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The first Gospel reading of Advent, which I will not be preaching
upon this year for the first time, always references the second
coming of Christ. The second coming is an often discussed and often
misunderstood element of Christianity, yet one which is incredibly
important. As we try to make sense of it, or shoehorn its markers
into the current events of today, we often miss the point. Christ
tells us about what will happen in order to change what is
happening. We are not brought into this secret so that we may plan
for it, or help bring it along, or lord it over others who don't
believe it will happen. We are told about it so that our lives
might be changed.
Proclamations of the second coming in the Gospels are nearly always
paired with strong words regarding our own actions. In the passage
above, Jesus tells us to be ready. What does this mean? It means
that we should be living with some urgency, some passion, and some
determination when it comes to faith. Think of all the efforts many
of us will put into our Christmas preparations over the weeks
ahead. We will cook, clean, shop, decorate, write, call, travel,
and much more, all with a sense of urgency brought upon by the
Christmas holidays. What if we applied that same urgency to our
lives of faith everyday? How might our faith then look? How might
the Church then look? How might the world? Christ came once, and
he will come again. He doesn't ask us to do anything about it except
be ready.
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Prayer: Holy God, help me love you and follow you with
a passionate urgency. Please give me the energy and enthusiasm to
be your servant in this world every day of my life. I pray in
Jesus' name. Amen
[Phillip Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church] |
