November 28, 2021 - First Sunday of Advent - Starting Advent with the Biblical End of the Age

Pastor Joel Schmitz preached at today's service. The Gospel was Luke 21:25-36. He also preached on the Second Reading. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. The liturgy was Now the Feast and Celebration and Pastor Joel sang the leader's part of the liturgy well.

For years my feelings were it was somewhat counter-intuitive that Christians should begin the new church year and Advent contemplating the end of things. Particularly this Luke passage has this troubling verse "Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Troubling because to hope for something new something old must pass away and, instinctively, we don't want things to change. How do we keep the traditions, the life we want to preserve while, at the same time, ushering in what we hope for.

Also troubling, I think, because our lives are lived linearly. If "until all things have taken place" is read like "There will be signs... all these things must happen and then comes one final, apocalyptic outcome" then this Jesus prediction on its face seems wrong 2,000 years later. 

However, moving from the idea that the end of an age is a one time event is a possibility, Instead of a one time revelation and resolution or a singular rapture, imagine what history shows, that resolutions, revelations, and ruptures happen many times throughout human history. The opportunity remains available for every generation to bring and experience the kindom of God to earth.