An Unexpected Hour - Matthew 24 - Advent 1A

An Unexpected Hour

Tony E Dillon Hansen

Reflection based upon Isaiah 2: 1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, 

Happy new church year and happy Advent!  May your journey through these next few weeks be inspiring and uplifting as we prepare for the celebration of birth.

Advent typically follows some theme for each other weeks as we light candles around the wreath. Today’s candle theme is meant to be “hope”

Today’s lesson however feels a little more ominous than hopeful. Yet if we look deeper there is hope captured in these texts. What does Jesus mean by “you must be ready … for… an unexpected hour."

Maybe the word, for today, is not ominous but readiness - in other words preparation and watchfulness. Why do we prepare ? Who needs to be prepared and what does that give us?

It should come as no surprise to any of us that some day, we will just stop breathing and meet our maker. For all of us are mortal and all of us who are born into this life, will, one day, leave this life. The question then is for us, how do we prepare for what is inevitable?

When we say before worship, “let us prepare our hearts and mind”, there is a reason for this.  We are not just saying rhetorical phrases just to hear them from our mouths, but preparing our hearts and minds to hear and witness the Word made flesh. We prepare to transcend with that Word and spirit in our hearts. We prepare our hearts and minds and our bodies to call upon the spirit and to receive the spirit. 

When we do this, we can witness that Spirit and the Word become what we need to hear and feel in our bodies. When we offer food or clothes to the needy, are we preparing our gift for ourselves or for them and God.

That is preparation that is different than planning to make a cake or dinner for Thanksgiving because it is preparing ourselves to be open to the potential because yes as Jesus says, the unexpected hour is always near.  

So readiness is not just out of fear, but preparing to receive something - something so spectacular and amazing, you will be moved, minds will change as the spirit pours out upon you.

Isn’t that something that feels like hope?  Readiness for surprises is to be prepared for the day when things are going south. Readiness is for us to be prepared for the day after another shooting at a queer club or a Walmart or a mall, or when one country provokes war and violence like how Russia illegally invades Ukraine. Preparing is not making sure we are packing when we go out, but that our hearts and minds are ready for the coming of our Lord.

As well, this preparation is not just for us to anticipate all the materials, wrapping paper and pretty bows we see on Christmas, for we have plenty of reminders of the consumerism in our culture regardless of inflation before, during and well after the season.  

The season of Advent is for us to prepare our hearts and minds to receive the spirit in our celebrations so when that unexpected hour arrives, we won’t have to wonder if we did enough to be good with God.

The answers to our broken world ways are not more government or more toys around the tree, or more guns in pockets, but the answer for us can be found in the promise that God has given to us, the rainbow as a reminder of that promise and Word of the Lord that teaches and gives life - the Word made flesh in Jesus.

So let us discern the spirit among us this Advent, and let us find what we really need and want. Find healing, home and grace in the message given to us through the Gospel of Matthew, and let Jesus show you a way beyond our world’s divisions. 

So beloved, for Advent, let us walk in the light of the Lord and prepare our hearts with the hope of God’s promise and peace guiding us. 

Beloved, “Peace be within you.”

Thanks Be to God.