Advent 1-St. Luke 21:25-36

‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.’ (Psalm 19:14) Amen.

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

‘“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”’ (V. 34)

The United States Health Service recently issued a statement about worry. They concluded that worry has the power to weaken and shorten life. Part of this report reads as follows: “So far as is known, no bird ever tried to build more nests than its neighbor. No fox ever fretted because it had only one hole in which to hide. No squirrel ever died of anxiety, lest it should not lay by enough for two winters instead of one. No dog every lost any sleep over the fact that it had not enough bones laid aside for the declining years.”

Worry wreaks havoc for you and me. It makes us ineffective. We are unable to get done what we need to do. If we are weighed down by worry, we cannot get done what needs to be done for the long pull.[1]

To be weighed down by dissipation carries with it that idea of worry. It also carries the idea of the nausea that follows a debauch. If you have been out drinking and carousing, like it was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6), you are not able to watch and listen for the return of the King. So then, if you are not watching, the return of Jesus will come upon you like a “thief in the night” or “like an armed man” (2 Peter 3:10; Revalation 16:15, cf. Proverbs 6:11). Jesus is warning us not to be surprised because of failure as a watchman.

‘“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves”’ (V. 25)

Jesus’ first words in our lesson carry with them the same idea. We must be careful in our watching. There is a great roar of sound. It is like the waves of the sea. It is like a freight train passing close by. While the train passes, no one can speak. You can no longer hear anyone speaking or coming upon you. You may be surprised because of the din of sound. Our lives are the same. Throughout our lives the cares of this life are like the roar of that train. It might be commerce in general. It may be the stock market. It may be grain prices. Whatever the roar is, it has the power to distract us from our watching. If we are found giving attention to these distractions, we will be found wanting at the return of the King.

At this time of the end, many will fall away from religion. This will bring about a darkening unbelief, which will even cause bright faith to seem diminished!

At that time, at the end when Christ will return, the vices of the flesh will obstruct the heavenly light. We will no longer be able to see it, as we are generally able. In persecution, whether it may be physical, as we hear about our brothers and sisters in the faith as it happens to them around the world. In persecution, it may be mental, as generally happens for you and me, love of life alone is what shuts out the light of God. When this happens, this is when you allow the devil to have his way with you. When you forget to cling to Jesus, when you forget to care for your neighbor and not yourself, then, you shut out the light of God.[2]

‘“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”’ (V. 27-8)

So, rather than shutting out the light of God, do not let “your lamps go out,” do not keep “your loins ungirded,” but “be ready,” for “you do not know the hour when our Lord is coming.” (St. Matthew 24:42, 44; St. Luke 12:35) This will be the great and terrible day of the Lord. What will be the joy or rejoicing for you and me then in this day? Well, we are those who cling steadfastly to the words of Jesus. We trust that He is the One, the Curse[3] for us, as Galatians three speaks of (V. 13), who will come and rescue us out of our sins. Everlasting life is yours. In spite of the many around us who will in that day fall away and perish, the Holy Spirit has promised to be with us and create and sustain faith in each of us. That is your confidence.

When these signs begin to occur, lift up your head and pay attention. It is then that you will know that Christ is to return. We are forever with the Psalmist: ‘Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the king of glory may come in.’ (Psalm 24:9) Luke is here referring us to the lifting up of your soul. Jesus is then telling your soul to raise up your head and see your redemption drawing near.

Looking up, this is the final action of the Second Coming. This lifting up is a glorious hope for you and me. Even as you and I pray for those around us and those in our life, who do not yet believe, we look forward to this time with glorious hope. We rejoice that even if the coming of the King comes before we die we have the most glorious hope of all. For after all, at that time we will be made glorious. He will transform all things for the better. At this time, when you raise your head, you will be clothed with incorruption by the gift of God in Christ.[4]

‘And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”’ (Vv. 29-31)

Yes, a week or two back we heard a similar parable being told to us in Mark’s gospel. Yet, think again about this sentence. What happens for all of us when we begin to see the first leaf buds on the trees? Those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder likely would rejoice. After all, this is a disorder under which the sufferer is depressed through the winter months because of the lack of sunlight.

Even those of us who have no physical health needs which would cause us to be glad at the coming of spring or summer, even we will rejoice. All of us, no matter whether we enjoy the winter months or not, we are glad to finally see a sign telling us of the coming of summer. In the same way, we will rejoice when we see these things Jesus speaks of happening.

“Finally,” we say, “the end is in sight!” The sun will finally shine and there will be long lazy days where we can lie out in the sun at the lake again. There may not be fig trees here around us in Minnesota, but each of you knows the sign you look for.

In other words, the things we have been considering, that is, adversity and unbelief are signs that the consummation of the Kingdom of God is at hand. This is not like the beginning of the gospels. Then, Jesus came preaching ‘“Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”’ (St. Mark 1:14-15) This is still the undercurrent of Jesus message. However, now, at the end of Jesus’ ministry, He is telling us that wars, famine, earthquakes and epidemics would arise in various places. This would occur to such an extent that many would fear new destructive agencies would come upon us. Jesus tells us that this will come so that you and I would not be gripped by this new fear. Jesus forewarned that adversity would increase in these last times.[5]

What else did your Savior tell you? He promised that you have been clothed with incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:55ff.). You have now already put on the white robe of Christ’s righteousness. Even in the midst of this adversity and unbelief, you and I, we who believe are made God’s righteousness in Christ. We already each of us, right this minute, possess all the gifts of everlasting life. We are already clothed in Christ’s righteousness even in the midst of all the terror and dreadful human suffering.

In the middle of all of this, you and I are blind Bartimaeus. We are the beggar sitting by the side of the road as our Savior passes us by crying aloud, ‘“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”’ (St. Mark 10:47) Jesus will. Jesus has.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations, CPH, pp. 213-4 entry #1008.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture New Testament volume III p. 322. St. Ambrose Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 10.36-37.
[3] Ibid, pp. 323-4. The Didache 16.1-7.
[4] Ibid, p. 324. St. Cyril of Alexandria Commentary on Luke, Homily 139.
[5] ACCS NT vol. III p. 325. Cyprian On Mortality 2.