Sermon for Proper 28C: Keeping Vigil

Proper 28C: Keeping Vigil

Malachi 4:1-2a; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

The Rev. Paul D. Allick, Church of the Advent, November 16, 2025

In our portion of the Good News this morning, Jesus offers a

grave assessment. The disciples are admiring the

magnificent structures which represent their religious and

civic life.

Jesus responds with a warning, “As for these things that you

see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon

another; all will be thrown down.”

He tells them to expect wars, insurrections, earthquakes,

famines, plagues, dreadful portents and great signs from

heaven. He warns them that many will come in his name and

say, “I am he!” and “The time is near!” Many will be led

astray.

Others will be persecuted and handed over to the

authorities, betrayed by family and friends, some will be put

to death, and hated because of Jesus’ Name.

This is Good News?

Jesus is getting prophetic and apocalyptic because he is

preparing his disciples for his impending execution which

they still do not fully comprehend.

And, yes, Jesus is getting impatient. He has come to

Jerusalem to confront the power structure. His disciples are

admiring the buildings, the very symbols of that power.

Jesus is echoing the prophets. The prophets called people

away from human-made distractions back to the heart of

their religion. Like Malachi, he is teaching about the terrible

day that is coming.

In his own last days, Jesus in is echoing the apocalyptic

visions of his religion. The day is near; get ready! God is

going to turn everything right side up as he redeems the

Universe.

As we move into the Season of Advent we are going to hear

more of this message. The prophets, the visionaries of

apocalypse and Jesus exhort us to be ready for the

culmination of time.

The Church exists in an interim period. Christ is risen, Christ

has died, Christ will come again.

How do we prepare for Christ’s Coming Again? It is about

spiritual vigilance. We keep vigil as we faithfully observe the

liturgies and observances of the Church Calendar. In

keeping our Vigil we are in regular variance with the secular

calendar.

We keep the Vigil of the Saint’s Feasts Days to learn how to

live out our own discipleship. We keep the Vigil of Advent to

prepare to receive the Good News of the Incarnation. We

keep the Vigil of Lent and Holy Week to prepare for the

Good News of the Resurrection, the Ascension, and the gift

of the Holy Spirit.

We are people of vigilance. We build and maintain our

Church Buildings not for a social life, but for preparation; a

place to hold vigils.

Paul writes to the Church in Thessalonica, “Keep away from

believers who are living in idleness and not according to the

tradition that they received from us.”

For 2,000 years our ancestors have persevered and have

preserved the Catholic Tradition for us so that we can keep

the vigil.

Our Vigil is explained in the Catechism. Our mission is to

pray, to worship, to proclaim the Gospel, and to promote

justice, peace, and love. (BCP, p. 855)

Every time we utter a prayer, every time we sing a hymn,

every time we repeat the Eucharistic Prayer, every time we

reach out to those in need, we are sustaining the Vigil of the

Church.

Every baptized disciple of Christ is a minister of the Vigil.

The Catechism tells us that the duty of all Christians, “is to

follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate

worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the

kingdom of God.” (BCP, p. 856)

When we come to worship in community, it is not only about

meeting our personal spiritual needs. It is actually fulfilling

our first act of mission. The most important thing we do is to

gather around Word and Sacrament.

Today we gather our money in the form of pledges to fund

our mission. It is not primarily about the amount of money,

just as importantly it about making a commitment to the

parish and to God.

Today we will also welcome Newcomers to our Parish. We

will take stock of how well we have been welcoming the

stranger. How well have we pursued our vocation to

reconcile all people to God and each other in Christ?

This vigilance takes everything we’ve got. Our work is clear.

Everything will flow from the strength of our discipleship: our

outreach, our budget, and the upkeep of our buildings and

grounds.

In keeping the Vigil, we find our real life. In our collect we

prayed to God, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written

for our learning, asking him to give us the strength and

commitment “to hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest

them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed

hope of everlasting life.”

Our “everlasting life” is our real life. Our vigil keeps us in

touch with it

The prophets and Jesus end their grave warnings with an

assurance: if we are vigilant, we will find new life.

Malachi preaches, “But for you who revere my name the sun

of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”

Jesus preaches, “By your endurance you will gain your

souls.”