Advent Moods

Luke 21.25-36

Jesus said to his disciples: 25‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’

29Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, 35and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’

Sermon at St Hilda, Dulverton Hall

ADVENT MOODS

“They will see the Son of Man coming…”

Today we begin another holy season of Advent. The Advent Wreath reminds us that Christmas is just four short weeks away; also that the certain final coming of our Lord could happen at any time. We must prepare for both.

I want to speak about Four Advent moods – first, it is a season to look up with thankfulness; secondly, it is a season to look in with sadness; thirdly it is a season to look forward with hopefulness; and fourthly, it is a season to look out with loving kindness.

1. LOOK UP WITH THANKFULNESS: The white candle at the centre of the Advent Wreath links up with those at either end of the altar. Our Christian worship is centred on the Eucharist – a song of praise and thanksgiving for the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every Sunday, irrespective of the season of the year, is a little Easter when Christians celebrate the liberation given to us by God the Father, in the Holy Spirit, through Jesus our Saviour.
2. LOOK IN WITH SADNESS: The liturgical colour for Advent is purple, because it is a penitential season. It is a time for a bit of serious self examination and sorrow for our sins and failures in the Christian life. Each of us must choose how to deal with the out come using the spiritual disciplines that the church offers us. The Temple needs cleansing for the coming of Christ.
3. LOOK FORWARD WITH HOPEFULNESS: Today the Archbishop of Canterbury and other church leaders launch an Advent programme titled “Why we are waiting”. They want to help the nation to prepare for Christmas in a reflective mood of hope. Archbishop Rowan says: “We hope for a world in which we have learned to live with the grain of things, to live patiently, to live respectfully, to live in a way that takes our environment seriously”. Fr Martin Warner, who is to be the new Bishop of Whitby, writes the weekly sermon in the Church Times and this week he tells of a graffiti artist who wrote “God is dead: signed Nietsche”. Another graffiti artist came along, crossed this our, and wrote “Nietsche is dead: signed God”. A book publisher commented: “The more God dies, the more He sells”. Fr Warner himself preaches from today’s gospel: ”The truth is not that God is back, but that we lost sight of Him, and in so doing we have wondered into an era unprecedented of alienation and anxiety. The great human experiments of social advancement, whether in communist totalitarianism or free market capitalism, have been shown to fail. We fear that we have damaged our home, the earth, and committed more than two thirds of her children to unbelievable poverty. Advent calls us back to God and we, God’s heralds and agents, are entrusted with the task of articulating the message of hope; God will not abandon us; His Kingdom is near”.
4. LOOK OUT WITH LOVING KINDNESS: The Advent Ecumenical Prayer and Bible Study Group met for the first of four meetings last Thursday in St Edward’s Church Hall. The discussion got round to our witness to the world around us at this time of year and someone suggested that the displays in our windows should speak of Christ in some way. Then I was challenged directly about the missed opportunity here at Dulverton in such a prominent position with so many residents and visitors walking along the South Cliff. I promised to raise it as a matter for discussion among us and I would be interested to have your comments and ideas so that I can report back. However, more important is showing loving kindness in personal terms to all we meet, in and out of the building, every day and also to family and neighbours near and far. As the hymn write puts it “Let me be as Christ to you”.

So on this first Sunday of Advent 2009 let us straightaway look to see the Son of Man coming to us in this Holy Communion. Perhaps we should ask Him to refine and use the potential of our different Advent Moods.