How well do we prepare?

Advent 2 year B Sermon 11 How well do we prepare?
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Today on this second Sunday of Advent…Peter reminds us … once more… what we began to understand last week …
that God’s promised future is coming toward us…that’s what advent means…the breaking in of God’s future

And today in his letter to the persecuted Christians in the
first century… desperately longing for that
promised future…Peter tells us…how to prepare for God’s coming …how to live now…in faith for that future [pause]

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Simon Peter …the rock…
on whom Jesus would build his church…
first bishop of Antioch and Rome…shepherd to the early Christians…this Peter wants us to prepare for God’s coming
first and foremost by changing our minds…

Peter wants everyone to change their minds…[pause]
about time…………about the meaning of salvation…
about who salvation is for…and what the coming of God’s future will mean… for the earth.

We know Peter wants us to change our mind about things because the word he uses in the letter…is one we often
translate as repentance…but in reality…
the Greek word Peter uses… means to change your mind …
or your way of thinking and living…

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the word is  metanoian

Peter’s weary people are asking…
How long do we have to wait for relief… how long are we to be food for lions…entertainment for the emperors
why can’t God get his act together?

And in concern and compassion for these Christians
who are fearful of the future…Peter first urges them to alter their perspective on time…‘beloved…he says to them gently …don’t ignore the fact that …with the Lord…

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one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years
are like one day.

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And this same Peter… the former fisherman…
who as a young disciple… walked three years with Jesus…
then betrayed him…this same Peter… the sinner…
also wants them to change their minds…. about salvation

The Lord is patient with you…he tells them…

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regard the patience of our Lord… as salvation

not what happens when we die…not heaven…
not sitting on a cloud… relaxing with a harp!
But right now…God’s graciousness and patience toward us?

And while you’re at it…Peter says…change your minds about who salvation’s for

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‘the Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish…but wants all to come to repentance…
God wants everyone to change their minds! Everyone…  [pause]

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Wow Peter the pastor and the sinner…covers a lot of theological territory here… God and time …
the shape and the scope of salvation and …
one more thing we need to change our minds about

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…oh yeah…the end of the world! The day of the Lord…

This Peter …who actually  broke bread with the risen Christ…also wants us to change our minds
about the end of the world!

Guess what… he says… salvation isn’t what happens
at the end of the world… ‘cause the world isn’t going to end!
in God’s future… the world is going to be made new!

and in accordance with God’s promise

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we wait for… new heavens and a new earth… [pause]

ladies and gentlemen…right there in the Bible!

Sure Peter says…we’ve heard

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the day of the Lord will come like a thief…

and the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire…and the earth ….
and everything that’s done on it…. Will… be…disclosed.

But, all this Peter says…is about making things new …
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creating a world where righteousness is at home.

And here the word Peter uses for righteousness …
means justice. A world where justice is at home

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And while we wait for all this renewal to happen…
while we wait for everything to be made new…
…what constitutes holy and godly waiting?

Well…Peter says…it certainly isn’t waiting impatiently

There’s no place for impatience…
because God is outside of time…
and God wants everyone to be safe…
and change their minds about time…and salvation
and what they think will be the end of the world. [pause]

And so beloved…says the concerned patriarch…
of a worried and fearful people…

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while you wait for everything to be made new,
strive to be found by God blameless and at peace…
and regard the patience of our Lord… as your salvation.

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For repentance read…change your minds…

For righteousness…read justice and peace…

For the end of the world …read renewal… [pause]

But like the Israelites and the first Christians …
oh how we’ve twisted and distorted the meaning of these words….so they’ll conform to our our misunderstandings

Thank heavens…the God of Abraham and Sarah…
the God of Mary and Joseph…stands outside
our understanding of time and space…
thank heavens… God’s promises can’t be undermined by human misapprehension…

Thank heavens…the renewal and healing
of the earth and all that’s in it…
is about the God’s future …not our past. [pause]

Perhaps Peter remembers the night he betrayed Jesus…
the night he balked at letting Jesus wash his feet…
Maybe Peter is thinking of Jesus’ gentle reassurance…

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“You don’t realize now what I’m doing,
but later you will understand.”

And that same night…
Peter hadn’t understood when Jesus said…

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In a little while you’ll see me no more,
and then after a little while… you’ll see me

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Jesus the servant King…was washing off the dirt
making Peter the sinful fisherman clean…
to renew him…to renew them…to renew us.

And in a way they could never imagine…
Jesus body would be renewed in the resurrection…

but Jesus disciples didn’t understand …
and neither did the early church…
their concepts of time and space and salvation…
needed to change for them to prepare the way in faith…

And maybe ours do too… as we prepare the way…
as we wait… to be made new…over and over again…by the story of the birth of Christ…by our gracious and patient God…
as we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth

You know there’s a sense in which… discipleship
is all about preparing the way for God’s future…about how we live now…about striving to be at peace with ourselves
and one another …
about shaping a world where justice is at home.

And with this in mind… we can go out from here with a new and refreshing confidence about the future…
a confidence which comes from trust in God.
Remembering Peters words…God is patient with you

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so strive to be found by God …blameless and at peace…