Dec 2, 2001

Let me first say something about Advent.

We are used to thinking of Advent as a kind of preparation for Christmas. But like the Lenten season is for Easter, Advent also used to be for fasting. As the preparation for Easter used to be marked by repentance, the Christmas preparation was more joyful. In Church the lessons were from Isaiah and about John the Baptist and Mary, the Lord’s mother. They all three pointed at the birth of Jesus.

Thus the Advent was meant to be a spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

In Church they used to talk about Advent as the coming of Christ in three different meanings: He came as a human being, He comes to our hearts and He shall come visibly again on the last day.

They used to talk about Advent as past, that was the birth of Christ by the Virgin Mary, the mystery of incarnation. Thus Advent is not about waiting for Jesus’ birth, but our preparation to celebrate His birth properly.

They used to talk about Advent as present time, about the constantly coming of Christ by the means of Word and Sacrament. This is still very important for church life and our Advent preparation.

They also talked about Advent as the future, that is what the Church is still waiting for, the visible return of Christ. Then He will not return as a little helpless child, He is not coming for suffering and death but He is coming as Lord and King with all authority in heaven and on earth. Then He will bring salvation to God’s people and he will create eternal peace on the earth. This is the concept of Advent that the Church gave the highest focus in the beginning.

From the First Sunday in Advent this year the Gospel reading is from Matthew.

Let me say something about the Gospel of Matthew.

When this Gospel occupies the first position of the four Gospels and is the opening of the New Testament it shows the importance of this Gospel between the Old and the New Testament. It is like a bridge between the old times and the new. Matthew writes his Gospel for Jews that have become Christians. These congregations are living in the tension between the Jewish religion and Christianity, the tension between Synagogue and Church. Some of the congregations are abroad located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean in a multi-cultural environment. As Jews they have their own long history and traditions and in the same time they are living the new life as Christians.

In his Gospel it was important for Matthew to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of the predictions made by the prophets and that He is the Messiah that the Jews were waiting for. His Gospel is a kind of apology against the Jews. He wanted to make evidence of the connection between Jewish religion and in the same time clarify what is new with Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospel of Matthew also was used for the purpose of readings in the worship services in order to convey knowledge about Jesus Christ and advice for the new Christian life. Matthew is dealing with many ethical items related to family and society and he does underline the followers of Christ are servants. As Christ himself dedicated himself into the service of love, his church also is called to follow the path of love.

This Gospel is framed by the prophesy about the child named Immanuel, God with us, and Jesus’ promise on the Mount of Olive, Look I am with you always, to the end of the age! God is with us and near us in Jesus Christ! Maybe this might be used as a kind of headline for the entire Gospel of Matthew.

One of the main topics in the Matthew Gospel deals with the end of all things. The Kingdom of God is already here, but it is still expected to come. Something has happened and something more is going to occur. That is the return of Christ.

This is the main Advent theme.

This is a message in all the three readings for today.

We are reminded that we live our lives in the light from eternity.

We are living in the present world, but still we wait the world to come.

You know what time it is, the Apostle says, it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. (Romans 13:11)

To his disciples Jesus does emphasize, About the day and hour no one knows. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Life was busy as usual with family and job, and they knew nothing until the flood came. So too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field and two women will be grinding meal together. One of the two will be taken and one will be left. The outward life is similar but the inner life makes the difference. That day is coming like a thief in the night. The Lord does not want to surprise but no one knows the time.

Then Jesus does mention three key words: Keep awake, understand this, you must be ready.

Keep awake! Open your eyes. Be on alert. Pray. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus says to his disciples: So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into time of trial. (Matthew 26:40-41) Do not sleep, be awake. Live with full consciousness and spiritual alert.

Understand! You must know that time is drawing near. You must understand that no one knows the day. Beware that no one leads you astray. Understand what is going on.

Be ready! It is something with the inner life. It is the faith. It is the confession of sin. It is the prayer and the commitment. It is the faithfulness in our call.

Let us pray the Prayer of the Day:

Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Help us be ready.

Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716