Last week a friend asked rhetorically, “Wouldn’t life be simpler if there were just good guys and bad guys?” I had to agree. It would.
 
Either/Or creates far less tension than Both/And.
 
When it comes to what salvation means, some Christians would say, “It’s all about saving souls” Others insist, “It’s all about making life on earth better.” Practically speaking, it’s Either/Or.
 
But the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent would insist it’s not quite that simple.

Patience has been described as, “The quality you admire in the driver behind you butcan’t stand in the driver in front of you.”

For most of us, patience is hard. But in the time leading up to Advent, and during Advent itself, we’re told over and over again to prepare—and to wait with patience—for the coming of the Lord, both in the past and in the future. 

And so it’s a nice contrast in this Second Week of Advent, that we, along with the original recipients of 2 Peter are strongly encouraged—not to work on our own patience—but to consider instead the gracious patience of the Lord.

Turns out, he’s really good at it.

Americans are impatient. Or at least I am. Two days on Amazon Prime? Too long!
 
Wait? The ubiquitous droning message of the commercial world is, Don't. Have it now.
 
This stands in cultural contrast to Advent: a season of waiting as we look forward to a joyous celebration that begins on Christmas Day—a feast intensified by anticipation.
 
It’s easy to be impatient for something good, and if you are, you’re in good company. The Prophet Isaiah certainly was.

This Sunday we commemorate Christ the King—the culmination of the Church's year.

We followed the drama from the birth of Jesus through his life of teaching and healing to his suffering and death. We rejoiced in his resurrection. We shared the life of the Spirit at Pentecost. We’ve sought to share the Gospel’s staggering implications through all the Ordinary Time of the church in the world.

As we finish the Church year we look to the end, not merely as conclusion, but completion…the perfection, the fulfilment of the purpose toward which all that Jesus said and did was directed. We anticipate the day when his glory and power as King will be fully revealed.

This is something about which to be truly thankful.