Luke: 21:25-36
Sunday, December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Advent
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
alive in the world, reviving creation, arriving soon.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God of mercy,
we confess that we have sinned.
We trust earthly powers and human authority alone.
We grow fearful. We cling to false comforts.
God of might,
we confess that we have sinned.
We have turned away from our neighbors.
We have trusted false promises.
God in our midst,
we confess that we have sinned.
We plead: come to us.
Bring your mercy to birth in us.
A righteous branch springs forth:
it is Christ the Lord, our Savior,
in whom we have forgiveness, life, and mercy.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, receive the grace and forgiveness of God through ☩ Christ Jesus, whose day draws near.
Amen.
Gathering Song:
Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah
Prayer of the Day
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Word of God. Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm: 25:1-10
To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Let none who look to you be put to shame;
rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.
4 Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
8 You are gracious and upright, O Lord;
therefore you teach sinners in your way.
9 You lead the lowly in justice
and teach the lowly your way.
10 All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness
to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Word of God. Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Stand up and raise your heads – your redemption is drawing near. Alleluia. (Luke 21:28)
The Holy Gospel according to Luke
Glory to you O Lord
Gospel: Luke 21:25-36
Jesus said: 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ
In this season there is an anticipatory feeling in the air.
- A waiting…a longing…a yearning.
- This is a time filled with preparations and signs and symbols.
- Everything leads to this promised future.
- Stuffed with turkey…we wake up from a tryptophan-induced coma to the coming of what feels like the end time.
- For there will be sales and rumors of sales.
- So…stay awake because the door-busting shop-a-thon is upon us.
- Yet my heart was glad when they said to me…let us go at 5 am to the house of the Lord and Taylor.
- For on that holy mountain…people will stream from east and west…north and south…and all nations will come.
- They will turn plastic cards into shiny promises of love.
- They will go down from this mountain to wrap it all in paper…to wait for that day.
- The day of mythical hopes and dreams of love and family.
- And the children will believe that they will be always good and never bad.
- For Santa will come like a thief in the night.
- No one knows the hour…so you better be good for goodness sake.
The Lord be with you.
So yes…it can be difficult to discern the real contours and dimensions of our actual Christian story…
- During a time of the year when TV specials and billboards and radio ads are telling it.
- So blended are the symbols of faith with the symbols of culture…
- That it can be hard to discern the difference.
But this is it…the season of Advent.
- If we did not know better…we might easily mistake the opening words of our text for headlines in a news story about events happening in space in our own time.
- Just this year…millions of people witnessed a rare total solar eclipse.
- Researchers have also been working on using a nuclear warhead to prevent an asteroid from striking earth…which could cause deadly consequences.
- Here on Earth…we have seen wave after wave of increasingly devastating natural disasters.
- Floods and droughts…deadly storms…volcanic eruptions…earthquakes and fires.
- Untold numbers have suffered and died due to the recent pandemic.
- More people have been displaced by war and environmental degradation than at any other time in history.
- Political upheavals and increasing costs have led to anxiety…confusion and despair.
- With rising rates of mental illness and suicide.
- It appears that Jesus’ statement…that people will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world is being fulfilled before our very eyes.
It is strange to open the season of Advent…which leads to the celebration of the birth of Christ…with such a gloomy passage.
- Jesus was teaching his disciples about the events that would precede his return.
- The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem…persecution…martyrdom.
- And in the next two chapters Luke writes about Jesus’ arrest…trial and crucifixion.
But if we look closely at the birth narrative earlier in Luke’s gospel…
- We see hints that the salvation God was bringing through the Christ Child would come at great cost.
- Shortly after Jesus was born…Joseph and Mary brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord.
- There they encountered Simeon…who had received assurance from the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died.
- Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God that he had been given the honor of seeing God’s salvation.
- But then he told Mary that her son would be opposed…and a sword would pierce her own soul.
And at that very moment…the prophet Anna…an 84-year-old widow who lived in the temple…joined Simeon in praising God…
- And spoke about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
- The birth of any child usually brings a notable measure of happiness.
- And it was no different for the birth of Jesus.
- Jesus’ birth…his first coming…was an occasion of great joy for all the people…
- Because he was born to be a Savior…who is the Messiah…the Lord.
- Jesus said that he came to give his life as a ransom for many.
But in our gospel for today…Jesus begins to talk about another time when he would come.
- Not as a helpless babe…nor as a suffering victim.
- But in a cloud with power and great glory…bringing redemption to his people.
Jesus knew that his disciples would be traumatized by his brutal murder.
- They needed to know that his death would not be the end of the story.
- Nor would the calamities he foretold be the last word.
- Yes…the Jerusalem temple would be destroyed.
- And many disasters would befall the inhabitants of Earth.
- But these were all signs that would precede his return.
The apostle John reported that shortly before his arrest…Jesus told his disciples:
- So you have pain now…but I will see you again…and your hearts will rejoice…and no one will take your joy from you.
Jesus’ words in our gospel are meant to give his people comfort and encouragement.
- When all these troubles come…he said:
- Look up! Lift up your heads! Your redemption…your emancipation is drawing near.
Jesus wants us to know that there is more going on behind the scenes than we realize.
- It may seem that evil is winning…
- But the armies of heaven…with Jesus in command…are in this fight as well.
We struggle with fear and anxiety because our eyes are glued to our screens as we gaze at the latest horrific and terrifying news report…
- And conclude that we are no match for such forces of evil.
- But here…this morning…Jesus gives us the antitoxin to the poison of panic:
- Look up! See the Son of Man is coming!
- Jesus is reminding us to refocus our eyes…not on the world’s threats…or on our own sense of inadequacy…
- But on Him…our redeemer: the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
So then…what should we be doing before Jesus returns?
- Jesus tells us in the last few verses:
- Be on guard…be alert…watch…pray!
- Guard your hearts! He urges his disciples.
The original meaning of the word “watch” comes from the Greek word…agrupneo…meaning:
- To be sleepless…to keep awake.
- The way a soldier on guard duty keeps alert for any sign of the enemy.
- Jesus is talking about the kind of watchfulness General Douglas MacArthur alluded to when he said:
- No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.
- Jesus is calling for a high state of spiritual alertness.
St. Paul reminds us to:
- Pray without ceasing and to pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end…keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Song of the Day:
Savior of the Nations, Come
Prayers of Intercession
As we prepare for Emmanuel, God-with-us, let us pray for all people and places that long for God’s presence.
A brief silence.
God of righteousness, your people live in hopeful expectation of your coming. Fill your church with renewed passion for our shared mission, and deepen our relationships with other Christians and other faith traditions in our local community and across the world. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God of the cosmos, all creation shows that your presence is near. Help us sense your goodness and love in the sun and moon, in sprouting leaves and bare branches, in the roaring sea and quiet breeze. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God of the nations, your reign extends over all principalities and powers. Give leaders and all in authority hearts for justice and peace. Encourage efforts to enact policies that benefit the common good. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God of change, you accompany us through life’s transitions. Be near to all who are changing jobs, moving, welcoming children, or facing the loss of loved ones. Sustain those who are ill or suffering especially: John & Lisa Mountain, Terry Vernon, David & Carol Beazley, Margaret Miller, Bill Treichler, Shirley Treichler, Hope Garrett, Julia Busby-Morgan, Lisa (Bob & Doris’s daughter. Chad Rudzik, June Gust, Ellen Cuoco, Vicki Salzgeber, John Satino (June’s son’s dad), David Wilfong (Esther Gustason’s son-in-law), Clinton Nelson, Clementine, Annie Clapper, Stacey Bryant, Pam Hendry, Betty Hurley. In times of change, remind us of your steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God of community, your Spirit holds us together. Sustain our care for one another especially: Church of God – Pastor Troy…SDA – Pastor Ralph…Bay Point Christian – Pastor Randall…DayStar Life Center…Canguros Day School. Inspire us to seek new ways to live together and to embrace the diversity of thought and identity in our communities. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
God of memory, we give you thanks for faithful ones who have died especially our friend Willis. Tend to our grief and sorrow with renewed trust in your promise of abundant and eternal life. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.
Savior of the nations, come, and receive these prayers and the pleas of our hearts, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Pray with me:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing
God of endings and beginnings,
God in the darkness and the light,
God, our hope for the journey,
☩ bless and keep us now and forever.
Amen.
Sending Song:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Dismissal
Go in peace. Prepare the way for Emmanuel.
Thanks be to God.