Welcome on this First Sunday of Advent. Today’s lesson from Luke’s Gospel is a little unsettling. In it Christ seems to be describing the end of the world.  Listen to his words: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken . . .” 

That’s vivid imagery. “Signs in the sun, moon and stars . . . nations in anguish at the roaring and tossing of the sea . . . people fainting from terror . . . heavenly bodies shaken . . .” Hollywood would have a great time with special effects to portray that scene. Of course, it is a scene that has been painted from many pulpits as a time of great ter…