. Amen
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