​   This Sunday we enter into the season of Advent.  Advent means:  coming, arrival.  And in the Church it refers to the coming of Christ.  Christ comes to us…..

•  as the Christ Child, that we celebrate at Christmas.  
• Christ also promises to come to us daily and throughout our lives, as He promises to be with us always, and within us and in the Body of Christ, the Church.  
• And the Messiah, the Christ, promises to come in glory to receive His people into His eternal presence.

 
    So as we read in this Sunday’s Gospel reading, “they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.”  (Mark 13;26)  As we see in the context and in these words themselves, this refers to Christ’s return on the Last Day.  
 
     Often connected to this coming Christ are the fears of God’s wrath and judgment.  And the Scriptures include words that speak of God’s wrath and that can fill us with fear.  Unless…
 
     Unless, God decides to NOT bring His wrath and judgment upon us.  And that is exactly what the Advent of Christ is telling us:
     He came as a Baby to live among us and as our Savior
     He comes to dwell with us and in us through the waters of baptism and in faith.
     He returns to receive us into His glorious presence forever.
 
    And so the Advent of Christ is filled with God’s grace and love and mercy.  Fear is replaced with faith and hope and joy!
 
    It’s like a parent telling a child that she/he would not have food or shelter or protection without the love and care of a parent.  But the parent is holding the child, fixing supper, and standing in the warm house that has been provided for all the family.  So the child need not fear; rather she/he can be glad that they have those who love and care for them.
 
   Just as you and I have the God who saves us from the powers of sin, death and the devil.  And He is with us always.  So we need not fear; rather trust and rejoice in the God who loves and cares for us always.

​     Overwhelmed! Overworked! Stressed!!  Anxious!!!  It's too much!!!!
 
     Have you ever felt that way? Experienced what you just read? Of course you and I have. Maybe even daily at some point...with everything happening in our personal and family lives, at work, in our nation and world, and now we've got a big Thanksgiving dinner to prepare, a house to clean, and still energy to deal with all of those difficult family situations. I know, why did I have to bring it all up? When all I wanted was to have a peaceful moment of devotion and prayer.
 
    So let's do that. In the midst of everything going on and yet to come in each of our lives...let's stop! 
And "worship and bow down". As we just think and pray to "the Lord our maker"
"The Lord our God" And we are His people, “the sheep of God's Hand."
 
  For right now, we don't have to worry about anything. We don't have to even think about anything other than God as our Shepherd who loves and cares and protects us.
 
   I like a picture I've seen of a guy and his dog, sitting on a bench, looking over a big landscape, and the thinking bubbles of the man show that he is thinking about..."his job, his finances, his, health, his family, his friends, his future"...all kinds of different challenges and problems that he has.
 
   And then you see the thinking bubbles of the dog sitting next to him, and every one of the dog's thoughts, are, "I'm with him", "I'm with him” “I'm with him", "I'm with him", etc.
 
    Maybe you and I are trying to be more like the Shepherd, rather than His sheep. God will bless us, He will guide us, He will strengthen us, He will love us and give us grace. All we have to do is know we are with Him!

    Have you checked your oil lately?  I’m old enough to remember when gas stations had people who would offer to check your oil when stopping for gas.  I worked at a gas station when I was young, and that was a question I always asked.
    Evidently oil and gaskets and machines are much better than years ago.  It seems we rarely need to add oil to our cars and lawn mowers, etc.  But they still need oil to run!
     Likewise, we don’t have many lights that require oil.  Maybe an antique oil lamp, or a torch for backyard lighting and insect repellent.  Now it’s all about rechargeable batteries, electricity, and whether we have a good connection to the source of power.  But again, we need that source of light and power!
     Either way, Jesus is making a point in the parable He shares in this Sunday’s Gospel reading.  We need the “oil”, the fuel, the energy, the stuff that keeps things running.  And Jesus puts this need for oil to keep the lights on in the context of waiting.  Which for us is waiting for the return of Christ on the Last Day.  And Jesus specifically cautions us that no one knows when that will be; we just need to be ready.  
   The oil and light that keeps us ready for the return of Christ is the faith, hope and love that we have from God.  Yes, from God!  God provides us with all we need to be ready for Christ’s 2nd Coming.  He gave us His Son to give us salvation.  The Holy Spirit works faith and life in Christ.  
   If you look closely at the Parable in Matthew 25:1-13, it doesn’t say where the oil came from when the 10 were sent out.  But I suggest it was provided by the one who sent out the 10 bridesmaids.   Yes, the foolish were told to go and buy their oil.  But that is only after it was already provided for them. 
   God provides us with all need for this life, while waiting for the end of time.  And no one can buy what we all need:  faith and hope and love.  God gives it all to us!   In His Word and Sacraments, where the Holy Spirit will be working in and through us.  
   Have you checked your oil lately?  Do you need more?  Then go to God and you will find all you need for the faith and life we have in Christ.

Pastor Steve