December 3, 2015

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

            The First Sunday in Advent is one of a handful of Sundays that has two choices for the Gospel reading in the lectionary. The traditional reading is the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry, and we have talked about how Advent begins with the end of Jesus’ ministry in mind. The alternate reading is from what is called Jesus’ eschatological discourse, that is, His long speech in Holy Week about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of all things. Advent reminds us that we live with that End in mind, too.

            How do you live with the End in mind? The first is by “lifting up your head.” I used an analogy from running this weekend. I’m a terrible runner, partly because I have terrible posture. When the going gets tough, my head looks down and all I can think about is the next step. But when I remember to keep my head up, to look out, and to see the goal toward which I’m running—things get better.

            That’s the attitude that we Christians are encouraged to take. It’s so easy to get bogged down in the tragedies of the world and of our lives that we fail to keep our eyes on God’s horizon. And when we do get bogged down, we forget that Christ has won the victory already and that He has promised to set all things finally right on His great day. So Jesus encourages us to lift up our heads, to keep His promises in our hearts, and to let those promises change our perspective—to keep the End in mind.