Introduction. A man was sleeping, when his wife shook him and said, "Wake up, someone’s breaking in!" Now, the man had gone through this same thing almost every night for the last 20 years, and he knew that the only way he would get any rest was to go and check it out. After years of finding no sign of a break in though, this time he actually came upon a thief who had entered to rob the house. The man approached the thief. When he did, he noticed the thief about to flee the scene. He said, "Wait a minute…you can’t go…you have to come and meet my wife." The thief, a bit confused, stopped and asked, "Why would you want me to meet your wife?" The man replied, "Because she’s been expecting you for the last 20 years! (www.crazylaughs.com/jokes/?joke=193.txt)

Move 1. The in-breaking of God is what Jesus describes in today’s passage from the gospel of Matthew. This second coming features, among other images, God as thief. Did you hear it? "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would...not have let his house be broken into." Likewise, "the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:43-44)

Thievery is not the way we usually understand the second coming of Christ. Christ coming as king. Christ coming in power on a white steed. Christ coming to do battle with his sword of righteousness. Yes, these fit with our understandings. But Christ coming to commit common criminal activity? Hardly.

Such criminal activity is an affront to our notions of what is right. When something is stolen, it breaks down our sense of security. Even if something small is stolen, it creates a feeling of violation. It makes us wonder what we can call our own if everything is at all times unexpectedly at risk of loss.

Of course, thievery of things is probably not what Jesus is interested in with this image. What might the Son of Man be coming to rob, then, if not things? The robbery probably has more to do with stealing our faith in the human values and leaders of this world–values like dressing for success and winning; leaders like politicians and stock brokers and even ministers. The robbery probably has to do with looting our delusions that our salvation lies in these values and leaders, when in reality our salvation lies in God alone.

Nevertheless, unexpected stealing of any sort is not what we want from God. This image of breaking-in is a disturbing one because it is unexpected; it feels underhanded and sneaky.

Move 2. Moreover, this is the new year! This passage from Matthew is today’s text from a three-year cycle of Sunday Bible passages called the lectionary, which churches of many denominations use for worship each week. Why is the first Sunday of the new year saddled with this disturbing image of God?

Not only is this the first Sunday of the new year, it is the first Sunday of the season of Advent. "The word Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival.’" (www. cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html) The entire season is focused around anticipating and preparing for the arrival of the baby Jesus, born in a stable to Mary. It is, or is supposed to be, a time of hope and love and joy. The season’s hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" sings it out–"Rejoice!"

And look around! The Advent excitement surrounds us. The light green of Pentecostal growth has turned into the deep evergreen of everlasting life. Fall colors have been replaced by the purples and royal blues of royalty. The Christmas tree stands proudly, and not much time remains between now and the day we can give our precious ones gifts as symbols of our love. Yes, Advent has arrived!

Thus, Advent bears both the hope and joy of the season, and some serious thinking about the second coming.

Move 3. But here’s the kicker–no one knows when the second coming is coming. No one has any idea. Forget what you’ve read in the Left Behind series, or heard from TV evangelists–"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) A person can prepare for Christmas–it’s December 25^th every year. But how does one prepare for an event for which there isn’t a date?

Minister and Hospice Chaplain Danny Royer, who is a regular contributor to the Herald Journal, wrote about a business class he took. Along with the other students, he was asked in one classroom assignment to write out lifetime goals as quickly as they came to mind. He wrote "pay off my house," and "followed with: leave my children an inheritance, get a book published, establish and maintain good exercise and eating habits. Next (he was) instructed to write…goals for the upcoming 12 months. That was easy….(He) wrote: finish this business course; get Microsoft certification; schedule 12 speaking engagements…; replace my old car."

Then he and his classmates were asked to write out their goals for the next six months, but were told by the instructor that "‘…this time, I want you to imagine you have only six months to live.’ Suddenly (his) thinking shifted from accomplishments and acquisitions to relationships. (He) considered the awesome possibilities of encountering the invisible God that (he presently knew) only by faith….(The) first thing (he) wrote was, …pray for God’s direction each day. Then (he) reflected on the legacy (he wanted) to leave behind (and wrote): I would be kind to people; speak encouraging words; tell people I love them. (His) thoughts turned to family as (he) continued to write: ...camp out in the back yard with my boys; hold my wife; visit my Mom and Dad every day."

"‘Why am I not doing these things now?’ (Danny asked himself)….(His) youngest son (had) survived two life-threatening diseases, but the danger (seemed) like a distant memory already and (they were) back to the routine busyness of daily life. Dad (had) terminal cancer, and the possibility that (their) time together may actually be only a matter of months was a disconcerting thought. (He) struggled to keep (his) composure and stared hard at (his) desk hoping the students behind (him) didn’t notice (his) trembling shoulders….(He) didn’t dare look around, but (he) began to hear soft sniffling from different areas of the classroom." He realized that others were probably having a similar experience.

"We find ourselves," Danny wrote, "consumed with the important things of life until we are confronted with the brevity of our days." (Danny Royer, Perfect Condition; Needs Engine, 2004, pp. 7-9). In Advent, each person is encouraged to thoughtfully and joyfully get ready for the end of days, as much as that can be understood, and prepare for a new age.

Conclusion. In this season of Advent leading up to Christmas, we do get prepared. We get prepared with decorations and gifts. We could even call the superstore Target this year, to receive a wake-up call from a famous person at some ungodly hour on the busiest shopping day of the year, so we could get to Target to buy those gifts. But we also get prepared with a spirit of giving and sharing unparalleled during the rest of the year. What if we supposed that Christmas might not come on December 25^th, but at given day during the year? What if we lived supposing that the first advent and the second advent could come at any time? We would probably be prepared throughout the year–less concerned about our "accomplishments and acquisitions," and more focused all year long on that which makes for hope and love and joy. We would probably be less anxious about being robbed, because we would have nothing of true value that could ever be stolen. We would be ready; we would meet the thief with anticipation; and we would not feel wronged, because we would have been expecting him all along.