Wake Up, the Hour Has Come (2)
Romans 13:11-14
“The night is nearly over and
the day is almost here.”
Paul explains the conflict
that the forces of light and darkness bring to our lives. Paul knows that the
forces of darkness can blind us, can
exhaust us, can divert our attention,
In fact, he names the works
of the darkness:
-orgies and drunkenness, (ana-agov;ivnnyr ov cinowov;ivnnyr)
-sexual immorality and
debauchery, (qa-nag ango.innyr ov b./ov;ivnnyr)
-dissension and jealousy (haga-agov;ivnnyr ov naqan2)
Paul mentions the works of
the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts
of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, ……..dissensions, factions 21and envy;
drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”
Paul’s audience knew these works. They were observing the nights of
Nonsense,
for Paul all these can destroy you and he categorizes them together. Paul is
saying, “Watch out for these sins. These sins can keep you in the ‘night’ in the
‘dark’ in a ‘sleepy mood’.”
Therefore: “…put on the armor
of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime… Rather clothe yourselves
with the Lord Jesus Christ.” (12-14)
When my daughter was 4-5
years old, she met a friend of ours whose name was Digin
Nver, Mrs. Nver. She
was an elderly woman. My daughter asked her, “What is your name?”
She answered, “Nver.”
Nanor looked surprised, “It
can’t be,” she said, “you are not a box. How can they ever wrap you?”
Every gift needs its wrapping paper. Gifts are wonderful but wrapping paper is also
important. “What kind of clothes are put on the gift?”
You see this was written to
the Romans. Their drama theaters were famous.
The actors played on the stage as they put on different robes. Each new
robe made them a different person.
Last Sunday we said that God
want to transform us to become like Jesus. We look forward that God can change
things in our lives to good. God gave us
the promise that if we love Him, He will change us to be like Jesus.
Paul is saying the same
things, fight the war against the ‘darkness” by putting on Jesus’ clothes.
This is the advent season.
This is the season of waiting and being ready by putting on the “armor of
Light”.
We celebrate this season in
three ways:
1. The first advent is the
coming of Jesus Christ, the baby Jesus to this earth: his incarnation.
2. The second
advent is his birth in each person’s life on this earth.
3. The third advent is the
second and final coming of Jesus to this earth.
Therefore, the first advent is the coming Jesus to
this earth. We will celebrate it this coming month. But his birth is
unique. It turns “Chronos”
to “kairos”
Ask yourself. Am I waiting
for new “iphone”?
Or am I waiting for the King
who brings everlasting life “iLife Forever”?
The second advent is personal. In fact, it is to allow the first advent to happen
in your life, and become your story. To allow that your chronos, your daily life, have meaning kairos.
Paul is asking us to put on a
garment.
Well, when a medical student
is going to medical school, one of the important moments is when he receives a
medical garment.
When a fire-fighter, a police
officer, starts his/her work they put on the special clothes.
We are “wrapped” by the clothes
that God gave us through Jesus Christ. In fact, God started clothing us from
the first day when Adam and Eve were naked and were hiding from God. God
clothed them. The same God is asking us to be clothed with Jesus, “to abide in
Jesus.”
The third advent is the second and final coming. “Not yet”, will be fulfilled completely in our
lives. The “darkness” will be defeated completely.
Here is a version of the 23rd
psalm that we can read it everyday of advent:
“The Lord is my pace setter . . . I shall not
rush
He makes me stop for quiet intervals
He provides me with images of stillness which
restore my serenity
He leads me in the way of efficiency through
calmness of mind and his guidance is peace
Even though I have a great many things to
accomplish each day, I will not worry, for his presence is here
His timelessness, his all importance will
keep me in balance
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the
midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility
My cup of joyous energy overflows
Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the
fruits of my hours for I shall walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in his
house for ever.”1
Are we awake?
Put on the ‘garment of Light.’
1 A version of Psalm 23 from Japan, as
reprinted in Mother Teresa, Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations,
Prayers, ed. Kathryn Spink (San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1983), 76-77.