WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO

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There are

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two kinds of shoppers in the world. The first

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are those that go to the shops with a purpose.

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The washer on the outside tap is broken, the sole

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elastic in your tracksuit pants is eventually

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perished and so there is a need - a specific

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and immediate one and so it's off to

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the shops it is.

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The second type of those for whom the actual

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event of shopping is the purpose rather than

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the acquisition of a particular item.

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Of course for this group a reason may be given such as

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"I need a new pair of shoes",

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but once having arrived at the shopping center detours into

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a couple of clothes shops, Kmart, perhaps

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a home furnishing outlet very quickly makes

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it apparent that while shoes  may

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get a look in at some stage, it is

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the event which is important.

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For these people, going to the shops is

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not a goal orientated activity.

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Without saying which way of shopping is the best and especially

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staying away from drawing conclusions along gender

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lines, life sometimes seems

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as if it is like the latter.

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There's no goal.

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It's not headed anywhere in particular with one year

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rolling into the next.

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One Christmas and Easter blend into

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the next.

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During covid, this "Treading Water" seems to

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have only intensified.

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Maybe that's why the lectionary passages for today, the first

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Sunday of Advent, shock us

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into realising again that there is

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a goal.

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The universe is not a shopping center.

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God is steering history towards his purposes.

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Church throughout the ages has declared this as

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they stand and proclaim the Creed: " I

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believe that he will come again to judge the

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living and the dead."

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The first Sunday of Advent always calls the church to

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take a long hard look at the

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end.

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This is somewhat annoying for those who merely think that

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advent is a segue to Christmas.

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What does all this stuff about Jesus's return and warnings

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about the last days have to do with Christmas?

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Let's just organise the work Christmas party, sing some carols

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and make sure we order the prawns.

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There is however a connection between Christ's first

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and second comings.

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Is one more unexpected or unbelievable than

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the other?

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Just as the people of first century Palestine waited with

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hope in their hearts for the long promised Messiah,

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So do we

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as we light Advent wreaths

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wait with a similar hope for a similar

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arrival.

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Throughout the chapter of Matthew there is tension

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At one point Jesus comments about nations rising

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up against each other the occurrence of wars, famines

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etc. All pointing to the

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end.

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For those who lean towards the "signs of the

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times",

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There has always been a fascination in attempting

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to match the events of the world with these

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doomsday words of Jesus.

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Natural disasters of floods droughts and

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famine coupled with the war in Ukraine the

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saber rattling of China and the covid pandemic

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all feed into many a

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present-day prediction of when the end

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will come.

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Yet included in our passage for today the

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statement from Jesus is that no one

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will know the time, only the father.

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And this has and will continue to pour

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cold water on all the heated calculations and

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speculations that arise.

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Our passage speaks of surprise.

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The people of Noah's day lived and partied, oblivious

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to what was to come.

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The examples of people working suddenly vanishing

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adds weight to this theme.

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There will be unexpectedness in Jesus'

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second coming.

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But is this any different to his first?

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For 400 years God has been silent and

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the people waited and hoped.

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Yet the appearance of Emmanuel was a surprise

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both in manner and place.

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The fact that we don't know the day or the hour means that

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we cannot be speculators guessing our

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future.

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It will come.

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But as a thief in the night when we least expect it.

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And so Jesus calls us to be steady in our

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lives  - living them founded on his

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promise that he will return.

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And it is on the fulfillment of this promise that we

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are to orient.

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our lives to the future.

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But Jesus also warns us to be ready.

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The image from Noah's day speaks of a normality of life -just

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going about its usual flow.

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They are not chastised for doing anything wrong. They

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were just oblivious

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to what was both warned and approaching.

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Being ready is not to be constantly scanning the

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sky or jumping out of your skin with every loud noise or trying

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to penetrate the mysteries of the book of Revelation.

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It's living for the Lord in faithfulness and

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love every day.

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It's nurturing ourselves and our children in faith.

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It's loving and helping your neighbour in

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need.

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sharing the gospel

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It's using your skills and your talents not for

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yourself and your own enrichment, but for God

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and for his kingdom.

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For expectant mums, being ready is having the bag

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packed for your hospital stay rather than throwing a

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few things together just as the contractions start.

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Such a time is not known but the preparations have

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been made.

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For us as followers of Christ, it's all

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about having our lives in order so that whenever

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Christ comes not trying to put together

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a few good acts of charity in the

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hope that it will be enough.

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God in Christ will come again.

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And with him the kingdom the Christ proclaimed will

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be fulfilled.

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Peace will rain down and creation will be restored.

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It is the hope that Isaiah sings of.

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The mountains of God's house will be the highest and the

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nations will stream to it.

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Here at the beginning of Advent we have

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this same hope

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Here is God's sign of love for us.

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In amongst all other religions, philosophies,

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ways of living, paths of

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truth and enlightenment.

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Whatever words or phrase we want to attach to it.

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Jesus will stand supreme,

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towering over all others.

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This is the god who is Immanuel in

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the manger! This is the god who will return

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again.

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The first Sunday in Advent, in fact the season

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of Advent as a whole reminds us we

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are to be people of Hope and expectation.

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And that we are called to live at this time

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steady in our faith and ready

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for Christ to come.

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Amen