Get Ready!

Rebecca Sheridan
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Luke 21:25-36

    Are you ready for Christmas?  My hair stylist annoyingly asked me this question on November 15.  “No, I’m thinking about Thanksgiving first, “I tried to reply politely.  “I’m putting up my tree tonight!” she continued, somewhat oblivious to my irritation.  I really don’t like this question, ”Are you ready for Christmas?”  For me, it just conjures up the anxieties of the season – shopping, baking, mailing, decorating, cleaning, all those to-dos I wish I had already done, rather than the joy and peace of Christmas.  I understand people have all kinds of reason to get ready for Christmas early each year, but I am protective of our Advent tradition of waiting and watching.  Advent patience comes first!  Christ was born on December 25, that’s the first day of Christmas – Christmas doesn’t end until January 6 (Epiphany).  Christmas, much less Advent, doesn’t start November 15, that’s for sure.  
We human beings are so good at keeping busy with perhaps the wrong things can often distract us from the main thing – Christ has come, and is coming.  Christ is our focus, our future, and our goal.  This is what Advent is about – preparing for Christ’s coming again.  That is what the word Advent simply means – coming.  
SO perhaps a better question for the faithful is, “Are you ready for Jesus?”  What I mean is, if Jesus were to show up here, right now, do you think you would be ready, or do you have some things with your soul, in your life, with your faith that you need to attend to?  Would Jesus “catch you doing good” or would you be a bit embarrassed, if he came again right now?  This is what Jesus is asking us today in our gospel from Luke.  Are you ready for him?  Amidst the many things our culture tells us we NEED to do to get ready for Christmas, in the church we ask if people are ready spiritually to welcome Christ, both as a baby in the manger and to welcome Christ’s return when he comes again.
How do we get ready, spiritually, for Jesus’ coming?  Jesus instructs us today in Luke, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life…”. Is anything weighing you down right now? How can Jesus lighten your load?  Are you struggling with an addiction, maybe drinking a little too much, or simply feeling a bit down in this darkest, coldest time of year?  Are you missing loved ones who will not be with us as they were in the past this Christmas?  Are you concerned about a broken relationship that needs mending?  Are you weighed down by the worries of this life – politics, finances, legal troubles or caring for aging parents?  Maybe a generalized anxiety you can’t quite articulate?  The holiday lights, good food and social gatherings can help us find joy in this season, but ultimately, the coming of Christ, our Savior and Messiah, promises to lift our spirits and lighten our souls, like no one and nothing else can.  We get ready by lightening our hearts, giving our weighty burdens to Jesus, entrusting those fears and anxieties to him.
The second coming of Jesus is often described as scary for some who do not have faith, and at the same time a welcome anticipated day for those who believe.  Luke describes this day as distress, signs in the sky, the powers of the heaven shaken.  Jesus moves us from fear to faith in his coming, though – when these things begin to take place, he says, “stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Jesus helps us stand up when we are weighed down by worry and dread about the state of the world or the state of our personal lives.  He is coming soon.  Our redemption is near.  
In the midst of these more frightening descriptions of the end times, Jesus describes the growing of a fig tree – what starts as buds will grow into fruit.  Whatever glimpses we have of Christ’s presence today will grow into seeing his full glory face to face.  This is what we have to look forward to and get ready for.  Our second reading from 1 Thessalonians encourages us to not just sit here with heads down, weighed down waiting for Christ’s return, but to live with the reality that Jesus has already come and with the hope that he WILL come again.  Paul encourages us to increase in love for one another and for all and to strengthen our hearts in holiness.  All the rest that we do to busy ourselves to get ready for Christmas is icing on the cake, if you will – Christ comes whether the lights are on the house, the tree is up and the cookies are shared., thanks be to God.  May Jesus help us raise our heads, stand tall, and prepare for his coming this Christmas and once again.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.