Finding Faith ... in the coming of Advent

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 2.5 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Dec. 3, 2017.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Advent lately. As you know, just a little while ago this morning we lit our first candle of Advent.

And I don’t know if this will come as a surprise to you, but did you know there are some Christians who don’t celebrate Advent? … I don’t mean that with any condescension. Just an observation. ... I was reminded of this this week, that some Christians don’t have Advent. ... And it was one of those poignant moments for me.

This came about as I was having an interesting discussion with a pastor friend regarding the fact that Assemblies of God churches do not celebrate Advent. … And, of course, there are others. … But as we talked about this, the revelation caused me great sadness. … Sadness that those Christians do not get to experience the many meaningful emotions and powerful experiences that come with Advent.

As I said, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Advent in the past couple of weeks. And in light of the many stresses and tensions that we all feel this time of year … but maybe even especially this year … the beginning of Advent has brought me much peace.

And I would like to share a little more about Advent with you if that’s OK. … The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. … And now, I guess, my Greek professor wins because I will have to admit to him that his class did, indeed, come in handy. …

So, what is Advent, exactly? … Well, scholars tell us that Advent originated during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, as preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany. During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer and fasting to prepare for this celebration. Maybe surprising to us, but originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

However, by the 6th century, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ, just as we do today. ... But, and this is an important but! … The “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem. … No, they had a different coming in mind. … Christ’s second coming; the coming when he comes to judge the living and the dead, as our creed states. … It actually was not until much later in the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.

And now today, the season of Advent lasts for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, the first of which happens today.

So what is it exactly that we are celebrating, if it’s not the coming birth of Christ? … Well, Advent actually symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days,” so to speak. These days as we -- God’s people -- wait for the return of Christ so that he can restore his righteous kingdom here on earth and give his faithful their just place in that kingdom.

In other words our church today is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis they called for God once again to act for them.

In that same way, the church today, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. And so, while Israel was exalted in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church now is exalted in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming in the future.

Yes, I have been thinking quite a lot about Advent, for various reasons. But honestly, I’ve found great peace in this pondering. ... Even in spite of all that is going on around us.

It’s no secret that we live in contentious times. Our world is charged with political chaos, and complicating matters is the fact that we have access to technology that pumps that chaos into our lives on a continual basis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People are choosing sides, pointing fingers, and ready to fight at the slightest provocation. … I’m right; you’re wrong. … If you gain; I lose. … On and on. Unceasingly. ... And it has us all exhausted.

But take brothers and sisters in Christ. … That’s exactly why I have found peace in the coming of Advent this year. … Despite this very chaos that surrounds us, I find comfort in the fact that I know -- and our scriptures remind us -- that Christ is coming. … Coming to restore the righteousness. … And coming to reclaim us and bring us to his kingdom, where the struggle and strife of this world ends.

How about you this Christmas season? … This Advent? … Where is your mind at? … Do you find it as difficult as I do to concentrate on Christ’s coming amid the constant pressures?

The lights, the holiday parties, the increased demands on our time, and money and our relationships? … The other night, on a rare occasion that Shelley and I sneaked away for dinner by ourselves, I soon found myself discouraged by the fact that instead of spending those precious moments reconnecting and finding joy in those small moments of life, we spent that dinner working through our schedules for the next month. Admittedly, the sad truth is that without spending that “free” time together on planning, we wouldn’t have been prepared for the countless practices, games and other responsibilities we have coming up.

But I’m certain we’re not the only ones.

I see this happening with our family members, our friends, and there are probably even some among us today, who find yourselves in the same boat. Unsettled ... Pulled in too many directions. … Overwhelmed

But again sisters and brothers in Christ take heart!

The answer for us all can be found in Advent! …So I encourage you, as you walk out of here today: Keep the vision of that Advent candle in the back of your mind to remind you that when the trappings of life as we live it today -- and especially in these next four weeks -- bog you down, remember that Advent gives us a greater hope than all of the lights, the presents and the parties, all of the material things that have taken on meaning in the Christmas season.

Advent reminds us that regardless of our plans are for the next month … regardless of whatever new technological wonder we receive this Christmas … regardless of it all, the true celebration lies in the fact that one day, Jesus Christ, our one and true savior, will come back to restore his kingdom. … And that is why this Advent season I am so charged!

While Advent is certainly a time of celebration and anticipation of Christ’s birth, it is more than that. … Truly, it is only through a true understanding of what Advent is can we Christians actually fully understand the miracle of Christmas; and it is only in the light of Christmas that the Christian life makes any sense.

So in honor of Advent this year, I’d like to leave you with a beautiful poem I ran across in my studying of Advent. It’s untitled, as far as I know, but powerful:

“This Christmas end a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten friend.

Dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust.

Write a love letter.

Share some treasure.

Give a soft answer.

Keep a promise.

Find the time.

Forgo a grudge.

Forgive an enemy.

Listen.

Apologize if you were wrong.

Try to understand.

Examine your demands on others.

Think first of someone else.

Be kind; be gentle.

Appreciate.

Laugh a little.

Laugh a little more.

Express your gratitude.

Gladden the heart of a child.

Welcome a stranger.

Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the Earth.

Speak your love.

Speak it again.

Speak it yet once again.

And, finally, in my own words, remember that Advent candle when you leave today. … Take a good look and carry that light out into the world.

Amen.