Advent 1
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.
-- Luke 21:32
These scriptures have been seen as predicting the second coming of Christ, and people have been troubled by Jesus' statement that this generation would not die before it all took place. For some skeptics, this is evidence that Jesus was mistaken. Yet it may be that we confuse a final return of Christ with the second coming of which Jesus was speaking. Is it not true that each Advent is a rehearsal for how to respond to the continuing stresses and challenges of our life and our world? Jesus used cosmic signs to speak of times so distressful that people felt that their world was falling apart. It is precisely when our universe is shaken by the events around us that we should expect the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus noted, as we are all too aware, that some tried to escape the pressures of such stress through dissipation, drunkenness, or worrying. Each year, in this season before Christmas, we see ample evidence of the vain attempts to escape the pressures of life through forced gaiety or escape into alcohol or drugs. The emphasis on celebration often brings depression to others because they cannot feel what they believe others are feeling. We often view the problems of the church or society as the lack of faith. Yet it is precisely these signs that we should note as the times when Christ will come to us in a new and fresh way. Because Jesus knew that God "hears the cry of God's people" and actively seeks to intervene on their behalf, as God did at the Exodus, so Jesus was confident of the triumphal presence of the Son of Man at the dark times in our lives. The Son of Man comes to us at those moments of direst need if we will raise our heads and be expectant. Each Advent we ask again how to prepare ourselves for Christ's birth afresh in our lives.
-- Luke 21:32
These scriptures have been seen as predicting the second coming of Christ, and people have been troubled by Jesus' statement that this generation would not die before it all took place. For some skeptics, this is evidence that Jesus was mistaken. Yet it may be that we confuse a final return of Christ with the second coming of which Jesus was speaking. Is it not true that each Advent is a rehearsal for how to respond to the continuing stresses and challenges of our life and our world? Jesus used cosmic signs to speak of times so distressful that people felt that their world was falling apart. It is precisely when our universe is shaken by the events around us that we should expect the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus noted, as we are all too aware, that some tried to escape the pressures of such stress through dissipation, drunkenness, or worrying. Each year, in this season before Christmas, we see ample evidence of the vain attempts to escape the pressures of life through forced gaiety or escape into alcohol or drugs. The emphasis on celebration often brings depression to others because they cannot feel what they believe others are feeling. We often view the problems of the church or society as the lack of faith. Yet it is precisely these signs that we should note as the times when Christ will come to us in a new and fresh way. Because Jesus knew that God "hears the cry of God's people" and actively seeks to intervene on their behalf, as God did at the Exodus, so Jesus was confident of the triumphal presence of the Son of Man at the dark times in our lives. The Son of Man comes to us at those moments of direst need if we will raise our heads and be expectant. Each Advent we ask again how to prepare ourselves for Christ's birth afresh in our lives.
