Advent 1A (Matthew 24:36-44)  11/28/2010

“On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound…”[i] These words are the opening sentences of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express is a classic Christmas tale of a young boy’s adventures on a Christmas Eve train ride to the North Pole and his exploration of understanding the spirit and joy of Christmas. This story was a Christmas season favorite when my kids were young and we would read the book several times each year. The book remains one of my favorites: each page is beautifully illustrated, the story is full of adventure and excitement, and the boy’s Christmas present (a bell from one of Santa’s reindeer) stands out as a symbol with great meaning because only those who believe can hear the “sweet sounds” that come from the ringing of the bell. As I think back to reading the story over and over to my children, I do remember that the boy’s parents could not hear the bell and I am reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples as written in a passage from Matthew’s Gospel account. Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 18:3-4)

Like the child in The Polar Express, waiting for the joy of Christmas as he lay awake in his bed, we hear Jesus in our Gospel lesson this morning urging us, “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matt 24:42) Keep awake, and prepare for the coming of Christ. Welcome to the season of Advent, the season of patient waiting and prayerful preparation. A time for us to prepare through daily practices and devotions to God; and a time to make ourselves ready for the coming of the Lord. But we must ask ourselves, “is simply staying awake” enough to properly prepare us for the Lord’s coming or is there something more required of us? In our Gospel lesson, we hear that there were two in the field doing work, but only one was prepared when the Lord came; and there were two grinding meal together, but only one was prepared when the Lord came. We are called to be awake, but to be prepared to meet the Lord we must be fully aware and open to the signs of His coming.

Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham, in their book The Spirituality of Imperfection, re-tell a popular story of an unfortunate tourist named Clifford. “Clifford was leaning against the fence, enjoying a beautiful view from the top of the Grand Canyon, when the wooden posts suddenly ripped from their cement moorings. Seconds later, Clifford was plunging down into the abyss. Halfway to the bottom his desperate arm waving helped Clifford catch and clutch the branch of a scrubby tree that grew from the canyon wall. Grasping, gasping, he looked both up and down. No way could he climb that sheer cliff, even if he could swing his body toward the wall. But below yawned the chasm, unbroken by any other tree or holding place. To fall would be to die, horribly crushed on the rocks below. No one had seen him fall, and he hung there out of sight, knowing that the wind would scatter his weak voice no matter how loudly he shouted. Desperate, Clifford cried out to the heavens: ‘God help me!’ Hearing his own trembling voice, he wailed again, ‘Please, God, help me.’ To Clifford’s amazement, he heard an immediate answer. ‘All right,’ came the voice. The initial warmth Clifford felt turned to a chill wind gripping his body as the voice continued: ‘Let go.’ Looking down, Clifford saw the huge boulders waiting below, and he knew again that if he let go he would surely die. Let go? He thought. ‘But God, you don’t understand!’ he yelled up. ‘I’m too far up, I’ll…’ ‘Let go,’ the voice repeated. Silence filled the canyon. Then, in a weak, terrified voice Clifford called out, ‘Is there anyone else up there?’”[ii]

Keep awake, but we must also let go of those things we cling to as we enter this holy season of preparation. Let go of all that holds you back from our Lord. Keep awake with a clear and open heart and mind. Open your hands and let go of everything and listen to the Lord as you journey through this time of Advent. Like the young boy waiting expectantly and openly for the joy of Christmas, keep awake with the heart of a child this Advent. Keep awake and be ready, for the Son of Man, our Savior the Christ child is coming – will you be prepared when he arrives?

AMEN