It is the first Sunday of a new church year - a good time to evaluate where we are, where we've been, and where we're going. It is also a good time to remind ourselves of what is most important in this life, for Jesus' final appearing could be at any time, and will we be awake and ready? It is no accident that both the end of the church year and its beginning focus on the second coming of Christ. This serves as a reminder to us that we are here on this earth for a limited period of time. There are no guarantees that we will be able to do all of those things that we figure we will start on tomorrow - or maybe the next day - or maybe next year. God could come to us at any time and say, "I'm sorry. Your time is up. Now, what have you been doing with your life?" In the same way we will be called to account for what we have been doing as a congregation. God will say, "I've given you all of these gifts to work with. Now, what have you been doing with them?" What is really the most important?

In a sense, this is the question that is being asked throughout the gospel reading for today. We hear about people who are engaging in activities that are quite normal. They are eating and drinking. They are marrying and giving in marriage. They are working in the field. They are preparing food. Then, in the midst of these every day activities, Jesus shows up. Jesus shows up and says, "Come with me. The end is here." And some go with Jesus, and some don't.

Some are right in the middle of their favourite meal, or maybe they're even at a special dinner or banquet. "Can you give me a little bit longer, Jesus? I've been looking forward to this party for months!" And so some are taken, and some are left. Well, then there are the ones who are right in the middle of their wedding. "Ah, Jesus. Does it have to be now? Couldn't you have at least allowed us to get married first?" That's a tough one! But then, what is really most important?

Then there are the ones who are hard at work - maybe in the field, maybe in their office, maybe in their workshop. "Jesus, do you think you could come back later? If I just work on this a little bit longer, we'll have a big payday coming in next week!" And so some are taken, and some are left. Finally, there are the ones who are busy making preparations for a dinner, or a party, or maybe even a wedding celebration. "Jesus, do you know how long we've been working on this? Do you really think we're just going to walk away now and go with you?" And so some are left there, while others go with Jesus.

In each case, the question that is just hanging there is, "What is really the most important?" The thing that today's gospel strives to remind us of is how all of those activities that belong to this world are finite and will come to an end. On the other hand, the power and the life of Jesus Christ are eternal. God's claim upon us through our baptism into Christ is for eternity. Any other claims upon our time and energy are far less powerful than God, and will come to an end.

In fact, a good question to ask about any situation with which we are faced is, "How important will this be in eternity?" Perhaps this is a good question to ask about any decisions that come before the congregation, too. One of the most common tensions that plays itself out in congregations is whether the focus is going to be inward or outward looking. In other words, are we going to spend the bulk of our time and energy looking after the people within the congregation or reaching out to those who are outside the congregation?

I dare say that it is easy to get bogged down on looking inward, and on trying to keep everybody happy - which never works anyway, by the way. In fact, it is part of our sinful human nature to turn inward and become overly concerned with ourselves. Yet, how important will this be in eternity? Is this the kind of report that God is looking for: "Well, we managed to keep most of the members happy, and everybody was well looked after. We kept a very nice church building, and we made sure that we didn't spend too much. We always made sure that we had just enough members to pay the bills - and of course some money in the bank - just in case." Is God going to say "well done!" to this kind of report? What will be important in eternity?

How about this report, presented to God: "We always kept in mind that the congregation existed for the sake of those who are not yet believers. With this in mind, we were always looking for what gifts we had been given that could be shared with the community around us. We knew that everything we had had been given to us to be used for the glory of God and in the service of others. We were always happy to put money into ministries outside the congregation, for we knew from experience that when we give away at least ten percent of what we get in, then God is even more generous. People in our congregation did not come asking, "What can this church do for me?", but instead, "How can I be equipped for ministry through participation in this congregation?" This is our report. This is what we have been doing with the gifts that we have been given." Is God's response to this report going to be "Well done!"? What is going to matter in eternity?

Now, of course, today we are dedicating the elevator (or lift) that has been added to our church building. There are at least two different ways to look at this project. Certainly, we can think in terms of our own members - well, we have people who need it. On the other hand, we can think of those who are not yet believers, who would be denied access to anything happening in the basement without the presence of an elevator. Is it not worth celebrating when those who were previously denied access are now able to participate fully?

The lift is just one of many things that we could point to that can be perceived in more than one way depending upon where our focus is. In each case, though, the questions are the same: What is really the most important?, and What is really going to matter in eternity? These are the questions that are laid before us today, as we are reminded of the shortness of the time that we have been given here on this earth, and as we are asked to consider our response to Jesus. Will we be awake and ready to go with him when he comes, or will everything else in our lives seem far more important?

Meanwhile, we are called to live in response to the goodness and love of God that has been revealed to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called to live our lives to the glory of God and in the service of others. We are called to live as if the end will be here tomorrow, standing ready to go with Jesus when he calls us.

In the same way, we are called to put on the Lord Jesus Christ - to put on the armour of light - in order to live honourably (Rom. 13:12-14). The same could be said whether we are talking about us as individuals or as a congregation. Our call is to put on the Christ-life, so that when people look at us, they see, not our human frailties and failings, but the love of Christ. This means following in the footsteps of Jesus and imitating his life of humble service. And really, if we are already focused on following Jesus, it will not be difficult at all to follow him when he appears. May God continue to be at work both within us and among us by the power of the Holy Spirit, filling us with the gifts of faith, hope, and love until the day of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Advent 1(A) Matthew 24:36-44 November 28, 2004 Romans 13:11-14 St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2004 Lynn Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved