Matthew 24:36-44
Introduction
You may find this hard to believe, but on occasion I can drive people crazy. I know. Hard to believe. But it’s true.
And the reason I can drive people crazy is because from time to time I get a teeny, tiny bit backed up with the list of things I need to do and get done.
And because I get a teeny, tiny bit backed up with the things I need to do and get done, I leave those who need me to do and get done the things I need to do and get done, waiting for me to do and get done the things I need to do and get done.
And that can, on occasion, dive some people crazy, because a lot of times those who are waiting on me to do and get done what I need to do and get done, can’t do and get done what they need to do and get done until I do and get done what I need to do and get done.
Now, in my defense, a lot of times the reason I get a teeny tiny bit backed up with the list of things I need to do and get done are things… I just don’t want to do and get done!
You know what I mean, right? We’ve all been in this kind of situation, right?
Your spouse is running out the door to take the kids to an activity and so the sink full of dishes from dinner are now your responsibility—but it’s been a long day and Thursday night football is kicking off soon so you maybe don’t do and get done what you need to do and get done.
Or maybe you need to get things in order for the first day of your work week so that the weekend trip to visit your in-laws isn’t interrupted or spoiled, but you for many real life reasons don’t get what you need to do and get done for Sunday—I mean for the first day of your work week—so now you can’t go visit your in-laws because you have to do and get done what you have to do and get done for Sunday—I mean the first day of your work week.
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The bottom line is…we often have left undone what we needed to get done. We often aren’t ready for what we need to be ready for, right?
And what usually happens then? We usually find a way to do and get done what we have to do and get done… only it may not be up to the standard we, and others would want or expect.
For instance… did you know that in order for a dishwasher to actually wash dishes properly, you can’t jam in every plate, bowl, cup, pot, and pan from your kitchen. I know this for a fact. I’ve tested this idea many times and each time the result was the same—the dishes don’t get clean and an implicit “When are you going to realize…” eye-roll is given.
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Today, on this first Sunday of Advent, our text is leading us to consider and prepare for readiness— being ready. Getting ourselves prepared and ready for the coming of Jesus.
And that is what all of Advent is about, right? Preparation. Getting ready for Jesus to come into our world, once again, at Christmas. During Advent we are to prepare him room— prepare room for Jesus in our hearts; in our spirits; in our lives.
We are to prepare for everything to change with the birth of God’s son.
We are to get ready to welcome this one who will set the captives free, this one who will be the prince of peace.
We are to get ready for the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ that comes as the greatest gift we will ever receive.
All of this means then, on this first Sunday of Advent, and for the next several weeks, that each of us has to do and get done a list of things we need to do and get done.
And we need to do and get done what we have to do and get done because Jesus’ coming is a reminded that Jesus is…well…coming.
But we also we need to do and get done what we have to do and get done because Jesus’ is already here.
Move 1
In recent months we have seen the devastation and destruction of severe weather—among them hurricanes Ian and Nicole. And before these storms residents did what they needed to do to get ready for what was surely coming. Windows were boarded up, sand bags filled and put into place, belongings packed up and evacuations made. And why? Because if they didn’t then the damage and destruction would be far greater. They took steps to be ready and prepared so that after the storm recovery could come.
Just as Jesus knew, “For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away,” we too know that if we want to not be swept away—in whatever way that may come, be it flood of storm, or flood of driving those we love crazy—we need to do what we need to do to get ready and be ready.
Noah didn’t wait until it started raining to build the ark.
Which means readiness is being reasonably prepared for needed contingencies. Not a new concept of course—a scan through history shows the imploration for readiness has been touted by many, some with a bit more flare than others of course. For instance…
Abraham Lincoln spoke of readiness when he said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six hours sharpening my axe.”
Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
John F. Kennedy said, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
And Ezra Taft Benson “It is easier to prepare and prevent than to repair and repent.”
True words and sentiments for sure, but being in a constant state of readiness for what might be is… well… kind of like a sink full of dishes. Sure, we’re going to get to them…eventually. But right now, there’s no harm in letting them sit a bit, right?
And maybe that’s true when it comes to the dishes, but when it comes to our faith, and how we live out our faith, and how we share our faith, Jesus says otherwise.
Move 2
In some form or another, we all put off doing and getting done the readiness we know we need to do and get done.
Maybe every first of November we swear we will get our Christmas shopping done early, only to find ourselves scrambling the day before Christmas.
Maybe every January 1st we resolved to getting ourselves to a better level of health, only to find ourselves a year later resolving that on January 1st we will get ourselves to a better level of health.
Maybe we’ll just let the dishes soak a little while longer…until we hear the garage door open and we make a mad dash to cram everything in the dishwasher. The awareness to be ready is there in our minds. The desire to be ready is there in our minds as well. We know its importance; we loathe the feeling of not being ready—not getting done what we need to get done.
And this isn’t just about getting your soul right with God so that you are assured eternity in paradise. This is also about right now. We aren’t to just get ready for Jesus’ future coming. We are to be ready for Jesus who is already here.
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So why don’t we get ready? Why don’t we do and get done what we know we need to do and get done?
One expert explains: People do not prepare for many possible situations and emergencies because they believe: “Everything will be fine.” “I don’t have enough time.” “I don’t have enough money.” “I refuse to give in to fear and paranoia.” “I’m too old.” “My faith will save me.”
Everyone can identify with at least one of these excuses — and possibly most of them. They range from unreasonable optimism to disbelief, denial, doubt, fear, and a hope and a prayer: “Worst case scenario, someone will rescue me.”
Jesus seems to say otherwise: “Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left” (v. 40). The Apostle Paul reinforces the idea that there is a Rubicon that one crosses, there’s a point of no return, there’s a missed opportunity and additional chances are not possible. He writes to the Corinthians: “Now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Our text today is the carpe diem of the New Testament. Seize the day! Stay awake. Prepare and get ready! We haven’t a moment to lose! This hope filled Good News is too good to not share with others so they too can prepare for its coming AND for its presence right now.
Conclusion
Christmas is coming. And there will be much to do in the coming weeks.
We all know the importance of getting done what we need to get done, to do what we need to do.
And in the coming weeks we will work hard and diligently to get done all we need to do so that our Christmas celebrations are merry and bright. If we don’t do our part then we know we will drive at least someone crazy.
But the truth is, Christmas is already here.
The hope, peace, joy, and love, we long to come has come. We simple use the season of Advent to remind us of such. But we need not wait until Christmas to prepare Him room. We can’t put off until Christmas to share the hope filled promise of new life. Because that act, that promise, are too important to not do.
Jesus is calling us to be prepared…not just for a future apocalypse, and not just for a day four weeks from today.
Jesus is calling us to be prepared…now. For today, for the opportunities right before us. Because today, the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ is already here. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, November 27, 2022, Advent 1
God of the ages and scripture we hear stories of people like us–ordinary people, people who long to know you, people who longed to follow you, people who made mistakes, people who tried to grow—old, young, native, immigrants, new to the faith, lifelong believer.
For these truths we give you thanks. Thank you for creating space for us. Thank you for seeing our scattered thoughts, Are imposter syndrome, or fragments of doubt, and still saying to us always, “come to me all you who are weary.”
Thank you for seeing our ordinary selves with anxious concerns and unflattering habits and always saying, “I have bigger plans for you.”
Thank you for seeing our fragile egos, and our uncertain relationships, and saying, “You still belong here.”
Your expansive love makes room for us to breathe in hope, and we want to love with our lungs and hearts for. So today we pray…Teach us how to make that same room for others.
When we come face-to-face with stories that are different from ours, show us how to add chairs to the table.
When we find ourselves face-to-face with stories that frustrated and test our patience, show us how to build bridges instead of walls. I find ourselves face-to-face with stories that feel foreign or unrelated bowl, remind us to open the door and to listen fully.
In scripture we hear stories of people like us, so just as you walked with them, help us to hear and remember all the ways you walk with us. We are listening. We are grateful. We are yours. And we want to be ready. Ready with hope for our souls. Ready with hope to share with others.
Hear now we ask, the prayers we have deep within our souls, shared with you in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of the hope filled Prince of Peace, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our…”