Dec. 2, 2012 Advent 1

Luke 21:25-36

 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
 29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

“In A Celebrating Mood?”

The issue of when Jesus is coming again is mute; it is a dead end street.
What is important today is not the content of our text, but the mood set by the text.  For our mood is vital to our relationships.

And the mood of our text is a “positive, joyful hope of redemption.”
Celebration - the mood of the Gospel!

There is great heresy in correct theology without correct mood.
The power of ”Jesus Christ Super Star” and “Godspell” is the mood they set.

To celebrate life at all times and in all places.  To see the good surrounded by the bad.  To be thankful when all is going wrong.  To be hopeful when all seems lost.  This is the mood of the Gospel.  This is the mood of Jesus.  Celebration of life, for it is good.

“We communicate best when we celebrate most.”

 “The Second Coming”

There is much speculation regarding the return of Jesus Christ, the second advent.  The truth is, IT IS GOING TO BE A SURPRISE!

To try take the surprise out of the second coming by predicting when it is going to happen is the highest form of idolatry known to man.  It is playing God!

The important question for us is not “When will the Kingdom of God come?”, but ”How has it come to us already?” and, “How can it come through us again?”

The answer to the first question is, “Yes, in Jesus .”
Is this not what we celebrate in Christmas!  Emanuel, God with us!

And to the second one, the answer is, “ It comes in the human drama of love and forgiveness; compassion and caring, when ever and where ever it happens.”

That is, it comes as we let Christmas be more then an observation.  Let  Christmas live through us.  For wherever two humans touch in a meaningful way, God is also present.