ADVENT of Hope

 It is the Advent of what for you?

What do you anticipate, what new beginning or the coming of what?  It is no accident that the first text for Advent is an apocalyptic vision by Jesus of the end and His return in Mark (13:24-37).  It is also no accident that we are informed that we are not to prognosticate on just when that might happen.  We are to look to the future with eyes fixed on the promises of God and trust God to deliver in God's time.  We may see the signs, even those offered by scripture, but they are just reminders to always be aware that it will come.  Our focus needs to necessarily be on how we are living Agape Love and Grace TODAY, right now.  If it is, then we need not worry about when or about being prepared, for we will be the wise bridesmaids with all prepared for the Groom's coming.

Regarding next week's text from Mark 1:1-8...

We have a chance for a new beginning, and one finally centered on the Good News of Jesus.  Mark, the first written of its genre, offered an amazing new way of looking at the world.  Empire had run roughshod over God's children for generations, and this Good News was for those oppressed, marginalized and disenfranchised by it.  It is still that today, IF the church that bears the name of Jesus would only apply it to this current iteration of empire under which we have increasingly suffered for generations.  If the church in America, determined to collude with empire and be irrelevant in the lives of those oppressed will not do so, then the movement of followers of Jesus will.  The Good News of Jesus directly addressed, challenges and confronts the values of empire with the Kingdom values of Agape Love and Grace.  It was a new beginning for those in the First Century.  It needs to be OUR New Beginning, here and now.

Our baptism of repentance, like for that of the people of old, must mean that we change our thinking so that our direction will change to be in alignment with the coming of Jesus to us, IN THE GOOD NEWS.  The Holy Spirit of God is driving us to Jesus and Jesus' Way in the Good News.  Our history, distant and recent, has shown us the error of our ways of believing and acting in this part of God's Kingdom.  We are confronted by the Good News and given instruction on how to live faithful lives to God in Jesus.  Those who have been held down, back and out under empire are encouraged by the different vision for life in the Kingdom that the Gospel of Mark offers.  NOW is the time to prepare a way in our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus to us in a new way, by seeing the Good News of Jesus in a new light and thus seeing our lives with God in a new light - the light of faith in Jesus and Jesus' Way of Agape Love and Grace.

Sisters and brothers, let the age of collusion with empire - the age of prosperity theology, church growth focus, personal salvation and other false beliefs - be in our past as children of God.  Let us be followers of Jesus by living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, as we have witness in the Good News.  Let us be faithful to Jesus by being faithful the living of Jesus' Way for us in the world, the way of Agape Love and Grace.

The messenger has come out of the wilderness.  The coming of Jesus is proclaimed.  Let us repent and open our minds and hearts to the Good News of Jesus.  The time is NOW.  Let us prepare for Jesus' coming to us by being faithful to Jesus in the living of Agape Love and Grace, here and now.  It is the wise and faithful thing to do.

Pastor Jamie