Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
November 28; 1st Sunday of Advent
Texts: Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Adventurous
“Advent,” the word means going through an opening or doorway, going through it to a new time and place. It’s kind of appropriate; my mind’s been on the ‘new paths’ ahead for us, for Pr. Jon’s family, and the congregation they’ll be joining in a few weeks. The Season of Advent looks forward to the coming of that new time and place: the coming of the Christ child, but also the coming of his Kingdom.
Jesus would speak of that Day, an unpredictable Day that will come when people are at their normal tasks, and the message is to live prepared, because even more often Jesus would talk about how it is nearby, at hand, and that it happens, the Kingdom happens whenever we respond to God's mercy, forgiveness, kindness and generosity by being merciful, forgiving, kind and generous.
It's kind of like this word, adventure. It means going through an opening or pathway to something new, but some people are adventurous, they carry that sense of looking for, or--even better--being that pathway for others. When you're around adventurous people, you can get caught up in their excitement and enthusiasm. “Yeah, take me! I wanna go!”
Paul wrote to the Romans 13:12, to get ready, "The night is far gone; day is near: ...put on the armor of light" ...vs. 14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." And then he added, "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." When Paul talks about gratifying flesh, he's not just talking about sex or gluttony, but all self-turned, self-centered concerns and actions. Turn outward, he was saying. Be adventurous; make ways for the Kingdom to come.
Thy Kingdom come, we pray, and let it come in and through us, make us pourous to the Kingdom, let it people feel God's love and passion through us, in other words, adventurous. Make us into openings to a new day, a new life, a new kind of living.
Only a week or so ago I was reminded of this. I came to work tired, grumpy, but knew I had a lot to get done in the office. As I approached the doors to the church, I could hear children from Gateway school. Should I walk through, or around? I decided to just duck my head and walk quickly through.
"Pastor Greg!" One little boy called out and ran over to hug my leg. "Look guys, it's Pastor Greg!" Then, a staff member of Gateway School greeted me with a simple smile.
They brought Kingdom, even tho' I didn't deserve it, was even actively avoiding, and potentially working against it. But instead, through them God allowed his welcome, grace and love to flow into me. I was reminded of God's Kingdom: "Whenever you accept a child like this," Jesus said, "you accept me." "Whenever you welcome one of my servants, you've welcomed me."
The rest of that day was full of interruptions, some as good and delightful, others more difficult or sad. Did my work suffer for it? Does it suffer? I'm behind in some things, and have plenty to schedule... I suppose if it's all about a weekly quiz or score, or a product, what I produce probably does suffer to some degree. But hopefully, I am opening up to a more authentic life. It's not about product.
This applies even to worship services. We'll talk about the centrality of worship in a congregation, or a Christian's life, and that's true. We need a regular touchstone, a reminder to worship, to turn ourselves and all we do toward God, and allow God to touch us, to be fed from Jesus' hands.
But, just as important as what we make or give or say or sing right here in this hour of worship, is what we bring to it did, who we were, up to this point, to get to this point. Our worship, at least from Christ's point of view, includes all that. We don't just worship Christ here in church; we bring our worship, we bring ourselves, to him: everything we've done right, and everything we've done wrong. If I've been mean-spirited or hurtful to get my way, if I've been abusing myself or neglecting others, then I am going to feel fake and disconnected here, like I'm wearing my Christian mask, and other people will probably feel it...
Unless. Unless I'm coming today in confession, ready to let go, receive forgiveness and start a new way, a better path. And it’s not about perfection, trying to live perfectly from this point out. That will pull us right back down into the mud. It’s about confession, humility and love, ready to bend and listen, to thank others as Pastor Jon spoke in last Wednesday’s message, to greet them, and make room for them.
God has made us into living pathways through Christ and for Christ. Just as we seek and find God's love and forgiveness for ourselves, we are called to be porous with those gifts to everyone: family members, friends, co-workers, tellers and cashiers, strangers. Otherwise, our worship is plastic and fake as the Santa on my neighbor's lawn.
We might look back on the past weeks and can be tempted to get mired in places where we messed up, where we hurt others to get ahead, or passed by people or charged through others' needs because we had our own things to do. But listen to this, in going forward, our worship includes laying down our sins at his feet, as if they were… gifts. Jesus accepts our praises, but he even accepts our admission of sins, our sense of shame, as worship when we give it to him.
He will work through it all. Along this great venture, I pray that he is making me and all of us into people for his Kingdom to pour through.
Will you pray with me?...[ad lib prayer]
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
