Roc Homily – First Sunday Advent (Cycle C) 2015

First Sunday Advent 2015 +November 29, 2015

Should you wish to follow along with the audio, here are my notes from preaching this past Sunday that show both internal and resonances between Greek terms used by the author of the Third Gospel – connections internal to the gospel, internal to the Acts of the Apostles (volume II of the gospel), and ‘external’ to the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). Resonances are italicized.

                      One sign = repentance

Luke 21:25 (NRSV) — 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves…”

*******Luke 11:29f — 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.

                     One message = Someone NEW is coming!

Luke 21:25 — 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves…”

*******Acts 2:2 — 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Pentecost)

Luke 21:26 — 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Luke 1:12f — 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

Luke 2:9f — 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified [they feared with a great fear]. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people (addressed to the shepherds in the hills of Bethlehem)

Luke 21:26 — 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

*******Luke 1:35 — 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.

*******Acts 1:7f — 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

                       One purpose = Seize the hour! Strengthen faith!

Luke 21:26 — 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

*******Luke 6:48 — 48 That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

Luke 21:28 (NRSV) — 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 13:11 — 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

Luke 21:34 (NRSV) — 34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly…

******Luke 12:1 — 1 Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.

******Luke 17:3f — 3 Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”

******Luke 20:46f — 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Luke 21:34 — 34 “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly,

*******Luke 8:14 — 14 As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.