Stay Awake

This is the English-translated outline of the sermon preached by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi on Sunday, November 30, 2025, drawing from Matthew 24:36-44

This Sunday, today, marks the start of the Advent season; the four-week period in which we prepare ourselves for Christmas. (Our church will be holding a Christmas worship service (in Japanese) on December 21st, and Unfinished Community will be holding Christmas Eve services in English as well; so please make plans to attend!)

When we think of Christmas preparations, we often focus on things like decorating trees, thinking about Santa Claus, or planning parties. But the church's original Christmas preparations - the Advent season - doesn't actually begin with this kind of excitement. It starts with something more serious; or rather, something that brings sharply into focus that which is really important in our lives. This comes as we consider the dual meaning of Jesus Christ coming to us.

One meaning is, of course, Christmas being the birth of the infant Jesus, but the other is the expectation of His Second Coming. That is, we know that Jesus died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven, but at the same time we believe He will come to us again from heaven, judge the world, and separate those who will be saved from those who will not be. He will come to us in this way as the Lord of the Last Judgment, so to speak. During Advent, when we contemplate the first coming of Jesus, we also contemplate this Second Coming as well. Still though, the timing of this Second Coming is something we cannot possibly predict: “For you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (verse 42).

So the preparations for Advent aren't just about how we prepare our hearts for the baby Jesus; Advent is a season in which we are called to seriously reconsider our own attitude toward God and how we prepare to welcome Jesus this time, ensuring that we are ready whenever He comes. In today's passage, the difference between one being taken and the other left behind likely stems from their attitude toward God, their way of facing Jesus. For those whose attitude is properly aligned, Advent remains a time of joy and eager anticipation. When we look forward to Christmas, when we look forward to it with joy, when we have nurtured within ourselves such a fundamental attitude of love, peace and joy and care for others, this period becomes a time of deeper, more lasting joy, and something of immense significance for our lives, rather than something rooted in fear.

Let us pray:

God of Love, as we enter Advent this year, may our joy blossom into something truly meaningful. May we prepare ourselves to experience this season as one that brings deep joy and comfort. Please protect and guide us through this new year that begins with Advent. We pray this in the name of the Lord.

Amen.