Between the Windows is a a series in which I share homilies and other reflections written for the residential retirement community where I am a chaplain. Thank you for reading.
Mark 13: 24-37
Jesus said, “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.
“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.
“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.”
Well, here we are at the beginning of another church year. The observation of Advent even in evangelical churches has grown in recent years, and of course you can find Advent calendars in nearly every store these days with just about anything you could wish for inside. The classic is, of course, chocolate, but did you know you can also get calendars filled with skincare products, beer, Lego figures, tea, cheese, fragrances, and even beef jerky? Nothing says “prepare for Christmas” like beef jerky…
Despite its commercial popularity, the church still maintains its ownership of the origins of Advent which are dated back to the 5th century in Italy. Advent observed secularly is merely a countdown to the day of Christmas, and the Christmas season is observed throughout December. In contrast, as the church we observe advent to prepare our hearts for Christ, and we become increasingly ready for the celebration of Christmas which doesn’t even begin until the day the world around us tells us it is just about over.
Advent and Lent are Christian sisters, in a way. Both are seasons of waiting and preparation for Christ. Both are seasons of penitence, inward reflection, and a time we are called toward acts of mercy on behalf of the Christ we claim to follow. Once I learned of their connection, the season of Advent changed for me and I felt new permission to keep things simple until December 25th. Much like Lent is a time we are meant to simplify our lives through prayer and fasting, Advent is an invitation toward a slower pace that encourages our reflection as we wait for the Christ child.
I appreciated this very much, however my children are now in school and it’s clear that the school does not observe Advent the way the church does. Just this week my son was sent home with a memo about what to do every day for the next twelve days before Christmas break. Don’t his teachers and administrators know that we parents have enough parties, Christmas programs, gifts to buy and wrap, food to prepare, and services to attend? Why are they asking me to send him to school in 12 unique ways over the next three weeks? I digress…
So how do we maintain the church’s pace when the world is so set on something else? It is counter-cultural enough to leave the tree up until Epiphany. What about all the other ways we are expected to rush and fill our calendars over the next three weeks? Particularly now as wars in Europe and the Middle East rage on, climate change continues to threatens marginalized communities, hunger crisis around the world are worsening, and the poverty rate in our own city is growing? These matters deserve our attention even now amidst the clamor and distraction of the holidays.
Our text from Mark 13 quotes Jesus as he references Old Testament apocalyptic texts. The “event” he is describing is not meant to be taken literally as a prediction of the future. Rather, it is an example of God’s presence during difficulty and of the importance of our being watchful. Theologian Christopher R. Hutson says, “The point is not to predict specific events in the future. Rather, apocalyptic theologians look to understand God’s mighty acts in the past as a framework for understanding how the people of God should respond to the present.”
If we are to take this text as an example of how we might respond now during this season of Advent, what might we notice?
Jesus calls us to be attentive to the signs of hope around us that Christ is indeed coming. Of course, in Advent and every Sunday when we receive the Eucharist, we proclaim together that Christ has come and Christ will come again. We are caught in the middle of the Messiah’s resurrection and return. What are the signs that keep us hopeful in the waiting? Jesus references the new branches on a fig tree as an illustration of God’s nearness during times of trouble.
In recent years as I’ve learned to garden I’ve noticed that as the leaves fall from my trees in the autumn, the buds for the leaves which will grow in the spring have already appeared. I think of the bulbs we often plant on dark and cold days; what is this if not an act of hope for the future? Bring to your mind the times the sky begins to change, perhaps darken, and clouds lower closer to the earth. This, too, is a sign of what is to come.
My son’s tooth has been wiggly, so I know it will soon fall out and be replaced with a new one. Toward late summer I start to notice an awful lot of people wearing red on Fridays when I go to Hy-Vee. Football season is coming. Not long after Christmas the shelves of the stores will be lined with valentines and red hearts and stuffed animals, alerting us to the next holiday we should feel prepared for.
All these things and more you could also think of are signs of things to come. Some of them are more defined, like the arrival of Valentine’s Day. Others are less so: I don’t know when my son’s tooth will decide to fall out, and I don’t know when the bulbs will send out stalks that will emerge from the very cold ground. But… I know they are there. So I need to be ready. I need to prepare the garden around it. I need to have a few dollars in my bag for the day my son comes and says, “Look, mom!”
We also see in this lesson that while the master is away, his slave is expected to work and keep the home and keep watch. This tells me we are not waiting mindlessly or passively; we have work to do. As Christians, our work it is to follow the command to love God and neighbor, to care for the orphan and the widow, and to tend to all creation. These tasks are no doubt dauntless, but to be Christ’s disciple is to work and keep watch in his physical absence. I’m reminded of the question, “How do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a time. Much like keeping a home or a job, there are small tasks which make up the greater aim for which we are responsible, and God calls us throughout scripture to take these on for God’s sake, to be God’s presence in the world.
My son told me a few months ago that his favorite word is “yet.” He said, “I love that word because I know it means that if I haven’t learned something, I just haven’t learned it YET. If I haven’t been somewhere, I just haven’t been YET. Yet means I will one day, even if I haven’t already.”
It occurred to me in that moment that yet is a very theological word. And in this season of Advent, we are caught in the middle of the now, and not yet. When we say “not yet,” we indicate that something is indeed coming. We are sure of it. And so we wait.
In this season of waiting, I pray we all remember what it is that we are waiting for. It isn’t merely the day of Christmas, but it is the arrival of Christ in our world, Emmanuel, God with us. Bringing mercy and hope to the suffering, promising redemption for all, and bearing love for all of creation. I hope we are mindful of what work is ours to do in the waiting, and that we respond to the needs of people near and far, our neighbors, with Christlike action and love. Your action on behalf of the Gospel is a sign of hope, like planting daffodil bulbs. We do these things because we believe in yet.
I hope you stay awake to the signs of God’s nearness in the world. Light the good candles. Pour the good wine. Stay up after all have gone to bed, or maybe rise a bit earlier with a fresh cup of tea. Sit in the quiet. Notice the signs of what is to come, your own works of faithfulness not withstanding. Keep awake. The Lord is not here yet, but we hold onto the promise that he will arrive soon to bring hope and healing and wholeness.
Amen.
This is so beautiful, Janette! "Advent and Lent are Christian sisters, in a way" - I know just what you mean about the challenge of entering into this as much as possible in family and everyday life, when the world around us is in full steam ahead mode before - and then, also, now - in these days before Epiphany, when there is often a move to rush ahead, again, and whip down all signs of the season for another year. We've tried to embrace the not "yet"-ness - and how amazing about your son being captivated by the word! 🙏- more than ever this year. I also love that your new ministry is to walk alongside those in residential retirement community. Sending much love from the UK, and so happy to see your writing again here. Always love reading your words, wherever they appear. With love, in the in-between, the waiting and the hope. X❤️