This is a question posed in the lyrics of a song performed by the musical group “Chicago.” Ask a child this question right now and they’ll probably tell you… it’s Christmas time!! Not only that, they just might be able to tell you how many days, hours, minutes AND seconds until the “big day.” Just so you know, there IS an app for that complete with the sung reminder that “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” so you better be good, not shout, pout, cry or pick on your brother or sister because he’s going to find out just who’s naughty or nice!
In the scripture assigned for this past Sunday, Jesus is already in Jerusalem, Palm Sunday has passed and Jesus is in the temple teaching. By the time we get to Matthew 24, Jesus’ fate is sealed as the powers and principalities plot against him.
Jesus begins talking about another “big day” – the day when the temple will be leveled. And so the disciples have their own “come to Jesus” moment and ask him, “When is the Son of Man coming? What will be the signs?” In other words, what time is it?
People do like to predict the end of the world – even back in the 1st century. It frightened the disciples then. And it frightens people today. This second coming language has been used to scare the bejeebers out of people and coerce them into behaving the way a church has decided they should. These verses have been used to falsely convey what a certain sect of the church thinks it knows and exactly what going to happen, who’s good or bad (naughty or nice) and who gets a present or just a lump of coal.
It is easy to get hung up on all this end of the world, apocalyptic words and miss the words of promise — and because we don’t read vs. 31 where Jesus says that the son of man, with a loud trumpet call, will send out his angels to “gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
And then Jesus gets to the heart of the matter – what it is that scares us and it’s the unexpectedness and unpredictability of life – what scares you? Health concerns, illnesses, loss of a parent or child, loss of a job, catastrophic weather… what’s your list?
And we want to protect ourselves from these things in life that we can’t control – we want to insulate ourselves from the fear and pain and the shear unpredictability of life.
So we seek to control that unpredictability with life insurance, medical insurance, disability, travel, house, phone, car, malpractice – you name it insurance. And understand, I am not saying throw these insurances to the wind – but it does speak to our need to feel safe and secure.
And we would do well to keep repeating vs. 36, “But about that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not the angels who get sent by the son, not the son who sends the angels but only the Father, God.
We don’t know when we’ll need any of the insurances that we pay for – there is no way of knowing what medical calamities will befall us, when we will utilize that car insurance.
And we know of way too many instances of where one is taken while the other is left behind – that happens today, in our time, now – 911, Sandy Hook, right here in our community. Was anyone prepared for these disasters?
That’s what Jesus is saying in vs. 37-39, when he compares his return to the flood and Noah’s family. First thing to notice is that there is no moral judgment passed upon these people who fell victim to the massive flooding.
They were going about their lives – eating and drinking – we all do that; and marrying and giving in marriage – we all do that, too. It’s what people do. But the people of Noah’s day were not prepared for what was coming their way. Noah was – and keep in mind – he and his family were those left behind, to do God’s work, to carry on God’s story and promise.
Jesus uses this instance to show the sudden and unexpected act of God. Likewise the pairs of people out doing what they are supposed to be doing – living their lives, working hard in the fields and grinding wheat – all is peaceful, people going about their business – not suspecting a thing, not knowing that something is about to happen.
Have you walked through your neighborhood at night? What do you notice? Street lights? What about that yard light? Are your neighbors home? Perhaps out of town for a few days? When you’re gone, do you have lights on timers, motion-sensor lights on your porch.
All is calm in the neighborhood.
We are vigilant even when we’re gone – we makes sure the mail is taken in, the papers are not left out to advertise our absence, less a robber comes to invade our home, our lives, our property, stealing our peace and security.
We’re ready – just in case… We’re diligent – just in case…
And yet, we’re called to live lives, not in fear, but in faith. That’s the way God made us! We have the promise of the future hope, God calls his elect. We have the promises made to us in our baptisms. God has promised us Emmanuel – to be the “with us God.”
Therefore, we must be ready – as scripture implores us this day. Emmanuel doesn’t insulate us from all that scares us but he does promise that we don’t face it alone. This preparation for God takes place – as we go about our business – as we eat and drink, marry and give in marriage, as we plant in our fields and grind our wheat – in the living of life.
The promise of the presence of Emmanuel and the hope of Emmanuel to come allows us to think about the possibilities. What can we dare to do?
Living in the sure and present hope of the future yet to come, what can we dare to do now?
The invitation of Advent implores us to explore a different kind of living in daily life. What do we dare to change right now in our lives that reflects who and whose we are – that reflect that we are children of God, wonderful made to live in his image, in faith and not fear?
And even if we fail, we have the promise of healing. We have the promise of Emmanuel, who came such a long time ago, who comes to us now, in the waters of baptism and the bread and the wine and who has promised to come again.
What can we dare to do? What possibilities can we imagine? Because Jesus came, Jesus comes to us now and Jesus comes again – and God’s glory is to be praised! Do you really know what time it is? We really do care that it’s Jesus’ time!