Sermon: "Advent Anticipation"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

We usually think of Advent as a time to look forward - forward to the celebration of Christmas and forward, also, to the Second Coming of Christ in glory. And, in looking forward, we anticipate with hope the One who will set this world right … the One on whom we may rely … the One who is just and, even more, the One who is merciful. That is, we anticipate the One who has already come as a baby in a manger and who will come again in glory. Thus, in Advent, we look forward in time and with hopeful expectation.

But it is difficult for us in our time not to look back, too. In our looking backward, I suggest that we see characteristics of this life that will not set the world right. We observe powers and authorities on whom we may not rely, with any degree of certainty. And, we see realities that are neither just nor merciful … nor do they provide for us any real hope, in an ultimate sense.

For instance, as a country we began months ago the long process leading up to the next presidential election. Concerns about the war in Iraq, Medicare reform and fluctuations in the stock market all have the overlay of presidential politics. And we may be sure that particular spotlight will only intensify in the weeks and months to come.

However, whatever the outcome of the campaign and subsequent election - and in spite of all the national attention focused in that direction - we need to realize the limitations inherent in that source of hope. That is, no one political candidate or party has a corner on the market of justice or mercy or hope for the future.

Another subject of hopefulness for us involves the world of sports. This is the time of year that our football hopes are once again brought into a realistic focus. Yet, even now, our basketball hopes are high, having not yet confronted too much reality that might eventually dash them as well.

Of course in baseball, the professional teams currently are trying to reinvent themselves. One case in point is Alex Rodriquez, who is back in the news again. This outstanding player signed a contract three years ago for $250M. And, three years prior to that, the owner had bought the entire team for a like amount! Six years later, that owner is faced with the reality that he has the league's Most Valuable Player and his division's worst team.

I suggest to you today that neither politics, nor sports, nor finances can provide for us our ultimate needs. They may be fun and entertaining, but they cannot set the world right. They are not reliable ultimately. And they offer neither justice nor mercy nor hope, in any significant sense.

On the other hand, I said at the outset that Advent is a time to look forward - forward to the celebration of Christmas and forward to the Second Coming of Christ in glory. And in today's Gospel lesson we read of the person who personifies Advent … the one who I like to call "the Advent man" … John the baptizer. Listen to his words. "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Now, that's an Advent stance on life - looking forward, anticipating, on tiptoe!

John the Baptist says that the One who is coming will set the world right. That One will be absolutely reliable. And that One will show justice and mercy, while also offering us real reasons for hope. We know that One did come, and that One lived into the promise that John made about him.

But our time is Advent now - 2000 years after the One of whom John spoke first came to earth. In Advent, though, we look forward now - in time and with hopeful expectation. It is the glorified Christ that we await. He will make right this puzzling, troublesome world of ours. He will be reliable, even in the midst of things that disappoint us. And he will exercise justice and, even more importantly, mercy in a world too often devoid of both.

Therefore, in confident expectation - and with ultimate hopefulness - we sing as we pray, "Come, thou long-expected Jesus!" Amen.

Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee