Go, baptize, teach and remember . . . in Advent too!

We mark the third Sunday in Advent today.  Three candles lit and we're that much closer to Christmas day.

With five children in our home we are doing so much of the waiting game.  Waiting for school to be out for the holiday.  Waiting for the day the Christmas decorations go up.  Waiting for the three grandparents to arrive.  It feels like I'm constantly telling one child or another, "No, we have to wait."  Then, follows the heavy sigh and sluggish tromp off to the other room.  The waiting game is hard.  It's hard when we're five and it's hard when we're thirty-five.  I can imagine it's probably hard when we're fifty-five as well.

However, there is something to be said for moving from the passiveness of waiting into the activeness of preparation.  We have more of a place in preparation.  We are called to be people of preparation.  We are called to be people moved into action.  This idea reminds me of the topic I led for our youth worship last Wednesday night.  We talked about the commission Jesus gave His followers before His ascension.  

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus was telling his disciples what He expected them to do after He rose into heaven.  Did He ask them to wait patiently on the mountain top for His return?  No.  What He did was give the disciples very direct instructions.  Go make disciples all across the globe.  Baptize in God's name.  Teach others about faith.  Remember that Jesus is always with you. We are no different than those first disciples.  This time of Advent is no different than any other time of year. 


We are called to GO:

• Go to church.  
• Go visit friends and family.  
• Go to work.
• Go to Christmas parties.
• Go sledding.
• Go . . . and when you go take your faith along with you.  Walk in discipleship no matter where you are or who you are with.   

We are called to BAPTIZE:

• While baptism is a sacrament performed by clergy.  We are still called to live out our baptism in our daily lives.  
• Live in your baptism through daily renewal.
• Live in your baptism knowing you are forgiven of your sins.
• Live in your baptism as the beloved child of God that you are.

We are called to TEACH:

• At random moments, and some not so random moments, we are given opportunities to teach others about faith.  
• Teach others about God.
• Teach others about compassion.
• Teach others about mercy.
• Teach others about grace.

We are called to REMEMBER:

• Remember that God came into the world as a tiny baby, vulnerable and weak.
• Remember that Jesus was both fully human and fully God.
• Remember that the ministry of Jesus Christ turned the world of faith upside down.
• Remember that maybe, just maybe, that is still what Jesus is up to today. 
• Remember what Christmas is really about.

As followers of Christ, this is our commission no matter what time of year we are celebrating.  This story of God becoming incarnate, being born to a poor family in an animal shelter and then growing into a man that was destined to die for the sins of all of creation . . . this story is what we're called to share now and always.  Let's us go, live in our baptism, teach and remember.  Happy third week of Advent.