Isaiah 63:16-17,19; 64:2-7 
1 Cor 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37 

Bishop Untener's Homily

I've thought of an image for Advent. It's something like celebrating the 18th birthday of the eldest child. The parents look back to the day of that child's birth, and how it changed their lives. The parents also look, of course, at this child right now - a child who, at 18, is no longer a child. And the parents look ahead too. The 18th birthday is a turning point, a time when parents look ahead and think about what might be in store for their child.

The "Three Comings" of Christ

In Advent we look in all three directions, and we think about the meaning of all three "comings" of Christ. We think about his birth, his entry into the human race, into world history. As parents might look back on how the birth of their child changed their lives, we look back and think of how the world is different because of the birth of Jesus. Or at least how the world should be different. Perhaps even better - how the world is gradually, oh so gradually, becoming different because of his birth.

During Advent we also look at the present. The Lord Jesus who was born at Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago, didn't leave us when he died. He went through death to a risen human life and, as he promised, he is present to us through the gift of his Spirit - and make no mistake, this is a real presence. He is able to be closer to us than he was with his disciples during his human life on earth.

Finally, in Advent we look ahead to the coming of Jesus at the end of time. Jesus talked over and over about the "reign of God." This is what he preached most of all. The Reign of God comes about when creation reaches its destiny - when there will be no more poverty, no more sickness, no more wars, no more tornados, no more theft, no more killings ... That is what Jesus came to set in motion: The coming of the Reign of God.  Jesus taught us what the Reign of God is like, and how we have a part in helping to make this happen. For example, what he said in the great Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ... Blessed are the meek ... Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness ... Blessed are the merciful ... Blessed are the peacemakers ...” At another time he said, "Come, blessed of my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink ..."

This is the great work that he initiated when he began his public life on earth. He brought the presence of God more fully into creation. He gives us the gift of his Spirit so that we can be to the world what he was to the world. Notice that in today's parable about waiting for the return of the master of the household. Jesus said: “The master leaves home and place his servants in charge, each with his work.” You and I are called by the Lord to have a role in bringing about the Reign of God.

What we do may seem small, but we are helping bring creation toward its destiny. But Jesus talked about planting a tiny seed that eventually grows into a great tree. He talked about a tiny bit of leaven that affects a large batch of flour. To live a good life, to live as Jesus taught us to live is not simply scoring "points" for ourselves. We are engaged in God's massive, great work of transforming creation.

We speak of the "end of the world," but it is really the birth of the world into its destiny. In other words it is the end of the world, as we know it. We also speak of this as the second "coming" of Jesus, but that can be misleading, as though he was gone and was going to return. Actually, what will happen at the end of time is the full manifestation of Jesus. We will experience and appreciate more fully the presence he has had to the world since he was conceived in Mary's womb. 

I'd like to make a comment on what is commonly called the "end of the world." Every couple of years someone announces that they have discovered a coded message in the Scriptures that tells us when this is going to happen, and they announce that it is very soon, or they even give a date. Now here's something you can be sure of. There is absolutely no truth in what they say, no matter how sincere they may be. First of all, Scripture is not a filled with "secrets" that are in some sort of code. Second, Jesus was clear about this question of "when" the end of the world will happen. I'm going to read to you a passage from Mark's Gospel that you may never have heard. It's not part of our Sunday readings. As a matter of fact, it's just one verse before today's Gospel reading from Mark. Here's what happened. Jesus was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem (which took place in 70 A.D.), and also about the end of history. Peter, James, John and Andrew were with him, and they ask him when this will happen. Here's the response of Jesus:

Of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Mark 13:32)

Did you hear that? Jesus says that he himself, as a human being, doesn't know. Most people have never heard that passage. But it's clear as clear can be. So, don't ever pay attention to anyone who says they know when the end of the world will happen. Any prediction is a bogus one.

[I make one exception to that. There is a way of knowing when the world is going to end. If the Lions win the Superbowl, you know that the end has come. If they win, you get yourself right to the nearest church, because it's over. That's the only exception.]

According to scientific calculations, the earth will be habitable for a billion more years. It could well be that we're only in the very early stages of God's plan in transforming creation into the Reign of God. 

I close with this thought. During Advent, we look in those three directions - we look back to the entry of Christ into this world, we look to the present and realize that he is with us now, and we look ahead to his coming in visible glory to bring about the final fulfillment of the reign of God. How does all this - especially looking ahead to the end of time - how does this affect me now? Well, it is meant to give us perspective. We ask ourselves, what do I want to invest in? My time, my energies, my money, my thoughts?  

I have a visual aid for you. I was recently in Turkey, visiting some of the sites where St. Paul visited. Turkish currency is not based on the dollar. It's based on lire. My friends, I have here in my hand, a one million lire note! Actually, I've got two of them. Two million lire! I'm rich!

The truth is, one million lire ... is worth about 60 cents.

Something struck me when I changed some money and received my first one million lire note. I thought, "At the end of time, a million dollars in U.S. currency won't even be worth as much as this one million lire note. All the money I have will be worthless. Any prestige I might have had will be worthless. Whatever car I had will be worthless. Whatever clothes I had will be worthless. Somehow, simply holding a one million lire note in my hand made me experience this truth in a new way.

Advent is a time when we try to get a perspective by looking to the past, the present and the future. And in that perspective, we ask ourselves, "What do I want to invest in?" I don't need an investment counselor to do that. Jesus gives us the answer: Invest your life, your possessions everything you have ... invest it in the Reign of God.

Originally given on December 1, 2002