Watching for Signs of the Kingdom - Lectionary (RCL) Reflection for Advent 1C (Luke 21)
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| Lightening by Jean Pierre Alexandre Antigna |
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.”
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We like to think that Advent is the moment we prepare for Christmas. With the holiday season, at least the commercial part of it, stretching further back into the fall each year, Advent seems to be the only thing holding back the waters that threaten to break through dykes. But the Advent readings tend not to focus on a past event, but that which is yet to come. That is, they tend to be apocalyptic in nature. That is especially true for this reading from Luke 21. Perhaps it's appropriate since we seem to be in an apocalyptic moment when the world around us seems to be out of control. The signs seem to point to something about to occur. The Middle East always seems to be in a state of concern. For some Christians, this is a good thing. All we need now is for the Temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and then Jesus will arrive soon after. Of course, that will involve Armageddon. That final conflagration when the world will go up in smoke. So are you ready? Of course, not all Christians are sitting at the edge of their seats waiting with bated breath for that moment when the world will come to an end. In fact, for some this apocalyptic message is too dangerous to handle.
Such apocalyptic expectations are not new or limited to Christianity. There seems to be a desire among a number of religious/ethnic/nationalist entities to provoke an attack that would allow God to intervene and set up a new realm, whether that be the kingdom of Christ or a new Caliphate. Every time we have a chaotic situation, especially in or near the Holy Land, hopes/fears are kindled. For example, at the time World War I broke out, which led to the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the expanded return of Jews to Palestine, and the Bolshevik Revolution seemed to signal a new apocalyptic era. Then, after World War II similar visions emerged along with the birth of the modern nation-state of Israel. Oh, and have you started reading the Dune series now that the movie is out? It has a similar apocalyptic vision.
The first Sunday of Advent signals the start of another round in our ecclesial journey. It offers us a word of hope reminding us that the day will come when the reign of God will be experienced in its fullness. The season offers us an opportunity to do some soul searching, even as it prepares us for what is to come. It is a season of expectation; which means that we need to be on the alert. Jesus warns us against being caught up in the things of this world. Focus your attention on what God is about to do. All of this is set in apocalyptic language.
We who know the Christian story understand that Advent leads to Christmas. In fact, we know enough that sometimes we want to move on too quickly. The Advent hymns simply don’t resonate the way the Christmas carols and hymns do, and besides Christmas is in the air—everywhere. Advent seems like a pointless effort, and yet the message of Advent is an important one. We’re not only encouraged to consider the first advent but to prepare for the second one. The problem with the second advent is that our eschatology (our view of the future) becomes so tied up in apocalyptic imagery that we’re not sure what to do with it. Do we embrace it or ignore it? Are these the last days, or simply a continuation of an ongoing reality where conflict emerges, people get excited, and we move on, without the “end” coming upon us?
The reading from Luke 21 forces us to address these matters, as it begins with typical apocalyptic imagery. According to Luke's story, before the Son of Man comes on the clouds, there will be chaos and violence. Even the skies will be darkened and the nations will experience distress. In other words, there will be cosmic signs that suggest that the day of judgment and redemption (what we celebrated a week earlier) is at hand.
When Jesus finishes telling his audience to be aware of the signs, he tells a parable to reinforce the message. He tells the disciples to look at the fig tree or trees in general. When they sprout leaves you know that summer is at hand. Again, if you know what to look for you will see the signs that something is about to happen. The signs will be obvious. You won’t be able to miss them. The previous paragraph offers signs that are cosmic in nature, but the fig tree is natural, even unassuming. So is the end signaled by cosmic signs or more unassuming and natural ones? Could that be the point? Whether with extraordinary or ordinary signs, we should be attentive to the signs of divine presence.
What is important to note here is that while this is a reading for Advent, in the context of Luke's story, the conversation takes place near the end of Jesus’ ministry. As he shares this apocalyptic message, he is looking at the possibility of his death on the cross. The days are drawing to a close. The great conflagration will take place not on some battlefield called Armageddon, but on the cross. In this scenario, death will lose the battle because life reigns supreme in the resurrection.
Advent calls us to be on the alert. We are to be aware of what is going on around us and interpret that through the lens of Jesus' vision of the future. So, don’t engage in activities that will cloud your vision of God’s work in the world. That is, there is no place for dissipation or drunkenness. Don’t let the worries of this life keep you from seeing what God is doing. Finally, pray that you will escape the time of judgment. All of this is apocalyptic in nature. While apocalyptic fervor is understandable, it can also be dangerous. It seems clear to many, including me, that Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher (as was Paul). They seemed to sense that the world as they knew it was coming to an end soon. It’s been a few years since the first century. The end hasn’t come, at least not as described here in Luke 21. But, there is always the possibility. In fact, there are many seemingly apocalyptic elements of our own time. There are threats to democracy here at home and abroad. There is the reality of climate change, which will have a calamitous impact on people's lives.
So, what word should we take from this passage? What is God saying to us as we begin the Advent journey with Joy to the World already on our lips? As we watch or listen to the news, do we let fear control our decision making or do we trust that God is present in our midst? Claudia Highbaugh writes a response that is helpful here:
The shape of our faith in times of crisis and change and confusion carries us from uncertainty to becoming persons of reliable faith. Watching for signs and being on guard and attentive to the natural world around us—the world of wonders and change—inform the ability to live through difficult circumstances. Jesus models this! . . . The only adequate, informed source of meeting the crises to come is to be prepared, prayerful, and attentive to the signs of the natural world, and warned that the kingdom of God is always near (vs. 31). [Feasting on the Gospels--Luke, Volume 2: 246].
When we don’t prepare ourselves properly, fear will take hold. When we aren’t aware of our surroundings and the resources God provides then we put ourselves in a position to be manipulated and used. We shut our hearts and minds to the needs and concerns of others. We become insular. But when we’re able to look at the world through the eyes of God we can weather the storms and embrace our calling to proclaim good news to the world.
Let us remember that this Sunday is the day we light the candle of hope. This should be our focus. No matter what the world looks like, we live with the promise of hope. That is because God is faithful.
Antigna, Jean Pierre Alexandre, 1817-1878. Lightening, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56035 [retrieved November 20, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandre_Antigna_-_The_Lightning_-_WGA00733.jpg.
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