Sermon – November 30, 2008

Hope!

Advent in the season of waiting and today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of hope. So the question I'm thinking about today is: What does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

Let’s look at the Bible readings we heard today.

For Isaiah (64:1-9), waiting with hope means recognizing that in every situation God is still active and working. Even when it doesn’t seem to be the case. Even when God seems distant or non-existent. Even when life is not what you were told it should be. When it is just one struggle, one tragedy, after another.

This part of the book of Isaiah was likely written during or after the exile. Judah as a country no longer exists. It has been invaded and captured by the Babylonian empire. The people have been taken away and resettled in other parts of the empire. Jerusalem has been sacked and burned. The temple is gone. The money is gone. The dream is gone. It seems God’s promise to protect the people has not been kept. There is no King in the line of David, as God promised there would always be. The end has come and gone.

The book of Isaiah, however, has come to an understanding that there is more going on than meets the eye. The current predicament isn’t just about the march of empires and geo-political turmoil. Isaiah recognizes that God is still working on God’s people. Still trying to motivate them to turn back to God and trust God alone. Still trying to reveal to them that living God’s way is the only way; regardless of the circumstances. Even in exile Isaiah can say, “We are your people; be merciful to us.” (Isaiah 64:9b - GNB)

What does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

As markets tumble and soar. As houses are lost and jobs disappear and food-bank use increases. As governments around the world seem unable to agree about what is happening and how to respond to it.

Is there more to these events than meets the eye? How are we being called to respond, when economic empires are on the move? In what ways is God trying to transform us as we wait?

For us, what does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

The letter we know as 1 Corinthians could be a combination made up of pieces from a number of letters written by the Apostle Paul in the early years of the Christian church. It was written originally to the church in the Greek city of Corinth, but was likely circulated to other churches in other locations over the years that followed. Paul was a missionary in the original sense of the word. As he travelled, he spoke to people, he argued with people, he often offended people. Yet somehow he was able to convince some people in many of the places he visited to place their trust and faith in God through Jesus. He started many churches.

As the first letter to the Corinthians begins (1:3-9), Paul is giving thanks for the Christians in Corinth. They have received the gospel message and are living it out in their community. As a result, God is blessing them as they wait for Jesus to return. Paul is clear, God will give you everything you need in order to stay firm in your faith and living so that you will be found faultless when Jesus arrives. God is to be trusted.

So things seem to be good for the church in Corinth. Except that, in the following section of the letter, Paul is concerned that he has had reports of unrest and disunion within the congregation. People are quarrelling. Groups are forming to support their understanding and interpretation of the gospel. Paul goes so far as to claim, “Christ has been divided” (1 Corinthians 1:13a – GNB) It appears the people are losing their central focus on Jesus.

What does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

When things are going well. When your faith is strong. When God has blessed you beyond your dreams. When you are content and have everything you need.

How do you stay “firm to the end”? As time goes by, what quarrels endanger our unity? When does the time come that we have to simply set something aside and trust God?

For us, what does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

The writer of the Gospel According to Mark (13:24-37) knows bad times; knows upheaval.

“At that time, after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. (Mark 13:24-25 - NLT)

Jesus has just told his disciples that everything they know and love will be destroyed. Kingdom will rise up against Kingdom. Families will betray each other. Believers will be arrested and killed.

A wide range of scholars believe that Mark was written after the Jewish revolt against the Roman empire in AD 66-70. Mark’s author and his community have seen death and destruction they never thought possible. Jerusalem has been captured and razed; burned to the ground. The temple has been completely destroyed. The riches of the city carried off and the people killed.

According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus had warned his followers that this was coming. As the church and the synagogue separated from each other, in these years, often with hurtful and violent outcomes, Jesus’ prediction takes on new meaning for the church. Rather than being a warning of woe and ending, as I'm sure it would have been for the Jewish people, for the Christians it becomes understood as a sign. When these things happen, Jesus is portrayed as saying, be on watch, because it means the Son of Man is on the way. Stay alert, for these events are a sure sign, not that God has abandoned the people, but that God is at work for the benefit of the people.

When the Master returns, don’t let him find you sleeping. Keep about the tasks you have been given. No matter how long you may have to wait. No matter what the circumstances you find yourself in. Your salvation is at hand.

What does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

As pirates attack ships off the coast of Africa. As the number of refugees, people who are displaced from their homes across the world, soars. As war is on the rise. As tourists are terrorized and murdered in Mumbai?

What tasks has Jesus given you to do? How could fulfilling those tasks alter the context you find yourself in? What signs do you look for that offer you hope?

For us, what does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

So this week, as we move into December and the preparations for Christmas shift into high gear,
I want you to remember, we are people who are waiting. Waiting for the completion of what God has started in Jesus. Waiting for the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes. Not waiting passively, but waiting actively. We are people who are waiting in hope.

To encourage you in your hope-full waiting, I have pulled some questions I’ve already asked this morning for you to consider this week.

Pushing Ahead:

1. In what ways is God trying to transform us as we wait?

2. When does the time come that we have to simply set something aside and trust God?

3. What signs do you look for that offer you hope?

4. What does it look like, what does it mean, to wait with hope?

AMEN.