Sunday, December 1, 2019

“In the Moment” (Matthew 24:36-44 & Romans 13:11-14)


We kick off the season of Advent with “end time” talk.  Our gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus’ discourse with the disciples about his second coming and the end of the age; of which, they are curious to know when that will be.  Of course, we know the answer to the question of the disciples . . . no one knows!  Jesus says, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  Which is not the answer the disciples are looking for, nor is it quite the way that we imagine that we should kick off the season of Advent . . . a season which focuses on the journey to welcome the Christ into the world and our lives . . . a season that should be filled with great joy, longing, and anticipation of a great gift.  We don’t want to hear about “end times”.

Yet, here we are . . . kicking off Advent with a depressing passage of scripture that sounds way too familiar to each of us.  Familiar because of all the signs of the end fit our times like a glove . . . Jesus named it, we could point to something in our time and place that fit.  But, let us not kid ourselves.  All that Jesus spoke about concerning the signs of the “end times” have fit every generation.  And, why shouldn’t they?  After all, Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  In fact, the message of Jesus is quite plain . . . it could happen at any moment.

Thus, it is that Jesus admonishes his followers to be “a wake” and to “keep watch”.  To always be prepared.  He says, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”  Set in the discussion of “end times”, Jesus offers practical advice to his followers.  Because no one knows when the end will come, Jesus wants his followers to live as if every breath . . . every action . . . every word, could be their last.  He wants them always to be prepared for whatever is coming . . . even the end. 


When one lives his or her life as if he or she does not know whether tomorrow will come, it makes one live differently.  Every moment, relationship, and word become important.  Because of this it is important how we are present in each moment and live each moment.

I thought about this because I am not always good about living in the moment . . . I am always worried about what could happen next.  And this is what I came up with: We rob ourselves of the gift of joy and hope when we do not allow ourselves a presence in the moment.  We rob ourselves . . . we rob others.  Of course, I am good at saying that I will do better next time . . . but we all know that there might not be a next time.

Think about it . . . how many unsaid “goodbyes” happened because we figured those friends and family members were going to be there tomorrow?  How many opportunities did we miss because we were too scared or figured that we would wait for a better time, and the time never came?  How often have we said we were going to do something, but we put it on the back burner because we didn’t think we had the time to do it.  Now, when we do, we are too old, too tired, and too poor to do any of it.  How many times are we going to rob ourselves of the moment that we are presented to discover joy and hope?

It is understandable that those who were present with Jesus expected that his second coming and the end of time would happen quickly.  They really believed that it would happen in their lifetimes.  For them it wasn’t so difficult to hang onto this anticipation in their lives because it was coming, and it was coming soon.  Yet, it didn’t . . . and, it still hasn’t.  Which brings us to our second reading . . . Paul’s letter to the Romans.

This is a congregation that has become complacent in its faith . . . it has lost its “edge”.  It is no longer practicing the teachings or living the example of Jesus.  No, they are more wrapped up in squabbling amongst themselves about who is more important.  They are slipping away from following Jesus and his way.  There is no great anticipation in their actions or words . . . there is no living as if there was no tomorrow.  To this situation the apostle tells the people that they are closer to the end than they realize . . . which, of course, they are because the end could be at any moment.  Thus, he tells them that they need to shape up and start living as if this is it . . . that the end is here.  Just because they are “saved” they cannot take it easy and cruise through with no mind towards Jesus and his example.  No, Paul tells them to wake up and get back into the game.

Paul writes: “And do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”

Here the apostle is telling the people that it is the moment . . . the present moment that matters.  They are to be in the moment . . . living it to its fullest as Jesus would do.  They are to make the best of it.  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come . . . it is the now that matters.  Paul tells them to live as Jesus had lived . . . in the moment.

Does this sound familiar?

Our readings are not as disturbing as we imagine them to be when we focus on the real message.  That real message is a call to live in the moment . . . to do what we can right where we are.  Remember, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, and all we have is the present moment.  With that present moment we should live our lives as fully and faithfully as we can.  That means we should love as openly, honestly, and deeply as we can.  That means we should do what is right . . . to seek peace and justice.  That means we help our neighbor and bring them to the table.  That means we do not wait to let someone else know how much they mean to us.  That means we allow ourselves to discover and receive the gift of joy and hope.

With that in mind, I echo the words of Jesus and Paul when they tell us to be on the watch . . . to be in the moment.  As we enter this season of Advent . . . as we journey towards the gift, may we be not so much watchful as we are mindful . . . mindful of being present in the moment and opportunities around us to live as loving and graceful as Jesus lived.  May we discover the holy in the moment, receive the gift that it is, and know that no matter what we are prepared.  Our actions will show it . . . so, let us enter the season of Advent.

Watch!  The gift is in the journey, but who knows when the journey will end.  Make the best of it.  Be in the moment.  Amen.

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