First Sunday in Advent sermon series 1 2010
First Sunday of Advent
November 28
Matthew 25:6-13
Whatever Christmas might once have meant, it seems to have gone the way of the eight-track tape player. Some of us swear we can remember it, while others have only heard of it. For many Christmas has become mostly a time to spend money, and complain. Reindeer, tinsel and fake snow pop up at the mall just about the same time the gremlins and black cats disappear, and we complain that it gets earlier every year. We can’t find the one toy our children or grandchildren must have. Every year we send the Smiths a card; every year they stiff us in return. We grumble when a mall salesperson wishes us “Happy Holidays,” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Do I even have to mention the stress and hectic pace of the season? With the cooking and cleaning, who has time to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas? It is sad to say that many Christian churches have surrendered; culture won the day. “Frosty the Snowman” has drowned out the church’s message about Christmas, originally called the Mass for Christ. And sad to say it appears that no one seems to care, as they scramble here and there trying to fill up their empty lives with things, things that say I will give you joy and peace, but cannot fulfill them.
We need to once more be awakened to the true meaning of Christmas, for it is only in Jesus that we are declared innocent before God. We need to pray, “Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts, so that we may not be found asleep and unprepared.”
That is why I have chosen for our Sunday Advent theme this year, “Awake, Watch, Hear, Our Savior Draws Near.” Listen to verses 6 through 13 of our Gospel lesson for this morning: "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "`No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” In other words be spiritually awake, so that you are always prepared for Jesus’ return. That is easier said than done, for it is easy to go about our busy lives and not really think that much about the fact that Jesus has come and that he will come again. That is why Advent preparations for the celebration of Christmas are so important. They remind us Christ has come and He is here with us every day in the Word and Sacraments, and that he will come again.
We prepare ourselves by taking an active part in worshiping God, by partaking of the Lord’s Supper, by attending Bible studies, and having private Bible devotions in our homes. All of those things keep our hearts on things above and not on things of this world. Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts.
Knowing Christ’s presence with us now and his coming again is what brings us great joy. In knowing this we know that those who trust in Jesus will never die. Life on earth with all of its struggles and pain will not last. And, because Jesus is with us we can make it through the struggles of life filled with His comfort and, yes, His joy. Those who know Christ have His peace which surpasses all human understanding. On this earth Christians have what those who do not know Christ are seeking. We have so much to offer the suffering in our world. We have Christ. .
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus, but it is way more than that, for his birth marks the beginning of the end, that is the end of God’s wrath toward us. His birth, as much as we focus on it at this time of the year, is just the beginning of the story. Jesus’ life, especially his adult life was not an easy life, by any stretch of the imagination. He had no permanent home. He suffered terribly, was hated and misunderstood, and in the end killed because his message of love and forgiveness was not acceptable to the people. Jesus life, as a whole was not filled with joy, so we don’t talk to often about his suffering and death during the Christmas season. Sin and death is such a downer this time of the year.
The problem is that by our putting Jesus’ suffering and death out of our mind during the Christmas season is that it keeps us from truly understanding the whole story, for it is only in knowing the whole story of Jesus’ birth, life, suffering, and death, that you can find true joy and peace, for it is in those things that Jesus made everlasting peace between us and the Father. We cannot separate the little baby from the man on the cross or the Second Coming of Jesus on the last day.
It’s easy during this time of the year to fall victim to the thinking of the world. There is so much going on, so much to get ready for, so many things pulling us in different directions that we become physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. And without realizing it we become like the virgins that did not have enough oil.
That is what can happen when you don’t put God and all that he is ahead of all the preparations, partying, and gift giving that the world demands of you. To keep Jesus centered in your life does not mean you have to give up all the secular celebrations and gift giving, for when you have Jesus in the center of your life you are at peace with God.
Christmas is about our being at peace with God. The weeks before Christmas are a perfect time to show others your faith. Send Christian Christmas cards that have a clear statement of the Christian faith. Greet people with “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” Listen to Christian Christmas music. Spend time meditating on the Word of God particularly the birth and death of Jesus. Faithfully attend worship. Be prepared to tell others the story of Jesus and what he has done for all people.
We, as followers of Jesus have so much to offer the suffering, the lonely, those burdened by guilt in our world. We have the Christ the one who came to be one of us, who suffered and died, who victoriously rose from the grave, who ascended into heaven, and who will come again to judge the living and the dead. Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts so that we might not be found wanting. Amen.
November 28
Matthew 25:6-13
Whatever Christmas might once have meant, it seems to have gone the way of the eight-track tape player. Some of us swear we can remember it, while others have only heard of it. For many Christmas has become mostly a time to spend money, and complain. Reindeer, tinsel and fake snow pop up at the mall just about the same time the gremlins and black cats disappear, and we complain that it gets earlier every year. We can’t find the one toy our children or grandchildren must have. Every year we send the Smiths a card; every year they stiff us in return. We grumble when a mall salesperson wishes us “Happy Holidays,” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Do I even have to mention the stress and hectic pace of the season? With the cooking and cleaning, who has time to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas? It is sad to say that many Christian churches have surrendered; culture won the day. “Frosty the Snowman” has drowned out the church’s message about Christmas, originally called the Mass for Christ. And sad to say it appears that no one seems to care, as they scramble here and there trying to fill up their empty lives with things, things that say I will give you joy and peace, but cannot fulfill them.
We need to once more be awakened to the true meaning of Christmas, for it is only in Jesus that we are declared innocent before God. We need to pray, “Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts, so that we may not be found asleep and unprepared.”
That is why I have chosen for our Sunday Advent theme this year, “Awake, Watch, Hear, Our Savior Draws Near.” Listen to verses 6 through 13 of our Gospel lesson for this morning: "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' "`No,' they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!' they said. `Open the door for us!' "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” In other words be spiritually awake, so that you are always prepared for Jesus’ return. That is easier said than done, for it is easy to go about our busy lives and not really think that much about the fact that Jesus has come and that he will come again. That is why Advent preparations for the celebration of Christmas are so important. They remind us Christ has come and He is here with us every day in the Word and Sacraments, and that he will come again.
We prepare ourselves by taking an active part in worshiping God, by partaking of the Lord’s Supper, by attending Bible studies, and having private Bible devotions in our homes. All of those things keep our hearts on things above and not on things of this world. Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts.
Knowing Christ’s presence with us now and his coming again is what brings us great joy. In knowing this we know that those who trust in Jesus will never die. Life on earth with all of its struggles and pain will not last. And, because Jesus is with us we can make it through the struggles of life filled with His comfort and, yes, His joy. Those who know Christ have His peace which surpasses all human understanding. On this earth Christians have what those who do not know Christ are seeking. We have so much to offer the suffering in our world. We have Christ. .
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus, but it is way more than that, for his birth marks the beginning of the end, that is the end of God’s wrath toward us. His birth, as much as we focus on it at this time of the year, is just the beginning of the story. Jesus’ life, especially his adult life was not an easy life, by any stretch of the imagination. He had no permanent home. He suffered terribly, was hated and misunderstood, and in the end killed because his message of love and forgiveness was not acceptable to the people. Jesus life, as a whole was not filled with joy, so we don’t talk to often about his suffering and death during the Christmas season. Sin and death is such a downer this time of the year.
The problem is that by our putting Jesus’ suffering and death out of our mind during the Christmas season is that it keeps us from truly understanding the whole story, for it is only in knowing the whole story of Jesus’ birth, life, suffering, and death, that you can find true joy and peace, for it is in those things that Jesus made everlasting peace between us and the Father. We cannot separate the little baby from the man on the cross or the Second Coming of Jesus on the last day.
It’s easy during this time of the year to fall victim to the thinking of the world. There is so much going on, so much to get ready for, so many things pulling us in different directions that we become physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. And without realizing it we become like the virgins that did not have enough oil.
That is what can happen when you don’t put God and all that he is ahead of all the preparations, partying, and gift giving that the world demands of you. To keep Jesus centered in your life does not mean you have to give up all the secular celebrations and gift giving, for when you have Jesus in the center of your life you are at peace with God.
Christmas is about our being at peace with God. The weeks before Christmas are a perfect time to show others your faith. Send Christian Christmas cards that have a clear statement of the Christian faith. Greet people with “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays.” Listen to Christian Christmas music. Spend time meditating on the Word of God particularly the birth and death of Jesus. Faithfully attend worship. Be prepared to tell others the story of Jesus and what he has done for all people.
We, as followers of Jesus have so much to offer the suffering, the lonely, those burdened by guilt in our world. We have the Christ the one who came to be one of us, who suffered and died, who victoriously rose from the grave, who ascended into heaven, and who will come again to judge the living and the dead. Lord, wake us up deep in our hearts so that we might not be found wanting. Amen.
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 11:17 AM
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