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It's that time of the year again!
Advent is here, Christmas is coming, and again we enter into a time
of anticipation. We are waiting not just for vacation days and
presents and family and food, but for the celebration that reminds us
who we are—a people who follow Jesus. Advent is about remembering
the anticipation of the Savior which the Hebrew people hoped for for
so long, but also anticipating Christ's return. Anybody who has a
child, niece, or younger sibling knows the anticipation that goes
along with pregnancy. Maybe you have waited for a baby to coo at, or
for the end of a school year or graduation. We've all waited for the
weekend. What are you waiting for?
The gospel text for today speaks of a
fig tree, saying: “As soon as they sprout leaves you can see for
yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, you know
that the kingdom of God is near.” Well, the world is kind of a
disaster right now. There's political unrest in Syria and Israel, and
government corruption is rampant here and abroad. People are dying of
curable diseases because they can't afford the medicine, and of
starvation for lack of food. But we haven't seen the leaves, yet,
have we? We haven't seen “the heavens shaken” as verse 26
declares, so are we supposed to sit and twiddle our thumbs while we
wait for Jesus to return? Things stink now, but Jesus will return and
fix it all, end of story. Right?
Unfortunately, I don't think so.
Theologians have a concept called the now-and-not-yet paradox. What
it means is that Christ is already here, but also coming. He declares
again and again that “the kingdom of God is at hand” but then
practically in the same breath says: “the kingdom of God is
coming.” So is it here or is it coming? The answer is, of course,
“Yes.” To carry the fig tree metaphor further, let's think about
the process of photosynthesis. Just because the tree isn't producing
leaves and fruit doesn't mean that it's not working. It's very much
alive, soaking up nutrients from the soil, benefiting from sunlight,
drinking water, converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, and producing
chemicals that will aid in its eventual blooming. The tree is just as
there and living in the winter as in the summer. Isn't Christ also
here, even if we can't see him? So what exactly are you waiting for?
Are you waiting for things to get
worse? Or better? Are you waiting for parting clouds and chariots of
fire? For angels or demons? What are you waiting for? A revolution
has already taken place, one in which the supreme creator of all life
became as humble as a helpless baby. God gave a promise to Abraham
and to us, and God responded to that promise by sending Jesus. Jesus
who came and stirred things up, preaching the word of God's love.
Jesus who came and healed the blind and sick, who cast out demons,
who calmed seas and turned water into wine. Jesus who, though the
highest king in the universe, died the death of a criminal, and Jesus
who defied the powers of death that no human can outrun, and rose
from the grave. The heavens have already been shaken by the event
that we remember in this season, haven't they? So why aren't we
acting like he's already here putting things in order? Why aren't we
working right beside him?
What are you waiting for? If all
you're waiting for is a day of presents and candy, you know what you
need to do. Create your count-down calendar, buy the presents, and
wrap them, bake the cookies, and prep the turkey. We put a ton of
energy, time, and money into preparing for a single day. Is that what
our faith is about? But if our waiting is about the anticipation of
this world-shaking power returning and righting things once and for
all, why aren't we putting as much time and energy into that event as
we do into our Christmas plans and vacations and graduations and
birthdays?
Jesus is coming! But Jesus is also
HERE! This is great news. And even better news is that in your
baptism, you've been trusted with an incredible mission; the same
mission that Jesus had when he healed and taught and died and rose.
You--you personally, have been called to live in this now-but-not-yet
paradox, and to wait with anticipation while also meticulously
tending to all the duties necessary for that which is coming, and
also already at hand. There are poor now. Give them food and shelter.
There are sick now—give them medicine and prayer. There are
grieving now—give them comfort. Remember who we are and why we're
here. Our faith isn't about presents and snow and Santa. It's about
our mission now and the entire year, and our whole lives. Jesus is
here, and so are you--so what are you waiting for?
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