Beloved, 

I’ve decided to share my sermon from November 17th on Mark 13:1-8 to help prepare our hearts and minds to realign with the Advent Spirit of anticipation instead of filling my message with joyful noise and Christmas and ignoring the inevitable rest. As your pastor, I must not overlook the opportunity to keep our spirit of humility, gratitude, compassion, and love in check. Therefore, please read it regardless. I always appreciate your feedback and discussion. 

It’s wonderful to be back after a week and a half of Covid madness. I do not know where and when I got it or who I got it from; it sure was nasty. The moment I thought I got better, the stubborn COVID symptoms came right back.

Mark 13:1 – 8 addresses issues I find quite timely in our lives in America today. The passage, also known as the Olivet discourse, shows the disciples commenting to Jesus on the beautiful, impressive temple. Instead of agreeing with them, Jesus tells them that none of its beauty will last. His remark, of course, gets the disciples to start questioning when the destruction will happen. They want to know! At that moment, Jesus tells them to be aware of those who claim to know, using his name.

Now, why do I dare say this passage is timely today? I say this because we all are too certain about our righteous knowledge, myself included. Those who supported President-elect Trump seem to describe him as next to God, the man who could do no wrong. In addition to their support is the endless criticism of their opponent. In the same way, those who supported Vice President Harris were certain about what to make of the other, especially his supporters, amidst experiencing tremendous grief, anger, and defeat. 1.8 million people voted for different candidates. About 90 million folks, roughly 36 percent of eligible voters, chose to participate in the presidential election by NOT casting votes. 

Whomever you have supported, regardless of winning or losing, we have one thing in common – our inflated self-righteousness that condones demonizing the folks on “the other side.” Sadly, the church can be the worst place to see this. In God’s name, we boast love. Yet, we can be completely neglectful of our bitterness and hatred. In God’s name, we espouse our inclusive nature without realizing that our so-called inclusiveness is a mere group of clicks with like-minded people. In God’s name, we pride ourselves on serving others while ignoring our duty to love them. Instead, we are more proud of how much we’ve given than how much love we exchanged and learned by following Jesus. In God’s name, we put a smile on our faces to smooth things out, pretending to be loving while hiding our true colors. Instead of examining our true colors, love, and compassion, we become too quick to point out the unloving nature of “the others.” We justify our sins selfishly using God’s name in vain by saying, “Lord knows why I feel this way.” 

When Jesus warns us to be aware of anyone leading us astray, he points out those who claim to be the “one.” Has it ever occurred to us that we may be “the one” he warns us about? He is warning about our internal inflated self-righteousness, which is unexamined, proud, certain, arrogant, and unloving to the point of hating on people in God’s name. 

I am the first one to admit to holding this arrogance. Whenever I encounter someone going against my moral standards, I have no problem going after the person and finding all kinds of reasons to justify my hypocrisy and biased mind. When Jesus warns us to be aware of those who come in his name, he first challenges such presumptuous righteousness. He often keeps me humble through you. You and I might not see things eye-to-eye. Who knows, we might be completely opposite of the political and cultural spectrum. Such diversity in our midst is through which God helps me examine my heart, realize my flaws, and repent it. I won’t be able to do that when I only socialize with those who always agree with me. God frees us through such diversity – frees us from our bigotry so that I can love God’s people in ways Jesus intends us to–in ways I never imagined possible.

We must not let our inflated self-righteousness lead us astray from our true purpose: love. We are the church that has pledged to leave our differences aside to make room for others for the past 500-plus years. Acknowledging our brokenness, we gather, study, pray, and break bread together to serve, share, and learn more about God’s abundant love in this troubled world as Jesus intended; that’s how we experience a foretaste of God’s kingdom. We have so much work to do and no time to waste on hatred. As we begin the Advent Season, let us live each day and moment, dedicating ourselves to cleansing our hearts, minds, and spirits so we may hold each other with truthful love free of bitterness, grudge, and hatred. That inflated, zealous voice sneaks up on us like Covid did me. That is why we must all be aware and extra diligent to make room for Jesus. The Longest Night service is December 21st. Don’t you forget it! s

With Love in Christ, 

Andrew