Waiting. No one likes it

 The title says it all, no one likes waiting. Now I’m sure if we look long enough we will find someone who actually does like it but I am prepared to suggest that they are statistically insignificant. We don’t like waiting. We do not enjoy delaying our gratification. We are especially irritated when we are waiting for something or someone unnecessarily.

This is the second Sunday of Advent, Peace Sunday, so why am I talking about waiting? And why did I title this week’s sermons, “Why are we waiting?” There are two reasons, well at least two, and they revolve around Advent. First, Advent itself is about waiting for the coming of Jesus. Second, we are waiting for peace.

There are many places in the Bible where peace is described as a future reality. There will be a time when peace, true peace, will be the state of being for all of the creation. It sounds wonderful . . . why isn’t it here yet? Why are we still waiting for peace? Is God too weak or disinterested to bring about peace? Or are we called to wait for true peace to come at the right time as determined by a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing and fundamentally loving?

Knox Presbyterian Why are we waiting?

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Why are we waiting?

I tried to give us some directions to think about these things in both sermons. If you have the time and inclination I think you will find the two somewhat different from each other and complementary. Each certainly stands alone but the nuances and illustrations are somewhat different.

Blessings,