Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
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Original Manuscript:
I heard on the radio recently that we, as Americans, spend on average hundreds of dollars during the holiday season, either with money we have or with money we don't have.
So when we pay off our bills and credit cards in January, how satisfied and relaxed we are will depend on how well we have planned. Did we budget this past year for the Christmas season, or did we not? Did we make sure we were prepared?
That's what we want, to be prepared for what is to come. That is especially true of finances. It's also why we budget as churches, and why churches have stewardship campaigns, so we can know what we can budget for. But there are many other things it helps to be prepared for as well.
We hear about one of those in Luke's account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple life as well as the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus warns us to be on guard, to be alert, really to be ready for when the end comes. Jesus calls us to be prepared.
The reasons for that are simple. We needed to be prepared for Jesus, specifically, and as Jesus says near the beginning of the passage, it is through Him, the Son of Man, where our salvation is. It is through Him that our redemption is at hand, so it's important to be prepared for Him.
This is also a reminder to us to be prepared in all aspects of life because we never know when Jesus might be coming in.
Those of us who have been called into any form of ministry, lay or ordained, know this. For many of us, like myself, there's a moment that happens, and we are left working to sort it out. I've heard stories from some who have had an idea for ministry pop in, only for it to grow and grow until it can be ignored no longer.
Are we prepared when we get such a call? Are we ready to let Jesus into our lives more fully? Are we ready to listen? Or, are we like the Prodigal Son, wandering and wandering, avoiding our responsibilities until we can do so no longer?
When we experience moments of pain or sorrow, are we prepared? Do we lash out in anger at God and turn away completely? Or are we equipped to let God into our troubles to help comfort us? Can we, at the very least say 'God, I am angry at you right now, but I know you have the strength to help me get through this'? If we can at least do that, we will have a much easier time in our pain and sorrow, enough of an easier time to move through it, however long it may take us to do so.
In our times of joy, do we give thanks or do we look at our successes as our own doings, or perhaps our own deservings, forgetting that it is only through the Grace of God that any of us are here?
Joy, Sorrow, even a call to further life in Jesus: these are things that can catch us by surprise. These are things that we do not always expect, but we know they will happen, just like, as Jesus says we know the signs of the seasons changing. We know they will happen, just as the holiday spending will happen too. We know they will happen, even if we don't always know when.
We need to be prepared for what life has to throw at us so we can continue to walk with Christ Jesus. We need to be prepared for Jesus when He shows up unexpectedly in our lives. These things will happen, even if we don't know when.
That is why Christian Formation is so important, and why it has been such a focus of mine at St. Paul's. Formation is not just about sitting in a classroom, although that is sometimes what we all need. Formation is about preparing ourselves for those unexpected moments in life, for those unexpected times that Jesus shows up at our door.
That is most of all what I want for you. That you will have a strong and deep faith. That you will be prepared. We don't gather here each week out of duty, we do so to build each other up in our joint faith. Christian Formation is offered here so you will have an opportunity to gain the tools you need, but there are other ways too. There are books, movies, and podcasts out there to help you. There are online offerings, like the ones I put out there. If all else fails, there's the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer, and last but certainly not least, there's the Bible itself. Don't just read these things, but as we prayed recently, "read, mark, and inwardly digest them." Let whatever you do to study, form yourself, and learn really change you.
It may be easy to think that we can compartmentalize our religious and secular lives. Jesus reminds us today that is not possible. Our faith has a great effect on all things in our lives and beyond. So we need to be ready to let Jesus in, and especially in this Advent season, we need to prepare to let Jesus into our hearts and minds as we get ready to celebrate His birth.
In our times of joy, do we give thanks or do we look at our successes as our own doings, or perhaps our own deservings, forgetting that it is only through the Grace of God that any of us are here?
Joy, Sorrow, even a call to further life in Jesus: these are things that can catch us by surprise. These are things that we do not always expect, but we know they will happen, just like, as Jesus says we know the signs of the seasons changing. We know they will happen, just as the holiday spending will happen too. We know they will happen, even if we don't always know when.
We need to be prepared for what life has to throw at us so we can continue to walk with Christ Jesus. We need to be prepared for Jesus when He shows up unexpectedly in our lives. These things will happen, even if we don't know when.
That is why Christian Formation is so important, and why it has been such a focus of mine at St. Paul's. Formation is not just about sitting in a classroom, although that is sometimes what we all need. Formation is about preparing ourselves for those unexpected moments in life, for those unexpected times that Jesus shows up at our door.
That is most of all what I want for you. That you will have a strong and deep faith. That you will be prepared. We don't gather here each week out of duty, we do so to build each other up in our joint faith. Christian Formation is offered here so you will have an opportunity to gain the tools you need, but there are other ways too. There are books, movies, and podcasts out there to help you. There are online offerings, like the ones I put out there. If all else fails, there's the Daily Office in the Book of Common Prayer, and last but certainly not least, there's the Bible itself. Don't just read these things, but as we prayed recently, "read, mark, and inwardly digest them." Let whatever you do to study, form yourself, and learn really change you.
It may be easy to think that we can compartmentalize our religious and secular lives. Jesus reminds us today that is not possible. Our faith has a great effect on all things in our lives and beyond. So we need to be ready to let Jesus in, and especially in this Advent season, we need to prepare to let Jesus into our hearts and minds as we get ready to celebrate His birth.