We're living in a very, very schizophrenic time. In normal times, I think we would all agree, that putting some money into some form of savings is not only a very wise thing to do but perhaps even a very virtuous thing to do. But now? Now, we are being told to go out and spend our money. We are being told that it's even patriotic to do so. That's a great consolation, isn't it, at this time of year. We are told to get back to normal life. And, then, the next breath, we are told to get to the airport two hours ahead of time. And, when we do, we find armed guards there. That's not normal. Now all this schizophrenia that we are dealing with is bad enough. But it's even worse for us Christians, beginning today, because we are being told to prepare for the birth of Christ at Christmas. But, at the same time, we know He was born two thousand years ago. It can all be rather confusing. Can't it?

A short while ago, I read a story concerning the well-known politician and orator, early nineteenth century, Daniel Webster. He and his older brother Ezekial, when their father went off to town one day, left them on the farm and gave them a whole lot of chores to do. And then the father came home and nothing was done. So he said to the older brother, Ezekial, he said, "Ezekial, what have you been doing all day?" And Ezekial said, "Nothing, Father." So then he turned to Daniel and he said, "Daniel, what have you been doing all day?" And Daniel said, "I've been helping Ezekial, doing nothing." It can be very appealing at times.... But Biblical writing has very little time for it. In the Bible, we are being constantly, constantly told to be ready. And that's the message today. Ready for what? .... Ready for what? I would bet that in the next three weeks or so, someone is going to say to you, "Are you ready for Christmas?" And that translates as, "Have you done all your shopping? Have you written all your cards?" I don't think that that is quite what the Scriptures have in mind when they say to us, "Be ready."

Jesus, in the Gospel today, refers to Noah.... refers to the fact that the people at that time were all living their everyday lives, going about their everyday business, not really thinking of anything that is coming, all, except one person, this rather eccentric gentleman called Noah. What was he doing? He was out in the backyard, building this huge boat, even though there was no water within miles. But in the end, he is the one who was ready. And why? Because he was alert to the signs of the times.

And we are asked to be alert to the signs of our time. What are these? Well, I am sure you could come up with quite a long list. There is one, however, for me, that stands out very, very starkly. And it is the lack, terrible, terrible lack of peace in our world, wherever you look, on whatever continent you look, a lack of peace. The birth of Christ at Christmas was heralded by the angels, singing of peace, a promising peace to those of good will. So I would suggest to you that, if we are to be ready for the coming of the Prince of Peace, then we have to do anything we humanly can to promote peace in our world, in every possible way. Now this has never, never been easy. It is very, very difficult particularly at this moment in our history. You know, those innocent people who were killed on September llth, we call them the victims of terrorists. The innocent people who are killed by bombs in Afghanistan, we call them "collateral damage." Boggles the mind, doesn't it? We are torn apart. There are very very good people who, in good conscience, maintain that the only way to deal with terrorists is to bomb them. Equally so, there are very, very good people who, in good conscience, will say, "That's an abomination." So, at this moment in our history, as Christians, we are passing through a very very difficult time, indeed.

For the Christian, I believe, that, at the minimum, we have to ask ourselves these questions. Are we at peace with ourselves? Are we at peace with ourselves, with who we are, as human beings? Are we at peace in our relationship with God? Are we at peace in our relationship with family members, with neighbors, with co-workers? As Christians, we are called to be active peace-makers, not just peace keepers, but ACTIVE peace-makers.

Jesus talks about the future coming of the Son of Man to encourage us to take responsiblilty for the present, to make the present a time of fidelity to His vision, His ideal, His prayer, the prayer that we may all be one in the Father and the Spirit. We are, each of us in our own way, responsible for the world that we live in. If, like Daniel Webster and his brother Ezekial, we do nothing, then nothing will be done. We are to care about this world by, as Scripture said today, staying awake, staying awake, being aware of what is happening in our world and to our world. We are to care about all of our brothers and sisters, all children of the one loving Father, all redeemed by the one loving Incarnate Son, all infused and imbued with the gift of the one Spirit, the gift of love, the gift of peace. And so I suggest that, during this time, our prayer should be that all of us may be filled with that Spirit, that Spirit of love, that Spirit of forgiveness, that Spirit of peace. And, in that way, we will be ready.