Sermon; Advent 1C; Collect of the Day

Happy New Year!

Today is the beginning of the new liturgical year. Like any new year or new beginning, we look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead of us. We can also look back to what was and reflect on what we learned and consider how we could do things differently. New years allow us to look both forward and backward, they allow us to anticipate and reflect.

This is the overall tone of Advent – looking forward and looking back, anticipation and reflection. Advent is the season of patient waiting and preparation. It is the season of the already and the not yet. We look back to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem while also looking forward to his coming again in power and great glory. It is a season in which we are reminded to not rush: because you can't rush the arrival of a baby, and you can't rush the coming of the Son of Man.

The Collect for this First Sunday of Advent perfectly captures this already/not yet nature of the season.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness . . .

There is no doubt we live in a world beset by the works of darkness. In our discussion of Revelation (which is taking a break until January 9), we talked about the power of empire – whether that be Babylon, Rome, Britain, or our own – and how they are built and sustained through the abuse of their subjects. We live in a system in which black and brown people are imprisoned at a higher rate than whites. We live in a system in which care for the environment and our people take a backseat to company profits. These and many other abuses and injustices work to keep a certain segment of the population oppressed and in the dark. We need the grace of God to cast away those works of darkness.

and put on the armor of light

In the beginning God said, “Let there be light.” What has come into being was life, and the life was the light of all people. For the glory of God is its light.

There are images of God and light all throughout scripture. Where light shines there is no darkness. If we are to cast away the works of darkness, we need to wear the armor of light. We need to have the strength and courage to shine the light of God's justice and love in places that would rather remain in the dark. This is rarely easy. This isn't just talking about the big stuff (working for justice and equality in the face of systemic injustices and inequalities), but it also requires us to do the little stuff – such as calling out a family member or friend who uses a racial slur or other negative language intentionally, accidentally, or “as a joke.” Because it's not easy is precisely why we need the armor of light.

now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;

We are called to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light NOW in the time of this mortal life. We are not called to wait for some unknown time in the future for God to come down and make all things right. We are called to do this work – to resist evil, to work for justice, and to respect the dignity of every human being – in the here and now. And we are called to do this work with humility, just as Jesus did by being born of lowly Mary in the form of a humble infant. In the words of the prophet Micah, “What does the Lord require: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with the Lord.” As John prepared for the first coming of Christ by baptizing, preaching, and calling people to account, we are also to prepare for the next coming of Christ by doing the work of gospel justice in the time of this mortal life; not with the force of empire, but with the humility of a servant.

that in the last day, when he shall come again in glorious majesty

We are living in the here and now, but we know there will be an end of days. People have often asked me if we are living in the last days or in the end times. My response is always, “It's the end times for someone, but probably not for us right now.” The last days will come, and we can hope to see Christ in his glorious majesty, but we must not be so forward focused that we are not any presently good. Preparation is one thing, but standing around waiting while doing nothing is not acceptable. As Jesus said, “Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he arrives.” Jesus is coming in power and glory, but until then there is work to be done.

to judge both the living and the dead

As we reflect on our past and look toward our future, we must ask ourselves if we are alive in Christ or dead. Do we emulate the love of God to and for the world? Do we work to love our neighbors as ourselves? Do we intentionally welcome and include those who are Other? Being alive takes work. Being alive is a constant state of change. Being alive includes some form of risk. We need to recognize whether we are living or whether we are dead, because it is that for which we will be judged.

we may rise to the life immortal.

This is our ultimate hope – that through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, we are raised to new life. We have hope and faith that Christ has destroyed death and opened for us the gates of heaven. And we recognize that in looking forward to that new life, to that life immortal, we have the responsibility to look back and reflect on how we can make Christ known to the world around us in the here and now. It will be through our words of proclaiming the good news of God in Christ, through our actions of caring for our neighbor and welcoming the Other, through our faith in Christ and our hope in the resurrection, that we will be raised to that new life.

So here we are entering the Season of Advent. We are looking back to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem while also looking forward to his coming, both in the manger and again with power and glory. We are in a time of the already and not yet, a time when Christ has come and the time when Christ will come again.

As we look back to the birth of Christ, as we look back to the life of Christ, as we look back to how things were, let us also spend time reflecting on how that life informs our life today, and let us reflect on how we may better imitate the way of love which Jesus taught, not only with our lips, but in our lives. As we look forward to the coming of Christ, may we prepare for his arrival in our hearts, minds, and bodies so that we may be judged to be among the living in those last days.

Welcome to Advent.

May Almighty God give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.