First Sunday on Advent

Readings – Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Psalm 25: 1-9; I Thessalonians 3: 9-13; Luke 21: 25-36

Last night was New Year’s Eve! That’s right. Today is the first day of the Church Year. Hope the fireworks didn’t keep you up too late, and the parties were not too loud!

Seriously, the First Day of Advent does begin our Church Year. The reading from Psalm sets the tone. I put my trust in [God]…teach me your paths…Lead me in your truth and teach me…[God] teaches sinners in his way. [God] guides the humble in doing right…

From the Gospel according to St. Luke, we hear these words of Jesus

…stand up and raise your heads…Be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down…Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

In 1858 Dudley A. Tyng was preaching at Y.M.C.A.s through out the Philadelphia area. Why at Y.M.C.A.s? He had been ousted by his own Presbyterian congregation for his anti-slavery stance. While doing farm work to provide an income, his arm as severely injured. With his dying breath he said–

Stand up, stand up for Jesus.

At his funeral his friend George Duffield, Jr. repeated those words, and then went on to compose the hymn found in our hymnal, #561.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus: the strife will not be long: this day the noise of battle; the next, the victor’s song. To valiant hearts triumphant, a crown of life shall be; they with the King of glory shall reign eternally.

These remain stirring words for us today. While some would legislate posting the Ten Commandments in schools and public spaces, I would suggest of the words, of Jesus.

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

…love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

…I say to you that you should love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-28, 31

The words of St. Paul from I Corinthians would also be good words to inspire.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…

Love is patient. Love is kind… Love never ends…And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Pursue love. I Corinthians 13:1,4a,8a,13; 4a

We are ready, People of Faith, to face this New Year, 2024.

We are equipped, People of Faith, with Holy Words, Holy Bread, Holy Wine.

We are surrounded, People of Faith, with a great crowd of witnesses here on earth, and in heaven above.

Stand with Jesus! Stand up. Stand up.

Amen