In the gospel for the First Sunday in Advent, there is a very interesting word (at least in the NRSV): dissipation.  The gospel says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life” (Lk. 21:34).  Wondering, of course, what exactly “dissipation” is, I looked it up.
    As it turns out, dissipation has a number of different meanings.  The first, which probably doesn’t apply here, has to do with scattering something.  However, the other meanings all sound like a pretty good description of our society.
    Dissipation can mean wasteful consumption or expenditure.  It can also mean reckless indulgence in pleasure, or intemperance.  Finally, it can mean an amusement or a diversion.  Perhaps there is good reason that this gospel shows up at this time of year?
    It seems as though wasteful consumption or expenditure abounds in our society and in our lives.  It also seems as though many people pursue amusement or diversion on a regular basis – anything to escape reality and dull the pain.  And isn’t there also plenty of reckless indulgence in pleasure that takes place?
    All of these things are “dissipation,” and it weighs down – or dulls - the heart, along with drunkenness and the worries of this life.  Dissipation is also essentially what the prodigal son engaged in, until he came to his senses and returned to his father (Lk. 15:11-32).
    The context, of course, in Luke 21 is being ready at all times to meet Jesus, which also means being ready at all times for our last day on this earth.  We are warned that we will not be ready if we allow our hearts to be dulled and weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness and “the worries of this life.”
    The thing is that all of these things draw us away from God.  We become all caught up in things that really belong only to this world and have nothing to do with eternal life – or even with life in all its fullness!  In essence, we become so distracted that we wouldn’t recognize Jesus even if he sat down right beside us.
    And so, the gospels exhort us to be ready, to watch and to pray.  The thing is that when we are spending time in prayer, it grounds us and strengthens us.  When we spend time with the Scriptures, it grounds us in who Jesus is and what God is like.  When we take the time to pray and to listen and to watch, we are able to recognize Jesus and are always ready to meet him.
    Advent has always been a season of preparation, but not “just” for Christmas.  It is a season that calls us to focus on the things that really are most important, in spite of all of the demands on our time and energy and all of the distractions around us.
    And so, this is an invitation to take the time to slow down, and to pray, and to listen, and to watch.  Don’t worry about the things that really aren’t important in the end.  Don’t let overindulgence and over-spending weigh down your heart.  Instead, allow yourself to be grounded and strengthened in God’s presence, always ready both to meet and to recognize Jesus.
        In Christ,
        Pastor Lynne Hutchison