Lord as we look for you in our world, help us see what you want us to see, as we look for you in our lives, may we be who you want us to be, and bless us through these Advent days. Amen.
The year turns, times change, we are in the deep dark cold and the end of things has come.
The leaves have fallen from the trees, the frosts have brought a sudden sharp shrinking and withering of all that is tender, the animals withdraw into their burrows and the earth sleeps and stills, silence steals over the land.
Winter has come, and in tune with the season, we need to enter into a phase of wintering ourselves, a time to reflect and ponder, to talk and to listen.
We did some of this yesterday as we gathered at St Luke’s to begin to explore what being the Church of Jesus Christ – his body – might mean for us, the members of that body here and now. And we’ve been doing that on our journey together at St John’s too throughout the last year.
And as we are discovering, this sort of wintering, pondering, talking, listening, isn’t about things stopping, or dying, or ending, though all of that may play its part – rather it’s a drawing aside, to consider, to see more clearly, to notice the change and to reconnect with what matters.
In winter, trees shed their leaves in order to grow again afresh in the spring. Sometimes, once the old leaves have all come away, we can see the new buds already there, tightly wound, but waiting to burst forth.
Consider not the former things of old. See I am about to do a new thing, says God, now it springs forth – do you not perceive it?
Sometimes we don’t see what new thing God is doing – because we are too busy looking back at how things used to be and lamenting what is lost. Well of course we do – we are creatures of habit and often what we have lost is very precious indeed, especially those we have loved so much – but Advent reminds us of the joy that awaits – of all that still lies ahead – more than we can imagine or dream of.
In our discussions and exploration of those overlapping circles of our worship, fellowship and outreach, our communion, community and communication – didn’t we start to feel that rising excitement of possibility, of new beginnings and stirrings of our hopes – not the cold winds of change but the warm promptings of the Spirit – maybe even the fiery flicker of passion and flames of desire for what God will do in our midst!
Our readings today for Advent Sunday are full of excitement, of urgency and passion:
‘O that you would tear open the heavens and come down!’
The stars fall from the heaven – the Son of Man is coming in clouds with great power and glory!
The mountains quake – the earth shakes – our God comes to those who wait – and we wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ who gives us every spiritual gift as we wait, and who calls us into fellowship with him!
This then is Advent – the reminder of how the end becomes a beginning, how winter will turn to summer, how suffering produces the glories of our returning to God once again – for in God is our salvation.
In winter we are simplified, stripped down to the essentials so that we may see the coming light of Christ – just as in winter we can see the stars more clearly through the leafless branches of the trees.
And the cry that runs through Advent – keep awake – keep watch –:
Awake, awake, fling off the night – for God has sent his glorious light and we who live in Christ’s new day, must works of darkness put away.
For two thousand years we have watched and waited and struggled to stay awake – awake in our souls – to God coming among us again. And the promise of scripture – Jesus’ own words, definitely suggests that there will be a time when this does happen in a way we will not miss. Its dramatic stuff!
In Advent we hear the story of how God’s people down the ages have tried to stay awake, and yet, so often, self-evidently, nod off and forget God’s promises and God’s expectations of us.
For we are not just waiting passively for the end of the world to come, hanging around, whistling and tapping our foot saying ‘Oh I do wish he’d hurry up with that second coming business – its all getting a bit boring – or rather, looking at the world right now – its all getting into such a mess – can’t you get a shift on God and come and sort it all out for us?
But as we’ve heard Jesus tells his disciples – Keep awake – and in the midst of all the mess and chaos and violence of their own day – they listened, believed and did their bit.
Like the servants in Jesus’ story in today’s Gospel, put in charge till the master returns – God gives us the responsibility to care for the world and to care for each other.
Jesus will return and so all will be well in the end – but meanwhile whether or not Jesus were to pitch up tomorrow, next year or in ten thousand years – for now it’s over to us to use all the gifts God’s given us, be Christ’s body to make the world a better place – to shine with God’s love like a beacon of hope for all to see.
Awake and rise, with love renewed, and with the Spirit’s power endued.
The light of life in us must glow, and fruits of truth and goodness show.
Amen.
Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 3rd December 2023. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)
Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-end