Advent Purpose [Advent 1A]
The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 24:36-44 Advent Purpose Today begins a new year in the Church. And so this morning is, in a sense, our New Year’s party. Happy New Year! But I do realize this is probably not like any New Year’s party you’ve ever attended; we do things a little differently in here. I mean, yes, we do have wine and music. But we also read this epistle that says, “let us live honorably…, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness.” No drunkenness or debauchery. So, like I said, this New Year’s party is probably not exactly like any you’ve attended before. In fact, all of our Scripture lessons today, this first Sunday of the Advent season, noticeably lack that party vibe. It is not just the letter to the Romans, it is also the Gospel. Unless that woman grinding meal in Jesus’ little apocalyptic tale of terror just needed some “me” time, the sudden disappearance of her frie...