Third Advent Principle: Any moment may be a moment of divine human interac on. God comes to us. It is vital to detect the divine presence in every aspect of life for we it is possible to miss the opportunity. The specific comings of God may go unrecognised. through self preoccupa on, business, busyness, selishness, fear and unwillingness to be open and honest with our inner selves. * This was the tragedy of the Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ me. God comes in a variety of ways. In moments of joy and hope; ·In moments of crisis and Illness, In moments of tragedy and bereavement. Some of His comings may be unwelcome. Never the less, the hardships and trials of life are o en moments in which we may experience God in unique ways. Through over fi y years of ministry I have come to understand that none of us choose the ‘hard things’. Experience and lessons exist within them which we learn no other way. So o en people have said, “I would never have chosen it, but God met me in that!” CONCLUSION
The modern prophets of science, and their companions are hysterical as they cry “One minute to midnight, wake up, it is later than you think.” It is a panicked cry because despite remarkable scien fic and technical progress the human condi on has defeated them. The lust and will to power, greed and exploita on defies common sense and ra onality. However, the message of Advent is unique. We declare with a quiet assurance, God is in charge. God loves and accepts. The price of redemp on has been paid and the opportunity for reconcilia on is freely given. Chris ans have a contribu on to make which transcends the mystery of evil. Down the years Christ’s people have stood in the gap as mediators and beacons of hope to broker understanding and peace in the face of impossible obstacles and demonstrated that crises can be overcome within a context of meaning and control grounded in sacrifice and love. Finally, the message of Advent is validated by the way we live. God looks for his people to live holy lives of joyous hope before a genera on which has forgo en the nature of the face of God. We tread the same road as the prophets and apostles and take the promise of his return seriously. They did not doubt and expected him daily. Friends Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! One Minute to Midnight \HTK \ Advent 3 \ 11th. Dec. 2016 \ Page 4
One Minute to Midnight
Sermon delivered by Canon Graeme Winterton at Holy Trinity Kew, Advent 3, 11th. Dec. 2016
Ma 11:2-11 Wai ng for the Messiah - John the Bap st is doub ul 1. There is a legend that following the ressurec on the apostles would stop at the top of every hill and scan the road, looking for the familiar figure of Jesus. The Apostles took the promise of his return seriously. They did not doubt and expected him daily. Their mo o: “Maranatha” come quickly, became the watch word of early Chris ans. 2. On the other hand John the Bap st was filled with doubt. We read in today’s gospel that ‘When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ John’s doubt contrasts starkly with the faith he displayed in last week’s account of his bold courageous declara on of commitment to Jesus as theMessiah. 3. I can’t help thinking of John the Bap st as an example of many present day Chris ans who profess commitment to Jesus as Lord and Saviour yet are very doub ul about the second Advent. It’s strange. The incarna on, the first Advent, is not a problem for it has already taken place. However, the creed he will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end, and the declara on in the Eucharist, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again presents a problem for many who struggle with the seeming impossibility of the promise ever being fulfilled. My guess is that the words are said by rote, tongue in cheek and without any real convic on. One Minute to Midnight \HTK \ Advent 3 \ 11th. Dec. 2016 \ Page 1