Second Sunday of Advent C

Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Pastor Gayle M. Pope

When You Most Expect It

Every Thursday night since last September, a small group of individuals has gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Carthage for a service called “The Table.” Near the beginning of each service, there’s an opportunity for those present to share “God Moments” they’ve experienced recently – times when they noticed God’s hand at work in their lives or in the world around them.

Some weeks, when the time comes to share “God Moments” it gets pretty quiet. It’s like we’re all searching through our memories of the past week thinking, “Surely I saw God’s hand at work somewhere – I know it must have been there, but I just can’t think of anything…”

Last week wasn’t like that, though. Last Thursday, Jeff and Natalie Cole had numerous “God Moments” to share and they all had to do with the arrival of a new baby.

The baby was Jeff’s nephew Brady. The baby’s birth had been expected. In fact, we had prayed at the Table in advance for a smooth delivery and a healthy new baby. And, when Brady arrived, everything DID look good. But then one of the nurses at the hospital in Carthage noticed a slight heart murmur and Brady was taken to Peoria for further tests.

As it turned out, Brady had serious heart problems and was also lacking a spleen. Immediate surgery was required and more surgery will be required later. None of this was expected. It didn’t seem fair for such an innocent little guy to face such major problems right from the get go.

And yet, into the midst of all this trauma, the “God Moments” abounded. Jeff and Natalie saw the hand of God in the discovery of the heart murmur that might easily have gone unnoticed.

They saw God’s hand in the transfer of Brady to Peoria, rather than Quincy, which would have been the customary place. But as it turned out, the neonatal unit in Peoria was the better prepared to handle a condition like Brady’s and, in fact, there were three other babies there with similar problems, which made for a built-in support group for the family.

And then the word got out in the community and Jeff and Natalie began to experience God’s presence here and there and everywhere, as person after person would come up and ask them how things were going or tell them, “We’ve been praying for that baby,” or even offer financial support if it was needed.

Jeff and Natalie see God in the kindness and concern expressed by people they didn’t even know or people they would not expect to care.

And so, into this time of turmoil and trauma and troubles, Jesus came, bringing hope, and encouragement and love.

Jeff and Natalie’s faith and their prayers in advance of this birth and their participation in the life of their church and community all helped to prepare their hearts to see God’s hand at work and to receive God’s grace and – I’m convinced – to allow God’s presence to be seen by others through them.

That’s what the season of Advent is all about. It’s about getting ready – preparing our hearts and minds and spirits for the coming of the Christ child.

The prayers and Scripture readings and songs of the season reflect on the promised Messiah – the Savior …

… who came to earth at a specific time and place in history to save God’s people,

… who comes to us here and now by the power of the Holy Spirit,

… and who will come again, in person, to judge the world and to complete the work of restoring God’s creation.

Today’s readings focus specifically on John the Baptist – the voice of one crying out in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Messiah. John is a prophet – a messenger sent by God who came proclaiming “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

Isn’t it interesting that God sends a messenger ahead of time – a sort of wake up call for a people who have been waiting for so long they have probably lost that sense of anticipation – they may not expect to see the Messiah any more than we expect to see Jesus coming in the clouds this afternoon!

John the Baptist is seen as fulfilling ancient prophesies, so apparently, this messenger had been a part of God’s plan for quite some time.

In fact, when you think about it, it’s pretty typical of God to send messengers to us telling us what God is going to do – telling us to be prepared – to watch and wait. It must be important. It must make a difference. If we don’t expect Jesus to come around, maybe we’ll never see him.

Now, I’m pretty sure that everyone here is expecting Christmas to come. And I’m sure you’re all doing lots of things to prepare for it – shopping, planning meals and family get togethers, sending cards and letters, going to concerts and programs, decorating … all that.

But what are you doing to get ready for JESUS to come? How are you preparing your heart for Jesus to come into your life this very day? How are you preparing for Jesus to come and take you home, or to come and take the whole world home? Are you expecting him?

John the Baptist told the people of his day to get ready by repenting. To “repent” means, literally, to turn around – to re-orient your life so you are facing in the direction of God. Sometimes we need a little help with that.

I now have a car with a built-in compass so that when I lose my way – like in the “holler” where the Rosenbooms live – I can look on the instrument panel and see whether I’m going east or west, north or south.

That helps, if I know which way I’m supposed to be going and if I remember to look at it – which I don’t always do. So last night Terry and I ordered a Christmas present for each other – one of those Magellan GPS things for the car that will actually tell me where to turn, as long as I tell it where I’m going and keep it charged up.

Just as I need help to point me in the right direction as I travel the roads of Illinois and Iowa, we all need help to stay on track in our spiritual journeys. So God sends us messages that say, “Wake up! Turn around! Look! Jesus is right here! This way! Come on!”

God gives us his Word in the Bible – the road map and GPS unit for travel in God’s Kingdom – if we would just pay attention and read it.

God gives us a church where we can hear God’s Word of promise and forgiveness and receive food for our souls – if we would just come.

God puts people in our lives – if we would just notice them – who cause us to turn toward God, either because we see them walking that way and we want to follow, or because we see them walking the other way and we don’t want to go there.

God gives us circumstances in which we become overwhelmed by our helplessness and the futility of life without God. These are opportunities to experience God’s saving grace by simply giving up control and learning to trust God – if we would just open our hearts.

Sometimes God comes when we least expect it – in spite of the obstacles we put in the way.

But when we MOST expect it – when are hearts are open and ready – God ALWAYS comes.

And where God comes, things change. Valleys are filled, mountains are made low, crooked roads are made straight, rough ways are made smooth, and salvation is seen, known, experienced by human beings – by all flesh – by anyone anywhere who receives Jesus by faith.

This morning, God has given me the job of messenger, so I am telling you – Jesus is coming – in fact, he is already here! Pay attention, listen, open your eyes and ears and heart. He is here to save you. Know that you are loved. Believe that you are forgiven.

And then you go, and be a messenger, too!