St. Mark 13:24-37
Dearly beloved,
Jesus says as His last words in the gospel, "What I say to you, I say
to all, 'Watch!'" Today we begin a new church year. It runs according
to its own time and its own rhythms. It is the First Sunday in
Advent. Advent means "coming" in Latin, and it carries with it the
theme of Christ's three-fold coming. First, He came through the womb
of the Virgin Mary and took on flesh. Second, Jesus will come again
to judge the quick and the dead. Third, Jesus comes to us in grace
through the word and sacraments. This is what happens to us regularly
today.
Today, we are going to ponder the 2nd article of the creed. We
concern ourselves today with some catechesis. We confess the Apostles
Creed and the Nicene Creed every time we are going to have the Lord's
Supper, and there is a reason. The Creeds were formulated nearly 2000
years ago. The Apostles Creed is the baptismal creed and was formed
and used in a three-fold question and answer form. Do you believe in
God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth? Yes, I
believe....Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
etc....Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Christian church,
etc.....
One begins confessing the creed for the first time in one's baptism.
It therefore becomes a part of our existence, because to confess the
Apostles and Nicene Creed means that we have become a part of
something bigger than us, something unseen. By saying the creed for
ourselves, "I believe...", we are putting away the sinful self that
wants to be independent in this world. The sinful flesh wants us to
be mavericks doing our own thing and thriving on our individuality.
Confessing the creed means we are forsaking the individualistic
me-centered arrogance so prevalent among human beings.
Because to confess the creed means that you are stepping out of time
to state that you believe what the church teaches and has taught for
centuries. You are submitting to something that is outside of you,
outside of your culture, and confessed by countless people before you.
The creeds are not meant to be simply an intellectual endeavor. You
are not standing up to state that you can cerebrally put together all
that is said and understood about the Holy Trinity.
On the contrary, you are submitting to a belief that is absolutely
ancient, timeless, crossing cultures and all sorts of worldly
barriers, and you are stating that you have become a part of a body
that is clothed differently, speaks a unique language, has a special
way of caring for others, and has a unique sound and smell that
intrigues and draws you in.
For example, how normal is it "worldly speaking" to confess that God
comes, "Advents" inside a womb of a virgin woman? To say that God
walks among us as the Apostles do, is not a normal mode of speaking
and thinking. Yet, you confess continually that you believe Jesus
Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary...etc.
You also confess that Jesus will come again to judge the quick and
the dead. But why?
What does the world care if you stand up each Sunday and state that
you believe these things? Will the world be alarmed by you position?
Will you change the world by standing in a church and stating these
creeds as your own belief? There is so much more to it. This is a
spiritual endeavor. You are, in essence, submitting to the apostolic
ministry and teaching. You are acknowledging that there are realities
greater than what can be seen with the naked eye, and you are living
out your baptism.
You recognize that there are things supernatural and unseen that
shape you, change you, and has consequences beyond this world and into
the next. By saying "I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary....you
acknowledge that two worlds miraculously converged in the incarnation
and birth of the Son of God. Eternity meets time, the untouchable and
eternal gathers with the temporal and the flesh.
You confess that heaven is not so far away and that Hell is real and
terrible; and though Hell is far away, it seeks to grasp the coat of
each one of us. Hence, the reason for Christ's words in the gospel,
"watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is
coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster in
the morning–lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I
say to you, I say to all, 'Watch!'"
It is very important for you to remember that we as Christians do not
confess the creeds lightly or half-heartedly, because when you confess
them you are admitting that you live baptismally and sacramentally in
Jesus Christ. You are acknowledging for yourself that you are no
longer of the world with its beliefs and self-centeredness. You are a
holy being that shines like the stars in the sky.
This shining like the stars is exactly the image that Advent conveys
to God's people. Advent is a penitential season, which means that we
humble ourselves and make extra strides to care for others and focus
on the spiritual things. In this season we strive to put away earthly
cares and to take on spiritual things. More prayer, more liturgy,
more Christ, more sacrament, more Holy Word, and more service to
others.
Advent is meant to be a wonderful season because it is centered
around the theme of hope and going from darkness to light. The color
blue on the altar, which is new for Trinity church, reminds us of the
hope that countless generations had that the Holy One of Israel would
come to ransom mankind from sin. From Adam and Eve, who were first
promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the
serpent, to father Abraham who was promised descendants as plentiful
as the stars, and up to the time of John the Baptism people have been
feeling the weight of their sins....
....and they have been waiting for a blessing and a good Word of
forgiveness, mercy and love. This is a reality for you and your
confession of the creeds is your acknowledgment that you are a part of
this love that springs forth from Christ. Christ's coming again to
judge the quick and the dead is a blessing for you because when He
does come again, He will smile upon you, and tenderly take you to His
right hand side where you will be ushered into a kingdom that has no
end.
Your sins are forgiven and it happens on the cross, where Jesus died
bearing your sins, taking your place, and reconciling you to the
heavenly Father. So, this Advent season, light a candle, think on
things spiritual, the things of Jesus Christ, and ponder His threefold
coming for the life of the world and for you, first by taking on
flesh, then on coming again to bring you home, and third as Jesus
gracefully comes to you through the Holy word and the Lord's Supper.
Amen.
--
Rev. Chad Kendall
www.frchadius.blogspot.com
Trinity Lutheran Church
Lowell, Indiana
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