Date Posted: 2024-12-02 00:56:11 | Video Duration: 00:19:13
At Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church, the first Sunday of Advent is a moment of reflection and anticipation as the congregation turns to the teachings of Matthew 24. This scripture guides us through the mysteries of time and expectation, urging us to remain vigilant and aware of Christ’s presence in our lives. The pastor drew upon both scripture and personal anecdotes to create a vivid tapestry of lessons for living with intention and awareness.
The sermon began with a reading from Matthew 24:36-44, where Jesus speaks of the uncertainty of the day and hour of the Lord’s coming. “But about that day and hour, no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father,” Jesus emphasizes, drawing a parallel to the days of Noah when people were caught unawares by the flood. The pastor echoed this sentiment, urging the congregation to “stay awake,” for the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour.
This theme of vigilance was further illustrated through a personal story shared by the pastor. A seemingly routine evening trip to pick up dinner at Liberty Burger turned into an unexpected lesson. Upon returning to the car, the pastor discovered that someone had broken in, stealing a wallet left in the center console. This incident brought new understanding to the imagery of Jesus coming like a thief in the night. It served as a poignant reminder to remain spiritually awake and alert.
The pastor reminded the congregation that Advent is not merely a time to fall into the routine of holiday preparations, but an opportunity to be “alive, attentive, alert, and awake,” as Richard Rohr suggests. Advent invites us to recognize the dark not as a place of fear, but as a gift through which we can encounter Christ’s unexpected presence. The dark is where, as Barbara Brown Taylor beautifully puts it, Jesus comes to us because we are “so well protected the rest of the time.”
To navigate these Advent days with purpose, the church has encouraged its members to engage in the spiritual practice of gratitude journaling. This practice is meant to cultivate awareness and keep hearts and minds open to the presence of God in everyday life. Through this discipline, the pastor shared personal experiences of encountering God’s grace, from the laughter of a friend who triumphed over cancer to the simple joy of running a family race.
As the pastor concluded, the message was clear: Advent is a time to lean into practices that prepare us not just for Christmas, but for the ongoing work of Christ among us. The invitation is to walk into the darkness with hope and to stay alert for the light that breaks through. As the shepherds heard the good news in the dark, and as Christ was born in the stillness of night, we too are called to recognize and celebrate the divine breaking into our lives, offering us a new way forward.
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