Advent

December 1, 2019

Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:36-44

‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

Black Friday is aptly named but not because it is the one day in the year that retail businesses and now internet stores make the most money increasing their income, so they finish the financial year in the black rather than the red. It is a bit ironic that red with some green are the most prevalent colors decorating the shops and mails. I heard a report on the news recently that many are still paying the credit card debt for their purchases last year.

I once thought the Santa-based side of Christmas was innocent fun and I just wished it could be separated from the birth of Christ, a very sacred celebration. Watching the madness of Black Friday now makes me wonder, if Black Friday is just a mass celebration of greed one of the forces of evil taking over our world. I wonder how the prophet Amos would describe it.

I sat with a friend after her colonoscopy and heard the doctor advise her that even though she felt fine she should not drive or sign any legal documents or make any purchases for 24 hours because the anesthetic she had taken was still in her system and her thinking my be impaired. I wonder if greed acts as an anesthetic blinding us to the reality of our behavior.

I am not saying we should not give gifts or share in meals with friends and relatives. I am suggesting that we carefully consider the enticements of greed and avoid them at all cost. And I am saying there is deep joy in spending time in devotion and worship regarding the incarnation of God for indeed, it is the greatest gift anyone will ever receive.

Prayer: Lord, protect us from the enticements of greed as we once again prepare to celebrate your coming to be with us in human form. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.