“Ready?”

Are you ready? The big day is coming. It’s not far off. Preparations are being made everywhere. Because you really don’t want to be caught unprepared for this day. It’s the big one, the most wonderful day…

Advent is the season of preparation, of getting ready for this big day, the great celebration. Our readings, hymns, homilies all focus on being prepared for it. Jesus’ Word to us this morning in the Gospel addresses the question directly of how to be prepared for it.

Now, you do know what big day I’m talking about right? It’s not Christmas—okay? Jesus really is quite indifferent to birthday celebrations. Honestly, He could care less whether you remember or get Him anything or have a party or not. All the holiday cheer and decorations and shopping and falderal—Jesus could give a rip about it.

Really, do you see any place in the Gospels where the disciples get Him a cake and a new sweater because it’s His birthday? Huh? Do you? “Surprise! Happy Birthday Jesus! Dec. 25 again!” “Ah, gosh guys, you really shouldn’t have. Oh! Look! A new sweater! And a letter opener with My initials! How thoughtful.” Um… no. You don’t see anything like that in the Gospel. Because Jesus doesn’t care about celebrating His birthday. There are much bigger days than that to concern ourselves with!

Oh, I suppose that sounds a little “bah, humbug” and Scroogy of me. I suppose someone will point out that Christmas was celebrated from the 4^th century on by Christians and has an honored place in the liturgical calendar. But I’d point out that 1) it did take over three centuries before anyone celebrated it, so it can’t be that central and proves my point that neither Jesus nor His apostles cared about celebrating His birthday now, did they? And 2) the early Church’s festival of Christmas was not a birthday party for Jesus. Not at all. It was the Feast of the Incarnation and had a catechetical purpose. It wasn’t about decorations, “holiday cheer”, or shopping. It was all about teaching the Gospel and receiving the greatest gift—the Incarnation of our Lord, God taking on our human flesh. Because, in the 4^th century, there were many who denied the full and true humanity of Christ. So it needed attention then and now. The festival of Christmas was a way to give that necessary attention to the Incarnation and full humanity of God’s Son, our Lord.

So if our Gospel is not really about getting ready for Christmas, not in the world’s understanding of “the season” at least, then what day is the big one? Simple. It’s the Last Day, the Parousia, the Return of Christ in glory. That’s the focus. That’s the big day. And Jesus was quite concerned in the Gospel to prepare us all for that day. That’s the Advent that really matters! Now, to be sure, in order to understand Christ’s Second Coming, it is helpful to have a clear grasp of His first advent, His incarnation. But the incarnation is history. The Parousia, the Return of Christ in glory is still a coming attraction. And being ready for that Day is key. Very key.

I mean, hey—you know when Christmas is coming. It’s right there on the calendar, Dec. 25, every year. But when will Christ return in glory? Do you know? Can you figure that out?

The disciples asked Jesus this question at the beginning of Matt. 24. Jesus gives His longest answer to any question they ever asked by far—taking up two full chapters of Matthew by way of an answer. From that, it is fair to conclude that this is a very important question that should be of major concern to us all.

And what is Jesus’ answer? Well, the disciples’ original question was in response to Jesus saying that the Temple of Jerusalem that Herod was rebuilding on the site of Solomon’s original would be destroyed. For the disciples, the destruction of the Temple must surely coincide with the end of the world. They understood God maintained the world for the sake of His Church (which is right). So they couldn’t conceive of the world going on without the temple in Jerusalem (which is not quite right).

Jesus answers that the stone building in Jerusalem will be torn down in the lifetimes of the apostles. Many signs would precede the end of that event. Wars, rumors of wars, persecution, the world wide proclamation of the Gospel. There would be signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and the temple would be destroyed. But, and this is the important “but”: the end of the world isn’t tied to a stone temple in Jerusalem. Because the real Temple of God is not a stone building in Jerusalem, but the Body of Jesus Christ.

So, Jesus explains that the end of this age, the Parousia, the big day, will come at a day and hour no one expects and that no one can predict. Even Jesus Himself chose not to know the day during His earthly sojourn. All the signs of the end of the world have been fulfilled. They were fulfilled before the last apostle died. The day could come any day. And there is no way to predict. The events in the middle east and Jerusalem, for instance, have nothing to tell us about the last day. You don’t need to follow it—really.

It will be like the Flood. Life went on as usual, no one saw anything coming (except Noah, because God told him). And then, wham, bam, one day—flood baby! That’s how the last day will come—like a thief in the night that can catch even the strong and mighty by surprise as we saw in the sports pages last week, very sadly.

So, it makes us ask, how in the world can we be ready for the Last Day, the Parousia, the Return of Jesus in glory? If there is no way to predict it, if it will take even the faithful totally by surprise, so that there are two guys out in the field and suddenly one guy goes off with Jesus while his buddy is left alone, how can we possibly be ready?

Simple, Jesus says: you have to be ready for it every day. You have to live everyday like the last and you have to rehearse constantly for His return. And we go, “Hmmm… how would I do that?”

Well, here’s the good news. The Last Day will be like a wedding feast. It’s a big banquet that Jesus throws for His friends. He spreads a table for us in His sight and we, His friends, take our places eagerly and with great joy. Because being with Jesus, sharing His Feast, is our great delight.

And does that remind you of anything? Uh… what happens here every Sunday? Jesus comes to us by His Word, and we come to His Feast, His Table, and commune with Him! Every time you come to church, you’re rehearsing for the Last Day. Because it won’t feature long lines, test questions, or interrogations about what you did or didn’t do. Suddenly, you will see Jesus, in glory, with a Feast laid out. Those who are in the habit of hearing Jesus gladly and eating with Him will rush to the place set for them. Those who aren’t in that habit will miss out.

Christianity is a habit. A good habit. Hearing, feasting with Jesus. By getting in the habit here, now, of feasting with Jesus faithfully, we are prepared for taking our place at the Great Feast to come. You’ve received the invitation again. The Table is laid. The body and blood of Jesus are given. The feast of forgiveness begins again. Find your place here, now, and you’re ready for the Big Day when it comes… and ‘till then, the Peace that surpasses understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Amen.