A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church at the 10:30am service on Sunday, Advent I, November 28, 2004. Please read Hebrews 12:14-29.

There is something about being “near” a person or place that creates an emotional response from us. When two people who are in love sit next to each other, there is warmth of feeling and tenderness that is not enjoyed when the couple is apart. A famous sports figure or movie actor creates an electrifying and exciting atmosphere when he or she comes near to an admiring fan. Think too of the emotional reaction that would be evoked by standing in close proximity to a rattlesnake rather than observing it on the other side of a glass window at the zoo. These all are scenarios that we can well imagine, but what about being near the presence of God? What is the human reaction when God is close by?

Our Scripture lesson from the letter to the Hebrews summarizes the history of God’s dealings with his people, showing that the goal of God’s plan of redemption is that he would be near his people. The problem, of course, is that human beings are sinful and disobedient, which makes being near God frightful thing. Through Christ, the fear of God’s nearness has been taken away.

For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest and the sound of a trumpet and voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore…and so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant…” (Heb. 12:18-24).

What are we to say in response to this? The writer of Hebrews tells that we are to recognize that we are receiving a kingdom – God’s kingdom – and this kingdom cannot be shaken. We rejoice in the peace, stability and certainty that kingdom of God provides in the midst of a tumultuous and uncertain world. We do not, however, presume upon God’s goodness and mercy but we serve him “with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:28). 

Perhaps this longing for God’s nearness in the person of Jesus Christ is best summarized in the words of the familiar Advent hymn, “Come, thou long expected Jesus”.
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
May each us find our rest with the advent of the long expected Jesus. 
Amen.