Sermon for First Sunday of Christmas – Matthew 2:13-23

Merry Christmas! You know, a lot of folks are surprised to find out that Christmas isn’t just a one day thing. Then again, Christmas is full of surprises. We surprise each other with gifts. We like being surprised by them, unless it’s another ugly sweater. Kids love to open a Nintendo box filled with socks and underwear. Distant friends sometimes drop in for a surprise visit. We get a surprise card from someone we haven’t heard from in years. Surprises can bring a lot of joy. But, the pendulum swings both ways. Surprises can disappoint us or even be very tragic.

Well, how surprising is our gospel for today? I mean, we just celebrated Christmas Eve. Our sanctuary was packed. We listened to Luke’s nativity story in the manger. We gave thanks for the birth of the holy child. We sang Silent Night by candlelight. It was glorious. Sure, the reality wasn’t so glorious. A dirty, smelly manger, noisy animals, childbirth. Mary and Joseph wondering what folks were going to ask when they went back home with a baby. It’s complicated. But it’s still a story that gives us peace, and you’d think that should be enough.

Sermon for First Sunday of Advent – Matthew 24:36-44

“Expecting the unexpected” seems like the gist of what Jesus is talking about in our gospel reading for today. “Therefore be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” Sounds like an oxymoron. Now, this is just part of a really long conversation between Jesus and his disciples. Way back in verse 3 the disciples ask him “When will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming?” 36 verses and he’s still answering! Hopefully my sermon will be shorter…

“The Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” What Jesus means is that after crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension, he will come again to us. Like we confess in our creed – “he will come again to judge the living and the dead.” Here, Jesus is describing what his second coming will be like. How do we imagine that? Peaceful? But how does Jesus paint it? Terrifying. I mean, he starts with the story of Noah and the flood. That’s controversial. The whole world is full of sin except for Noah, the only righteous person in the entire world. So God strikes out in anger and destroys all humanity with a flood, except for Noah and his family in the ark. God’s judgment like a sledgehammer. So much for forgiveness. Of course, we know the story continues with God promising never again. God gives the rainbow as a sign. But deep down, does that feel like enough? It’s terrifying to think that God has the capacity for such unexpected violence. Who could explain that away?