Loving God, you remind us again today that in spite of earth shaking changes, those who belong to you through Jesus have nothing to fear.  Help us today to recognize you whenever and wherever you come, and strengthen our faith in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    What would you do if you knew that the world was going to end tomorrow?  Would you go to bed and have a very long nap?  Would you tell your family that you love them?  Would you seek reconciliation with somebody you’ve been fighting with?  Would you spend lots of time in prayer?  Or would you just do the same things that you do every day?

    It’s actually not a bad question to ask, in spite of the fact that we’re not going to know the day or the hour of the end.  It’s not a bad question, because it helps us to think about what our priorities actually are.  It’s not a bad question, because we’re entering into a season where it is so easy to get caught up in our own busy-ness that we forget who we are, and whose we are, and what’s really most important.

    In other ways, of course, it’s easy for us to start to tune out when we hear passages like today’s gospel.  After all, there have been so many predictions about the end of the world that have been entirely false, and many who find it hard to believe that Jesus will ever return.  In fact, once again this year, Harold Camping predicted the end of the world on May 21st, and then when that didn’t happen, revised his prediction to Oct. 21st.  Apparently that didn’t happen, either, and now one of the next predictions will be for Dec. 21, 2012.  With all of these predictions, it becomes obvious how we have tuned out the gospel, which clearly says, “but about that day or hour no one knows” (Mk. 13:32)!  So what are we to do with all this?

    First off, I’d like you to consider something from today’s gospel that shows us a different perspective on the coming of Christ.  I had never noticed before how interesting the times are in verse 35:

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 (Mk. 13:35).

Lurking in behind this text are the events that follow in the gospel of Mark.

    In the evening, Jesus gathers with his disciples in the upper room for their last supper together (Mk. 14:17).  Afterwards, they go to the garden of Gethsemane, where the disciples are told to watch and pray, but cannot stay awake (Mk. 14:38-40).  They cannot stay awake, because it is the middle of the night!  The next time that is mentioned is “at cockcrow”, which is right around the time when Peter denies ever having known Jesus (Mk. 14:71-72).  And then at dawn, when the morning comes, Jesus is put on trial before Pilate (Mk. 15:1).

    It is when Jesus is crucified that the heavens and the earth are shaken, and darkness covers the earth.  It is when Jesus is crucified that one age comes to an end and a new age begins.  It is after Jesus dies on the cross and is raised from the dead that he comes among us in a new way – through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on his followers.  This gives us just a little glimpse into the way that time often works with biblical prophecies, where often the same prophecy will be fulfilled in several different times and places.  This also helps us to make a little more sense of the verse that says that “this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place” (Mk. 13:30).

    Thus, during this Advent season (and advent means coming), we are reminded that Jesus has come and is coming and will come again.  Jesus does not come merely at some time way off in the future for the final judgment.  Rather, Jesus comes to us now - both in this place and in our world.

    It struck me this week that the most comforting words in today’s gospel are these: “he is near” (Mk. 13:29).  In fact, we saw last week how Jesus is near whenever one of his brothers or sisters are hungry or thirsty or sick or poorly clothed.  And so, the challenge for us is not simply to watch for the time when Christ will come again, but also to keep alert for those times when we see God at work right here and right now.  And so, where have you seen Jesus lately?

    This past week, a number of our youth attended “We Day” at the MTS Centre.  These young people are involved with social justice and are aware of the poor and the oppressed, both here and around the world.  They are aware of those who suffer and of children around the world who lose their innocence at far too young an age.  While We Day is not a specifically Christian event, the poor and the oppressed and the quest for justice are all so very close to God’s heart.  Could it be that God is at work in and through these young people?

    God also shows up in both the miraculous and the ordinary.  I recently heard about what God had been doing lately from the leader of Alpha Canada, Shaila Visser.  She told about how she had been diagnosed with fungal meningitis, a life-threatening brain disease.  While she was in the hospital, her pastor and others from her church came and anointed her with oil and laid hands on her and prayed that she would be healed in the name of Jesus Christ.  A few days later, she had an MRI, which would show how much the “fungal ball” in her brain had grown.  The scan showed that the fungal ball had totally disappeared, without even leaving a scar, something that could only be described as a miracle and as an answer to prayer.

    As Shaila shared her story, she acknowledged those others who pray for healing and don’t seem to receive it.  She doesn’t see herself as anything special, but she certainly gives all the glory to God and gives thanks to Jesus for his power to heal, even as she continues her work with Alpha.  Here, once again, God is most certainly at work!

    Still, what about those other places where Jesus shows up?  In a meal shared with those in need at Trinity Food Pantry.  In a well that is shared with a whole community that needs good, fresh water.  In a visit to somebody who is sick and lonely.  In food and clothing that are shared with those in need, whether at Lutheran Urban Ministry or at Siloam Mission, or at any number of other places.  In a meal of bread and wine.  In the waters of baptism, or in prayer shared together with a friend.  Jesus comes to us in so many different ways, and are we alert enough to recognize him?  The Lord “is near, at the very gates” (Mk. 13:29)!

    And so, what would you do if the world were going to end tomorrow?  And if it’s important enough to do then, why wait?  After all, you’re not going to know the day or the hour, and Jesus comes to us even now.

    Today, as this season of Advent begins, take some time for quiet - some time to be aware of the presence and power of God and to recognize Christ among us.  Take some time to ask yourself what you would do if the world were going to end tomorrow, and thus help yourself to focus on what is really most important in your life.  The Lord “is near, at the very gates” and is present and active in our world.  May God help us to recognize Jesus wherever we meet him, even as we continue to grow in love and in understanding by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Advent 1 (B)                                    Mark 13:24-37
November 27, 2011
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2011 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved