Psalms. 132:1-12 / John. 18:33-37

As we begin a new Christian year and the Season of Advent, our reading comes from Luke 21:25-36.

 It may surprise you that, as we prepare for Christmas, the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Gospel reading comes from a time toward the end of Jesus’ life and ministry. The reason for this is that, just as they awaited the birth and coming of a Messiah two-thousand years ago, we await the return of the Messiah, Jesus, at the end of history. So, a people waiting and preparing is always a theme of Advent.

 In Luke 21:25-27 there are references to the prophesies of Isaiah, Joel, Zephaniah, and Daniel. If you have a Bible with footnotes, look up the specific verses from these four prophets and read them. What images do they use? What is the mood of what they say? How do you find yourself responding to them?

 In recent years, some Christians have predicted the end of the world, and even purchased advertising and billboard space to name a specific day. None of these predictions has come to pass. What do you think of that? What do you suppose motivated these people? When you read Luke 21:29-33, which also has to do with the end of the world, how do you respond to it?

 Luke 21:34-36 is a call to be watchful, expectant, and focused. To the degree that you do these things, what effect do they have on your daily life? Are you hopeful? Fearful? Ready to rent space on a billboard? Jesus names “dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life” as impediments to our readiness. How might you be distracting yourself instead of believing that Christ will return to bring creation to perfect alignment with the love of God?