The First Sunday of Advent (Year C), Dec. 3, 2006
BCP: Zech. 14:4-9; Psalm 50 or 50:1-6; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-31
RCL: Jer. 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36
Some of the most shocking, troubling words that Jesus said are, “I have not come to bring peace but a sword.” He goes on to describe that even families themselves will be divided, to the point that some will have others put to death for their faith in Jesus. Hard words from one known as the Prince of Peace.
The lessons for today, however, are about judgment. In a culture that values moral ambiguity and a church that prizes inclusivity, these lessons will set up a stumbling block. In Luke, Jesus describes a day on which the judgment shall be pronounced, the day on which he, the Son of man, will come “with power and great glory.” Just prior to that appearance, the earth will be convulsed with fear and foreboding, and even the cosmos itself will show evidence of coming distress.
The lesson from Zechariah similarly describes a catastrophic shifting of familiar ground, a splitting of the Mount of Olives precipitated by the coming of the Lord in power. As in the gospel, people shall be overwhelmed with fear and shall flee as from a massive earthquake. The apocalyptic images signify a tremendous disappearance of those things that bring evildoers confidence — the sky itself and the earth they stand on will not only be unreliable but will cooperate with the Lord in his judgment against them. But accompanying these lessons of fear and destruction are the encouragements for the faithful. Accompanying the Lord in the prophecy of Zechariah are “the holy ones.” Jesus exhorts his followers to raise their heads when these signs of terror appear, for they herald the time of their redemption.
The lesson from 1 Thessalonians speaks of building up faith, abounding in love, and establishing hearts unblamable in holiness — all anticipating “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
Hard and harsh as these lessons may be, they do not provide any new teaching. From his first words to the first people, the Lord made it clear that he had standards of moral living. He commanded the people to follow them and said there would be consequences for disobedience. He assured the people that his commandments were not arbitrary nor merely for the purpose of showing “who was boss.” On the contrary, he was showing the people the way of life, joy, and love, as any loving parents will do for their children. And in giving the people full dignity, he allowed them to make their own choices, for only in that way could their obedience be freely given and true love be known. The judgment day is little more than the day when each person’s choice is disclosed and granted.
Look It Up
The Christians addressed in the epistle are commanded to abound in love to whom?
Think About It
Why are the Christians addressed in the epistle to love not only “one another” but all people — assuming that among “all people” are those who shall be condemned and lost on the last day?
Next Sunday
The Second Sunday of Advent (Year C), Dec. 10, 2006
BCP: Bar. 5:1-9; Psalm 126; Phil. 1:1-11; Luke 3:1-6
RCL: Bar. 5:1-9 or Mal. 3:1-4; Canticle 4 or 16; Phil. 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
