Readings: Luke 21:25-36

There was a film that I saw at the Science Centre when it first opened many years ago that gave me a sense of the timelessness of God that has stayed with me.  At the time it was frightening, almost apocalyptic.  Now as I look back it was one of those ‘aha’ moments of life, a moment of deep insight that I understand but find very difficult to explain.  The film began by focusing on someone sunbathing in her backyard.  The camera drew away until you could see the whole backyard, then the neighbourhood, city, country, globe and finally into the darkness of outer space.  It didn’t end there, for the camera then began to come back very quickly.  I expected it to stop as it had begun, but from the macrocosm of space it entered the microcosm of the human body.  Within a matter of minutes it took me from the vastness and timelessness of space right into myself.  I came away with a sense of awe and wonder and uneasiness. 

I use this as an illustration because the same feelings are aroused in me through apocalyptic readings like those for today.  As humans we think in such finite terms.  We find it difficult to wrap our minds around the endlessness of space and time.  Readings about the coming of the kingdom either make us feel uneasy, or we ignore them as having no relevance to our lives.   There is a real tension for the Christian about living in the time between the Christ of history and the fulfillment of Christ’s reign at the end of history. 

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars,” Jesus says.  And we look around ourselves at the signs that we see in our present day world.  What is significant in our world?  Ecological concerns, economic difficulties, terrorism… Don’t we often wonder what the world is coming to?  Don’t we wonder what God’s plan is and when God is going to get around to doing something about all the terrible things that are happening in the world? 

But if we allow ourselves to become burdened and fearful by what we see going on in the world, then we will miss how God is really at work.  “When these things begin to take place,” Jesus says, “stand up and raise your heads.”  That is where the really significant things are happening.  The signs of God at work in the world are already here for us to see.  It is time for us to make preparations, not in fear of what is to come, but by faith in the God who has come, and who is here.  Our God is present with us.  Our redemption has already occurred. 

Advent is both a season and an attitude.  It is a season for Christians to prepare themselves spiritually.  However, we tend to get so caught up in the busyness and frantic pace of parties and shopping that it becomes almost impossible to make the connections we need to make.  The secular world has fully adopted and adapted our celebration for its own purposes.  And that is not all bad.  The spirit of generosity and good will that permeates much of society as Christmas approaches is nothing short of miraculous.  But there has to be more for us as Christians.  There has to be that sense of hope that God’s reign has already made a difference, not just for a few days or weeks, but for all times. 

As attitude Advent offers hope for the future.  It is the reason that the church tries to keep Advent as Advent.  It isn’t simply about aggravating people who can’t wait for Christmas.  It isn’t about being mean spirited and not allowing people to celebrate Christmas until the very day.  It is about spiritual preparedness.  We are preparing ourselves for Christ to be born in us again and again and again.  The birthing process is not an easy one.  There is a nine-month waiting period.  There is morning sickness.  There is work to be done to get ready.  There are labour pains. 

How do we keep that attitude of hope and expectancy that is our Christian call?  Moments of crisis do come in our lives.  We cannot get away from it.  We will experience times of mourning and loneliness and despair.  Life is like that.  It is a reality.  Remember when such times come to look up.  That is where the action is.  Don’t go around with your head down – because you’re going to miss something.  God has a way of coming.  In that coming is promise.  God has done something for us that has changed the path of history.  That is our hope.  That is the kingdom breaking through.  Even when nothing else is left, God is there.  What wonderful hope that is!