'Look busy, Jesus is coming!' - Sermon Transcript Advent Sunday 2025

 

Advent Sunday 2025 Matthew 24:36-44

When I was working in the stables back in the 60’s we had a chap who was a Yard Man. This was an older person who didn’t ride out but worked around the yard doing various jobs. My recall of this chap was that he wasn’t the most diligent of workers, you might even have called him lazy. Now the Governor, Bruce Hobbs, wore Blackey’s on the heels of his riding boots and had a habit of whistling through his teeth, so you could tell if he was approaching. On hearing the Governor approaching this chap would suddenly start hustling and bustling about, huffing and puffing and even sometimes dip his hand into the water bucket and put it on his brow.   I am sure the Governor was not fooled by these theatricals.

‘Look busy, Jesus is coming’

Is that a suitable motto for Advent?

“Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

On Emmerdale a few weeks ago week a landlady made an unexpected visit to a tenant farmer who was panicked because she has people upstairs, some of whom are illegal immigrants, following a story line of modern slavery. The tenant farmer would certainly have welcomed prior knowledge so she could be ready.

What are we to make of this ‘second coming,’ sometimes given the technical term, the Parousia, which like Advent which means, coming.

Well, lots and lots it would seem. The ‘second coming’ has proved to be fertile ground for books and films over many, many years.

When I became a Christian in 1975 it was Hal Lindsey’s book, ‘The Late Great Planet Earth’ that was all the rage amongst some Christians. I bought into all of that in a very deep way. I really believed Jesus’ return was imminent and all the stuff of what would happen to those left behind was for real. Only those who had given their hearts and soul to Jesus would be saved and be taken into glory.

And ‘Left Behind’ is another series of books and films produced more recently.

And on this phrase, ‘left behind’ we begin to see something of our difficulty in sorting out what Jesus is saying here and how we can easily get very confused. Is Jesus talking about contemporary events, or events that are yet to come to pass, perhaps heralding the consummation of all things with Jesus’ returning to earth as judge and Lord of all. And then, take all the faithful off to heaven and eternal life, with unbelievers left behind.

Well, first off it is important to note that Jesus states that these things will happen before this generation passes away.

Matthew 24.34 ‘Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.’

So, as the first generation has passed away, we therefore can assume that what Jesus is talking here about has happened. But what exactly has happened, verified by history and not speculation.

Now we certainly do not have the time, space or capacity to try and explore all what might be going on here, all the very many theories and understanding amassed over the years about the ‘second coming.’

That, however, could be something fruitful to explore during this Advent season.

The one thing we know for certain that happened within a generation was the First Jewish Revolt and the ensuing war with Rome and then the finally the destruction of the Temple in AD70.

And part of a Roman terror tactic was to take someone, a person here, a person there - and then kill them. A strong message to those ‘left behind’ not to mess with us, or you will be next. Here, you would be pleased to be left behind!

The fall and destruction of the Temple is key to Jesus’ message and a vindication of all that he said and did.  When he rose from death, he declared, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.’ Matthew 28. 18

Put simply, the destruction of the Temple, the place where God resided and could be accessed, the place that had developed from the Tent of Meeting in the desert wanderings, that Age had now gone and the new Age spoken of by the prophets had begun. 

That leads to Pentecost and onward as we, God’s people, are now mini-temples out and about in the world.  

Jesus knew that this was all going to happen as part of God’s overarching plan. And it would happen because they had refused to listen to his warnings, his teaching, his message, his gospel.

Biblical scholar, Tom Wright, argues that it is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that he ascends the throne and sat down at the right hand of God. Jesus has already come ‘riding on the clouds,’ and is now ruling both heaven and earth, and with all authority being given to him, referencing Daniel 7.13-14.

And here, in these passages he lays it on even thicker, all the signs that will take place. Yes, couched in typical Jewish apocalyptic language, that for us modern readers are cryptic, which means we have some work to do to try and grasp what is being said and what’s not being said in its original context, culture, time and space.

However, we do have our own phrases that we know aren’t factual but make a point using hyperbole.  Manchester United slaughtered Liverpool the other day. I literally jumped out of my skin. It’s proper taters out. That in large part, it what is going on here in the language Jesus uses. Basically, it’s heightened picture language.

And in the Greek, it is worth noting that apocalyptic means, to reveal, to uncover, to disclose. Hence we have the ‘Book of Revelation.’ It is only later that it has come to mean something like the end of the world usually through some catastrophe or some such thing.

Our ‘Yard Man’ learned to be able to discern when the Governor was around by being alert to the sound of his boots and the distinctive whistling.

I wonder what we might discern that would indicate God’s presence.

That’s a question Bishop Sophie is inviting all of us to do this Advent.

Mission, said the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, is seeing what God is doing and joining in’.

In other words, we should be seeking to do more of what is God is blessing rather than asking God to bless what we are doing.

So, what do we see God doing in our community?

What stories are we hearing?

Remembering as Ian opened out 1 Corinthians 15 last Sunday and spoke about the bigger picture that Paul was trying to put before those in Corinth. Reminding them, and us, that our stories are part of a bigger story, God’s story. A story that has a goal and a purpose in mind.  

The technical phrase for that is teleology. It has several meanings, but it broadly means heading towards a meaningful goal or purpose and bringing something to completion.

The destruction of the Temple meant the end of the Age and the beginning of the Age to Come – that phrase ‘beginning’ is important.

Rather like the D Day landings, that wasn’t the end, the last chapter, but the beginning of the end.

We are living in the now and not yet of God’s overarching narrative to bring about the full and complete redemption of the entire cosmos. That’s the goal and place where the Biblical story leads us towards.

And we are invited into this bigger story, to make it our own and to play our part in this story.

Michel Quoist in his book ‘The Christian Response’ writes, ‘You are a unique and irreplaceable actor in the drama of human history, and Jesus Christ has need of you to make known his salvific work present in this particular place, at this particular moment in history.’

Jesus Christ has need of you and of me to play our part.

“Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not” said St Augustine.

Therefore, ask yourself this question - what do you see as the goal and purpose of your own life?

And what do we see as the goal and purpose of our life here as the People of God, this Church family of St Oswald’s?

Or as I sometimes like to ask people, just what do you think you are doing for God’s sake.

What do you think some of the current world leaders see as the goal and purpose of life and where we are all heading?

What about some of our political parties?

This must be one of the most important questions we could ask.

God’s story is revealed, through Scripture, as moving towards the goal spoken of in the poetic language of a marriage feast.

‘Look busy, Jesus is coming.’ Yes, we are awaiting that time, ^‘when earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea’.  Habakkuk 2.14

But while we await that final consummation isn’t Jesus already here, present in His people, acting as His ambassadors, ushering in the Kingdom, offering a foretaste, setting up signposts pointing ahead.  

We need to learn to be alert to the sound of his footfall - do you know what that sounds like?

Not necessarily someone with Blackey’s on the heels of their shoes but those wearing the sandals of the gospel of peace…

^‘….and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.’  Ephesians 6.15

And it may not be the sound of someone whistling through their teeth, but it may be the sound of someone worshiping King Jesus.

It may sound like a song of hope sung gently in places of darkness and despair.

And it may be the song of lament as we weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

It may be a song of defiance, as we stand up to the bullies of this world and as we cry out for justice.

Jesus invited those around him to be alert, vigilant, to be aware of what was happening around them.

As we journey towards the great festival of Christmass, as the people of God in this now and not yet of the Kingdom come upon earth, we are also to be similarly alert, vigilant, watchful, expectant and hopeful.

Seeking to always walk in God’s will and way, in all places, in every circumstance and in all situations.

In others words we look for God in our living, and in our breathing,​ we look for God in our waking, and in our sleeping. We look for God in our resting, and in our working. We look for God in our thinking, and in our speaking.

God is to be our everything….  If you are able, let us rise and sing as Jesus centred, God dependent, missionary disciples…  

https://youtu.be/vSfVI8aIE9Y?si=rNFxgs4UqVa-vDlW​

O Lord, I humbly seek Your guidance and wisdom in every aspect of my life. As I surrender my own understanding, I ask You to illuminate the path You have prepared for me. Open my ears to hear Your gentle whispers and my heart to receive Your divine instructions. Guide me in making decisions that align with Your will. Let Your Holy Spirit be my compass, leading me through life’s uncertainties. I surrender to Your loving guidance, knowing that You have plans to prosper me and not to harm me. In Your hands, I find true direction and purpose. Amen.

 To see the sermon in context visit the home web page of St Oswald's.

www.smso.org.uk