Snow Showers, Leaves, Trees, and Mountains

When Michael and I arrived in Maggie Valley at the end of October we learned that the weekend before, there were unusual snow showers on the mountains and wind in the valley. All this took a toll on the autumn foliage causing leaves to fall, leaving some trees bare, and some retaining their leaves. The contrast reminded me that autumn is a season of transition. The once green foliage had changed to numerous autumn colors . The warmth of summer was ending, leaving us with pleasant days, and cool nights, waiting for winter to come.

Yet,as I looked at the mountains and the creeks this time of transition has a beauty in and of itself. The change of seasons reminded me of the Church Year.We have just concluded the long season of Pentecost with the many variations of green to mark the season. Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. This particular Sunday serves as a bridge linking together Jesus' birth and the and the second coming of Jesus. We used white to designate this day signifying Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Today as you entered the sanctuary you saw the purple hangings marking the change of the church season, along with the Advent Wreath, and green garland wrapped around it, like the evergreen tree. I've always liked the symbolism of the evergreen tree, for it is this kind of tree which lasts through all types of weather, and keeps its color and needles throughout the seasons. A timely reminder of eternity.

In our first lesson we hear from Isaiah crying out to God from the depth of his soul, for God to forgive his people, who were separated from Him, because God had hidden Himself from them. This community of faith needed what God was offering: healing, hope, and cleansing. They needed to be reconciled to God for all they had done by ignoring His Word, His decrees, and being totally self-centered; so God hid himself in his anger from them, as they continued in their sinful ways.

In the midst of those dark days for Israel, Isaiah pours out his heart to God, to show Himself to his people. This was no game of Hide and Seek where we call out 'come out, come out, where ever you are.' Their temple was in ruins, they were a people who had lost their faith,and worshipped false Gods. Isaiah calls out to God, "you have hidden your face from us, and because you hid from us we transgressed." Isaiah tries to blame God for the Israelites iniquity, "their deeds do not account for anything, they are withering away like the wind which blows the leaves from the trees. No one calls on you for they are afraid what else may happen to them." Finally, Isaiah acknowledges God is their Father, that He is the potter and they are the clay. "You were the one who made us and not we ourselves, we are your people the work of your hand" Isaiah writes. Isaiah calls upon God asking Him not to be angry anymore and not to remember their sin forever, "for we are your people, your chosen ones."

In the Psalm for today, we hear the same theme, David is pleading for restoration. He is pleading to God to show Himself again, "asking how long can you be angry with us?' Our neighbors ridicule us and our enemies laugh at us, let us see your face again. Return to us Lord so we will never turn away from you, restore our life to you as your people and we shall be saved."

The Israelites wait for God to reveal Himself again and He does. He hears their prayer and offers them mercy and grace.

Truly a different way to get our attention. The darkness of the world Jesus is entering is sobering. Our world is like this today except Jesus is not hidden from us, instead He came to live among us. Like the Israelites, we too need to be reminded of those sins which separate us from God. The anguish we go through is painful. Changes and transitions don't come easily and God knows this. This is why He sent His Son as a babe, to live and die as one of us, so we too can experience His birth and be reborn in Him.

A few weeks ago we went from Daylight Savings Time to Eastern Standard Time. We all turned our clocks back one hour, and gained another hour of sleep. In return the sun rises much earlier in the morning and darkness is setting in by late afternoon. It is the time of year when the days become shorter and shorter. It is in the Season of Advent that darkness overcomes daylight. As we look forward to the Holy Season of Christmas, sunlight once again, adds length of days over the darkness. Darkness always prevails but it is always overcome. As we light a candle each week on the Advent Wreath we are reminded that God is sending His Son into the world as one of us. Each candle symbolizes what we each long for: hope, joy, peace, and love. On Christmas Eve the Christ Candle is lit reminding us of Jesus' birth.

Advent is one of the shortest seasons in the Church Year, yet so much is said in the lessons. It is a time in the Church Year that we are reminded of the 'endtimes' referring to the Second Coming of Jesus. In today's Gospel we hear some frightening things, we need to look back at the beginning of the chapter, where we are told about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, of war, earthquakes, famine, betrayal, and great suffering. Jesus assures His disciples that in the days following the great suffering, He will return in the clouds, just like he ascended, but much more dramatically. For the moon will be dark, stars will fall from heaven, and all powers in heaven will be shaken. Angels will be sent out from North, South, East, and West from all places on earth and in heaven.

He also states, "we all know the signs when Summer is near and the buds are beginning to form on the branches, so it is with the Second Coming of Jesus."

We are not to be scared even though heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus' Words will never pass away. Jesus' Words are eternal, this is why Jesus called on everyone to follow Him. For if we have a relationship with Jesus we have a relationship with His Father. Jesus is here and Jesus is coming. We don't know when and that's OK. All we need to do is to be ready for what God is doing in our midst, be prepared whenever that day will come, keep awake to welcome Him into our hearts again, when he returns in glory.

In our Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians Paul speaks of the Lord's return giving thanks to this faith community in Corinth. He gives thanks that Christ has strengthened and enriched this community with every spiritual gift until Jesus reveals Himself, that as they wait they will continually be strengthened, and be blameless on the day of His return.

So too, we are to be faithful because Jesus is here and Jesus is coming! Amen!