Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - First Sunday of Advent - 12/03/17 Sermon - “The Hope of the promised Messiah" ("The Hope of Christmas" Series - Part 1 of 5)

Sunday 12/03/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “The Hope of the promised Messiah”

(“The Hope of Christmas” Series – Part 1 of 5)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Gospel Lesson: Mark 13:24-37

          Happy First Sunday of Advent my sisters and brothers! In this being our first Sunday of this Advent Season, I thought that I would review for us all, just what Advent is. Further, why do we have a season of the church liturgical calendar called Advent, anyway?

          Well here is some explanation or review of what Advent is, as it says:

“Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". The term "Advent" is also used in Eastern Orthodoxy for the 40-day Nativity Fast, which has practices different from those in the west”.

“Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from three different perspectives. "Since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153) Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time." The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming.”

“Advent is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (sometimes known as Advent Sunday), the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (30 November), in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church, and in the Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian and Methodist calendars. In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins on the sixth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday after St. Martin's Day (11 November)”.

“Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, lighting an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional, lighting a Christingle, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations, a custom that is sometimes done liturgically, through a hanging of the greens ceremony” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent).

          In many churches therefore, today is the first day of our church calendar year. As the church year begins with Advent, and ends with Christ the King Sunday.

          The season of Advent and Lent, are not biblical seasons, in the sense that they are clearly laid out in the Bible. They did develop out of church tradition however, and for millions and millions of Christians, these seasons prove to be a good time of spiritual and otherwise preparation for Christmas, and with Lent, Easter.

          In the definition of Advent that I just read for us all, one part says again:

“Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from three different perspectives. "Since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153) Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time." The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent).

          So historically speaking, the season of Advent was about three different anticipated comings of Jesus Christ. The first and the most obvious one, is of course the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the nativity or the manger scene that many of us know all too well. The second coming of Christ, is us asking Christ into our hearts and our lives anew each and every day. The third coming of Christ, is the return to earth of Jesus Christ. This is the “Second Coming” of Christ, or Christ’s “Triumphant Return”.

          We can see this reality in our gospel of Mark reading for this morning, as we are given an Apocalyptic or Eschatological gospel reading. This is to say, a gospel reading that speaks of the end of times, and the return of Jesus Christ to earth. This is exactly what the scripture reading from the Gospel of Mark is saying this morning. Someone might ask, “Why would we have a gospel reading about Christ’s return or Second Coming to earth, in a season where we are supposed to preparing to remember his birth?” The answer to this is historically speaking, the season of Advent has been about the birth of Christ, spiritually inviting Christ into our hearts daily, and the “Second Coming” of Christ to earth. This is why we are given this reading from the gospel of Mark for this morning.

          Before jumping into our gospel of Mark reading for this morning however, I want to mention the Apostle Paul’s reading from his first letter to the church in Corinth, or the Corinthians. In this portion of his epistle or letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is discussing faith in Christ, as one of the ideas of Advent is continually inviting Jesus Christ into our hearts. This is what it says once again:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.

^“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:3-9, NRSV).

          So with Advent being about the birth of Christ, our spiritual renewals in Christ, and the “Second Coming” of Christ, in this scripture the Apostle Paul covers two of these. Specifically, the Apostle Paul is talking about being filled and renewed by Christ, and he also discussed Christ’s “Second Coming”. The Apostle Paul refers to this as:

“the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:8b, NRSV).

          During my first Advent Season as a pastor in 2012, I was really confused as to why our gospel reading on the First Sunday of Advent was on the “Second Coming” or Christ. As such, I just wanted to explain this, in case you have ever been confused by that.

          With of all this said, the season of Advent is supposed to be a season of anticipation, of joy, love, and of hope. In our country and in our world, I am sure that since our last Advent Season, that losing hope could potentially be more likely than gaining hope for some of us.

          This is a season where among other things, we are awaiting the birth of Christ. Sometimes in our own lives we are waiting and we are hoping for many things. Maybe we awaiting Santa Claus eagerly on Christmas Eve. I like to see movies that portray the 1950’s, where children are gazing into the showcase window of the department store. The children look at the train set, and all the other wonders. Perhaps for them, the hope and joy they feel, is hoping that one of those items will be under their Christmas tree on Christmas morning. This is supposed to be a season of excitement, joy, wonder, and hope.

          Yet on that first Advent, that first Christmas, many were hoping for a better tomorrow. For many people, there faith in Jesus isn’t just about going to heaven one day, it isn’t just about being forgiven. It is also about the hope that we have in Christ, and that through Christ we can have a better tomorrow. We hope a better world for our children, and our children’s children.

          For me, “The Hope of Christmas,” is Jesus Christ. As a result, this is the sermon series that I will be preaching through Christmas Eve.

          This morning my sermon title is called, “The hope of the promised Messiah”. I don’t know about you, but if were living in captivity and under great oppression like the Jews were under Roman rule in the times of Jesus’ birth, well I might be pining for a savior to. The coming of the Messiah isn’t merely about the person of Christ, it is also about what it represents to us. The idea that we can believe that through this coming child, this Jesus, we can have and build a better world. This is why I have hope in Christ in the season of Advent, Christmas, and in general.

          In looking at our reading from the gospel of Mark for this morning it is rather Apocalyptic, Eschatological, and discusses the return or “Second Coming” of Jesus Christ. In fact, the subtitle over this section of Mark 13 in your pew bible is entitled: “The Coming of the Son of Man”. This scripture begins with:

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven (Mk. 13:24-27, NRSV).

          On this first Sunday of Advent, we are given a narrative on the return or “Second Coming” of Jesus Christ. I have heard some Christians that are having a bad day, or a bad week say something like, “Well if Jesus came back right now, that would be just ok with me”!

          Jesus then compares this to a fig tree and says:

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away     (Mk. 13:28-31, NRSV).

          So in this first Sunday of Advent, we don’t hear about the coming birth of Jesus Christ. Instead we hear about his “Second Coming” to earth.

          The gospel reading for this morning then ends with this:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake”

(Mk. 13:32-37, NRSV)

          Not a very “Christmassy” scripture if you ask me, but a reminder. This reminder historically speak, is that we have a savior named Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come.

          I hope and pray that in the busyness that is this season, you may find anew the joy, wonder, and the hope that is Jesus Christ. Amen.