Picture a more-or-less typical morning in a typical congregation where the members are gathered to worship. The sanctuary is quiet before the liturgy begins ... as befits the setting of a mood. And then the family announcements are offered and following that, we turn our attention to our liturgical version of the River Jordan ... and in a way that might make John the Baptist nod in agreement, we confess we are sinners. And thank God (that's not a cliché: really, "thank" God) and thank god that following our confession - we receive words of absolution - cleansing.

This is almost a brief echo from last Sunday's sermon, but in spite of the fact we've made some minor musical changes in our liturgy, in spite of that, when we sit down in our pew at 8:27 or 10:54, you know and I know pretty much what's going to happen in the next sixty minutes or so. And that puts us into a nice comfort zone. Sometimes the liturgy flows smoothly (which puts me in a nice comfort zone); sometimes there are some bumps and potholes in the liturgical road. At the end of it all, the worship leaders pray that nobody is too upset over anything that has been said or done and that everyone involved has taken advantage of the opportunity to have an encounter with her God; with his God. That's what the liturgy attempts to do in a gentle way, between the initial cheery, "The Lord be with you" to the final, "Go in peace, serve the Lord!"

St. Matthew would not have us do our worship in such civilized, measured tones. St. Matthew is not into Christian comfort zones, as if what we do here on a Sunday morning is rather routine and predictable. Matthew would not have us leave this place of worship the very same persons we were when we entered. And so, the real heart of St. Matthew's Gospel does not begin with a cheery John the Baptist greeting those seeking to have a spiritual experience with God. The doors swing open on Matthew's Gospel, and the camera zooms to the angry face of John and the word we hear is "Repent!" And if we were a part of John's congregation, down by the banks of the Jordan, and if we could have heard John shouting the word "Repent" in the harsh, guttural Hebrew he no doubt used (nacham), the word would sound like a command from the lips of an angry drill sergeant: nacham! As I recall my days of military service, drill sergeants and comfort zones did not mix. "Repent. The Kingdom of God is at hand." Now is the time, the moment is now. in the sundial of John's heart, there is no time for cheery hellos and idle chit-chat.

Repent! Metanoeo is the Greek word, and it has the sense of completely turning your life around - from God, toward God. Thomas Carlyle once wrote that of all the things we do in life, repentance is the most divine. The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none. If we do not see ourselves as sinners, then we will not see our need for a Savior. If we do not see ourselves as sinners, then God save those around us!

Some years ago I saw a news segment that has stuck with me. It was about a Black women who is one of the rising stars in the opera world, Denyce Graves. A rising star who was raised in virtual poverty in inner city Washington. Her future was as bleak and as dead end as her inner city neighborhood. Now, she is wealthy and in demand; she is educated and sophisticated, and has made a name for herself in opera houses throughout the world. She tells us that her mother sums up this incredible good fortune in very simple terms. "Denyce, God has kissed your throat." I like that expression and the simple faith it conveys. I wonder if Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, would have called things the same way, "John, God has kissed your throat." After all, John was making a name for himself, proclaiming God's word to the people. He was making a name for himself, but John was also making enemies. He called the religious authorities, a brood of vipers, sons of snakes. Later in his rather brief career, he spoke out against Herod - which resulted in the sword of the executioner kissing John's throat - another story for another day. For now, suffice it to say that since and since all four Gospel writers begin the story of the ministry of Jesus by introducing first, John the Baptist, we just have to believe that God indeed has kissed the throat of John the Baptist - and blessed his words.

This is the mood of Advent. Harsh talk from that street corner preacher down at the Jordan, calling out in the wilderness, calling names at the religious leaders, calling to you and me: the Kingdom of God has come near. The mood of Advent. While the world beyond our doors counts down to God's maternity, within these walls we take a breather ... as we consider God's eternity. And for all of us, the theological clock is ticking! The Kingdom of God has come near! Do we sense it - at all? And - does it really matter?

Let me paraphrase C. S. Lewis and The Screwtape Letters. The apprentice devils are getting a lecture by Satan. The topic for the day is an important one - a most vital of topics for Satan, as he seeks to sow seeds of dissension and hell. How to Convince Christians that Following Christ is a Waste of Time and Effort - 101. "I know," says one of the little devils, "We should try to convince Christians there is no God!" And Satan says, "No, I've tried that. There is just too much evidence to the contrary." A second says, "How about telling Christians that there is no life after death?" "Uh, uh. That won't work either," Satan says. "Once they believe in a loving God, Christians could never buy into the notion that death is the end of life and that the grave is the final destination." And a third says, "We should tell them there is no forgiveness." And Satan replies, "C'mon, think about it. We're talking about Christians here. They know Jesus, remember? Of course they know forgiveness!" And the little devils sit silent. What do you tell Christians in order to get them off the path of discipleship? Finally Satan answers his own question. "My little friends, you must tell Christians, 'there is no hurry!' When people are convinced there is no hurry, it is then they are mine!"

Well, you could never convince John the Baptist there is no hurry. John did not say, "Repent, tomorrow!" He did not say, "Get ready to prepare the way of the Lord." There is no mistaking that when John says "Repent!" John means now. When John says "Prepare!" John means now. There is a clear sense of urgency in John's voice.

You say you want to change, but simply cannot? Well, here's the good news of Advent: when God's Messiah walks in, stands at the door and knocks, calls your name, is born among us: we can change. Advent proclaims that the strong grip of sin on our lives is loosened. Advent proclaims that the fierce hold our selfish pride has upon us - is pried away. If you can picture just one dark corner of who you are that will be changed for the better as a result of your being here this morning, then you will be a different person walking out, than the one who walked in. And thus the Kingdom of God is nearer still, and one person closer at hand.