Sermon 11.28.21 – The Signs

 St John’s Lutheran Church, Toluca, IL – 1^st Sunday in Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36

[Jesus said:] ^{25 “}There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
  ²⁹Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
  ^{34 “}Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

NRSV

The Signs

Having everybody together under the same roof again was awesome. On Thursday, the Vieira boys and I watched football together. It has been quite some time. We played board games. We played video games. We laughed. We fought. We ate our favorite foods. On Saturday, we spent time with our god family and their extended loved ones. We took pictures. We cried. We laughed some more. All signs of a lovely holiday. 

The faith of our community of living stones is somewhat still alive, for we gather here today in a sanctuary decorated for Advent and Christmas. The loving care for our neighbors is somewhat still present in our hearts, revealed in the shoeboxes we packed in the last couple of weeks, and in the persistent mindful consideration to the well-being of others by still taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously. Science came through big time. It provided us with ways of protecting ourselves and our families that allowed us to get together again. A pill against the novel coronavirus may be on the horizon. Renewed voices and efforts have risen claiming respect for this Earth, our home, entrusted to our care. These are all good signs. Perhaps the world is not ending after all. 

On the other hand, opposite signs show that a lot of work still remains for us, disciples of Jesus Christ. Not everybody has made out of their COVID-19 infections. Many still struggle with addiction and other forms of mental health issues. Economic systems are still unfair. Nonsensical violence still takes lives. Forces still show disdain towards truth, science, and our democratic example. Many still don’t have fair housing or no housing at all, experience food insecurity, or are flat out hungry. Many are still wrongfully imprisoned or receiving their daily doses of injustice in the form of faith persecutions and other different types of discrimination. Families are still struggling to stay together. Many, many, loved ones will still be deeply missed.

It is amid this duality, caught between hope and lament, the things we have done and left undone, that the community of saints begins this Advent season longing both for the presence and for the return of our Savior.

The signs for this longing manifest in our bodies. Stress and fear take a toll even if we are bound determined to push through it. Our brain runs too much in fight or flight mode. As a consequence, our physical or mental health deteriorates. We become edgier, we run out of patience too quickly, we withdraw from events and from the company of friends and family. We overwork, or it gets tougher to wake up and go to work. We lose joy for the things we were always excited about. Some may feel completely lost.

Lament, longing, and hope, all have been part of our relationship with the divine for a long time. We have always prayed for God to stay true to God’s promises and looked for the signs that God has not abandoned us and still walks with us. We have always looked for divine direction.

For the longest time, we have had clocks and watches. Once upon a time, we used maps and compasses. Now we have GPS. There are signs on the roads that tell us when to move, when to stop, and where to go. We even have devices that combine all these features and can find each other even when we are not looking for anything. When we find what we are looking for, we can immediately call or text someone to let them know. Heck, we can post on social media, and then everybody knows. 

We have precise real-time forecast models that allow us to safely venture ourselves in the seas and through the skies. Gosh, we can even tell when it is safe to reenter this Earth by looking into phones and tablets. 

However, there was a time when all that we had were the sun, the moon, and the stars, God’s beloved creation, to tell us time, give us direction, and cues for the weather and the seasons. The sun allows us to tell the time of the day. The phases of the moon allow us to keep track of weeks and months. The sun, again, provides us with direction during the day, and the stars – oh, the amazing stars – guidance by night.

So, think about it. Amid desolation and catastrophic loss, the threat of Jerusalem destroyed by the Roman legions, God’s people pleaded for signs of when things were about to turn. Then Jesus answered on behalf of our God: look to the sun, the moon, and the stars. Look at the signs in the trees. 

The stars guided God’s people in the wilderness. The stars covered the lowly shepherds and guided the wise Magi to the cradle of our Savior. The moon guides the tides and reveals when it is safe to venture into dangerous waters. When the sun approaches the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere; when the leaves are fallen, the days are getting shorter, and the moon begins its reign; then we know winter is coming.  

Likewise, when we find ourselves surrounded by dread; when we feel alone or abandoned; when the world feels cold, and our bodies hurt; it is then that we know that our redemption, Jesus Christ, is near. 

Beloved of God, lift up your heads and watch. Do not lose sight of the signs of kindness, generosity, and love. Notice how that has the power to heal the body. Dwell on these signs; do not be distracted; and know that the sun will reign again – it always does – and new life will sprout all over the place. The signs are everywhere. The Alpha and the Omega, the end and the new beginning, our Savior, is here and he is coming to meet us and welcome us once again, arms wide open. Thanks be to God. Amen.