By the Rev. Elisabeth Shelton Hartwell
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection, Advent 1, Year C
December 1, 2024
Key verse: Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. -Luke 21:28
Dear fellow preachers: Not too long ago, I attended a fundraiser thrown by a local student-led high school brass band. Among their selections was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” featuring a soloist on saxophone. As they performed, the room – large and packed wall-to-wall with people – was somehow transformed into an intimate, cozy space. Their music instilled in the audience a sense of peace, calm and memories of Christmases past. This performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” comes to mind because it feels like the antithesis of our Gospel lesson for the first Sunday in Advent, which is decidedly not peaceful, calm, intimate, or nostalgic.
I admit, as a pastor I would just as soon skip some of the more prophetic, apocalyptic Lectionary texts, like this one, that appear early in Advent. Why? Because I know they are not what my congregation really expects or wants to hear in the weeks leading up to Christmas. They want to hear about the angel Gabriel coming to Mary, just as they want to hear about Joseph and Mary making the long trek to Bethlehem.
They want what is familiar. And yet, our text from Luke reminds us of something really significant: Advent is not only about the past, it is about the present and future. In Advent, we do not simply look back in time to when Jesus first came. We also look anew at how Jesus is with us today, even as we anticipate his second coming.
As preachers, we can view the first Sunday in Advent as our opportunity to extend a wake-up call of sorts to our congregants. We can echo the words of Luke 21:34: “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, like a trap.” Here are two ways we might extend this wake-up call:
Luke gets to the heart of the tension we live with during Advent – and really all the time as people of faith: Jesus is already among us and yet his presence has not reached its fullest measure. Invite your congregants to live in the midst of the tension. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, where do your congregants see Jesus at work? Where do they long to sense his presence more fully?
Challenge your congregants to stay awake and alert in the weeks leading up to Christmas. So many priorities can get in way of spiritual growth during Advent. And yet, we can take inventory of the ways we are in need of Jesus’ presence in our lives, our communities, and our world. We can look with hope to the time he will come again. You might challenge your congregants to do by encouraging them to read consistently Advent devotional, to light an Advent wreath at home, or to journal about what Jesus’ coming will mean to them.
My fellow preachers, at stake in our sermons this Sunday is how we encourage our congregants to be good stewards of Advent, so that they use the season for spiritual growth and renewal. Being good stewards of the weeks leading up to Christmas requires that we look not only to the past, but to the present and future and to imagine how Jesus might touch the broken places of our lives, communities, and world to bring renewal. Although our text from Luke might not be cozy or instill a sense of nostalgia, it might just give us all a much-needed jump start as we look with hope to the miracle of Jesus’ incarnation.
In Worship
One of my favorite Advent hymns is “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” The hymn’s lyrics look in two directions: both back in time to the past, and forward to the future. You might encourage your congregants to spend some time with the lyrics as they reflect on the significance of Jesus’ first coming and the impact his second coming will have. The hymn can encourage them to live with joyful anticipation and hope for the future we look to during Advent.
With youth and children
Our text from Luke is a confusing one, to say the least, and might instill a sense of unease in youth. You might encourage them to look past the reading’s apocalyptic language to get to the heart of Advent’s hope and anticipation. Talk about how Advent is not only about the past, it is about how Jesus acts now and will act in the future to bring renewal and wholeness. Invite them to consider the ways the world around them is broken and how they hope Jesus will turn things around to make them right.
With children
Without a doubt, one of the most exciting parts of Advent for children is anticipating the presents they will receive on Christmas. Emphasize that of all their presents, Jesus is the biggest, most amazing one of all. Share the story of the first Christmas and tell them the story is not over yet. Invite them to think about the ways Jesus is with them and encourage them to celebrate his birth.
Previous Reflections for Advent 1B:
2018 – SHOW: Stewardship in Advent
2015 – Stewardship in Advent Series: Give Thanks
2012 – Wait, Wait! Please tell me!
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