This is a great Sunday of the church year: I think of it as Bumper Sticker Sunday. I say that because of the bumper sticker that reads, “Jesus is coming. Look busy!”
It’s the Sunday we hear that Jesus comes like a thief in the night—at an unexpected hour. There is nothing to do to prepare for his coming except act like he is could come at any moment. Which, in fact, he can. Which, in fact, he is.
The Small Catechism has an explanation of the “Let your kingdom come" petition of the Lord’s Prayer that helps us understand this. It reads, “What does this mean? In fact, God’s kingdom comes on its own without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come to us. How does this come about? Whenever our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that through the Holy Spirit’s grace we believe God’s holy word and live godly lives here and in time and hereafter in eternity.”
You can get the Small Catechism for free from the Apple App Store or the Google App store by searching for “small catechism”. I got mine today and it’s pretty great.
Just a reminder: we are reading “Expedition to the Pole” from the Annie Dillard collection for tomorrow night’s BBQ Book Club. Hope to see you all there. Let me know if you need the reading.
Pastor John