Silliman University Church Reflections

Luke 12:32-40

Have you experienced, waiting long for some hoped for dream. Suddenly the waiting  ends and you are speechless and incredulous. Like a senior Afro-American woman interviewed during the acceptance speech of Barak Obama in
Chicago who said, “I waited all my life for a black American president to win. I never expected it would happen in my lifetime. We were doubtful. But the light has finally come. I cannot believe it. My family is here to celebrate this historical event.”

The same way we felt at EDSA 1.

When everyone was getting cynical about politics, Barack Obama talked about change. When everyone doubted change could come, he said “Yes we can!” It turned out to be a resounding and victorious call.

I imagine that this is the same spirit of hope, Gospel writer Luke was talking about. “Do not be afraid any longer for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom… Blessed are those who wait for the coming of the Master… You all must be prepared for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Advent is the season of hopeful waiting, waiting for the Christ child to be born, waiting for the second coming of Christ, waiting for Christ to come into our lives. And this coming portends hopeful changes.

The world is gloomy. It is in the midst of a financial meltdown. The biggest banks are closing. The biggest car companies are seeking a bailout. The freeze in trade is leading to global recession. Thousands of Chinese workers are losing their jobs. OFWS are coming home. Peace is illusive. Things are changing. America’s dominant position is waning. China and India are rising; there will be fierce competition for water, food and energy; increased danger that terrorists will get a nuclear weapon.

Terrorism, climate change, non-proliferation and energy security will be the main challenge. There is much gloom, but in the middle of the gloom there is always a candle of hope. Advent is a candle of hope and peace. How do we wait for promised deliverance?

1.      Luke suggests 3 ways 2 wait. 1^st wait  patiently.

Today it is more difficult to wait patiently. With Instant text. Ipod. Internet. Wifi. Fast food. ATM. We want shorter time to wait for anything. We are stressed out when things move slow.

“God’s best gifts come slowly. A person gives his all to be successful. But even a confident worker grows discouraged  and worries because results do not come as quickly as desired. But growth and strength in waiting are results often greater than the goal. Paul grew stronger in faith, in prison. “

God wants us to see results as we work for Him, but His first concern is our growth. That’s why He often withholds success until we have learned patience.

“Waiting is a period of learning. The more we learn to wait, the deeper we understand whom we wait for.” “Waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting”. God is creating his life within us, and we must wait for it to come to full term.

In Jesus’ day, there were those who grew weary waiting for the Messiah to come. They decided to take matters into their own hands. Judas betrayed Jesus to provoke Jesus’ hand. Judas hoped, Jesus would be forced to confront Rome and display his messianic power. The revolt would begin. But this kind of action was not part of God’s plan. We can not get ahead of God. We must  wait patiently.

2. Secondly: We wait expectantly. God is busy bringing about his full plan for the world and for us. In his perfect timing he will birth that plan. Many mothers past their due date ask, “Is this baby ever going to come?” But we can all see it is impossible for the baby not to come. So we wait expectantly.

“Back when the telegraph was the fastest means of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse code operator. He went to a large, noisy office. In the background a telegraph ticked away. Seeing the instructions for applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were called to enter the inner office, the young man completed his form and sat down behind 7other waiting applicants. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants were angered. Within a few minutes the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by the interviewer, who announced to the other applicants, ‘Gentlemen, thank you for waiting, but the job has been filled by this young man.’ They protested. He came last. We have not bee  interviewed. That’s not fair.’ The employer responded, ‘All the time you were sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse code: “If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.” None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. So the job is his.’”

The young man got the job because he was not just waiting —he was waiting expectantly. We are all sitting in the waiting room. But it is how we wait, and what we do with the time, that is important. The young man in that office was expectant. And because he was, he was rewarded. Waiting does not mean just sitting down and doing nothing. Waiting expectantly is being aware of and doing God’s will all the time.

3. Lastly: We wait faithfully. To be faithful means to be full of faith — faith full — faith that completely trusts and depends on God. It is active faith, not passive. It is a faith that celebrates in doing the Master’s will. It is love that results in action. It is a faith that keeps doing the right thing even when the waiting is long. Like Obama’s faith, never wavered.

The race we are in is a long one, and it calls for endurance not speed. It’s not how you begin the race, but how you finish that counts. The race is to those who learn not to weary. We wait patiently. We  wait expectantly. We wait faithfully.

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40

Sermon delivered at SU church, 7 Dec 08