November 30, 2025 Sermon
Sermon title: “Keep Awake!”
Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44
(Other lectionary suggestions include Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, and Romans 13:11-14.)
Matthew 24:36-44
The Necessity for Watchfulness
36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, so it may seem strange to have the grown-man Jesus speaking words that sound like a warning. But here is what is going on, and I’m relying on the ideas of the Rev. Ronald J. Allen for part of this sermon. Keep in mind that today’s Scripture from Matthew was written AFTER Jesus had walked the earth. So, those who heard these words had the sense of living sort of in between the times. Jesus had come, was crucified, and was resurrected. The early church thought that Jesus would come again and SOON. But it hadn’t happened yet, so Matthew is trying to tell his readers to keep the faith and not lose hope.
At the beginning of today’s Scripture, we are told that nobody knows when this will happen (the Second Coming of Christ). The angels don’t know, and neither does Jesus. Today’s Scripture “reinforces the idea that the community must ‘be ready.’ In this context, to ‘be ready’ is to continue to do what Jesus taught in the Gospel of Matthew. The community is to prepare for the final advent less by doing special things and more by living and witnessing as Jesus instructed. The liturgical season of Advent is an annual reminder of the importance of faithfully doing what Jesus said.”
The reading we heard today uses four examples. The first is the Flood. Noah and his contemporaries had no idea that a flood was about to sweep them away. And some of Noah’s contemporaries were not particularly faithful, “a situation similar to that of Matthew’s own generation.”
The second example is of two people in a field, and one is taken. What does that mean? Is it good to be taken, or is it better to be left behind? The third example is of two women grinding meal together. One is taken. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? And where were they to be taken?
Do you believe in the rapture? I do not, but it’s okay if you do. Says the minister Ronald J. Allen, “neither Matthew in particular nor biblical eschatologies generally contain the detailed time-line scenarios of premillennialism,” which is what rapture-thinking is called. “To the contrary, Matthew encourages the congregation to remain faithful in witness even in the midst of conflict until the second coming. Perhaps one way to prepare in Advent is to leave behind {{the concept of}} ‘Left Behind.’”
There were four examples or parables in the reading we had for today. “The fourth example is a homeowner who did not know when and where a thief was coming. Had the householder possessed such information, the householder would have stayed awake and prevented the break-in. The congregation, then, should stay awake.” As far as Matthew is concerned, “if people do not know when the second coming will occur, they cannot wait until the time is near in order to prepare for it. Matthew wants the congregation to be prepared through witnessing at all times.”
Once again, this minister whom I’m quoting a lot, Ronald J. Allen, wants to make 3 points. “Some preachers (and listeners) believe we are living in the last days.” I have told you that I do not believe we are. But if you DO believe that, please use the imminence of the second coming as an immediate reason to prepare for Advent. Point #2: “Many congregational members believe a final manifestation of the Realm is ahead, though they are ambivalent as to when. ....The preacher who addresses this group encounters an audience much like Matthew’s and will do well to encourage listeners to stay alert in spite of the delay.” Third and final point: Some members of the congregation may find the language used as figurative and similar to a first-century world view that is not similar to the one we share now. But those members may believe God is constantly present, luring the world toward his Realm. The preacher could invite this third group to participate with God in bringing about such realm-like life.
“In each case, a preacher can help believers identify interpretive possibilities and identify what they gain and lose with each option, while pointing out that Jesus in all options calls the disciples, and empowers them, to witness faithfully to God’s ultimate purposes of love, peace, joy, and abundance. Coming to such clarity is a powerful way to prepare through Advent.” Amen.
Pastor Skip
