Advent and the "Zombie Apocalypse"

Good morning everyone. 

Have you noticed that the past few years the rise in popularity of zombies?   Yes, zombies.  

Zombie movies, zombie costumes for Halloween, TV shows about zombies, there is even the ‘zombie apocalypse’! 

I have been hearing people talk about this and have wondered what exactly is a ‘zombie apocalypse’?!

One time I was on duty at Moffett airfield, the Space shuttle was being flown piggyback on a 747 over various parts of the Bay Area as it was being flown to its final resting place to a museum in Los Angeles.  Thousands of people came out to see this and lined the fences and gates to see it as it flew over us, one last time on its final flight to LA.  It was pretty cool to see.  Later, I heard one colonel describe the event to someone who had not been there, and he said, “It was like the zombie apocalypse had begun!”  

What!!??     Now, I have never really been into zombies, in fact I don’t really even like zombies, so this phenomenon of them being so popular lately kind of astounds me.    I don't get it!  

So it makes me wonder, why this is so?    Perhaps this says something about our society and culture that we live in.   Hmmm. 

Now you may be wondering, how in the world would I arrive at talking about, of all things, zombies in a sermon for Sunday morning. 

But hey, got your attention now, don’t I?   

Now, interestingly, in our gospel reading for today, Mark chapter 13, we have what is known by biblical scholars as the “little apocalypse”:  "In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken…”  

This passage is actually taken from the book of Daniel.   Daniel, as well as the book of Ezekiel and the book of Revelation are all what is known as “apocalyptic literature”.    

Apocalyptic literature tends to be very surreal, fantastic, bizarre & highly symbolic with lots of vivid imagery & characters.   Angels, demons, and other mythological beings, and a giant epic battle between good and evil, with the triumph of God over the forces of chaos.   

Spiritually, apocalyptic literature gives the message of:  “These times are tough, things may get worse before they get better, but hang on!   Hang on just a little longer…and God will intervene….and… the light always overcomes the darkness.”    

So, in dark times…whatever they may be, it is a message of hope.   

When hearing the word apocalypse though, one may think of prophecy, destruction on a catastrophic scale and the end of the world.   Hence the fictional zombie apocalypse and the premise for all those fictional books & movies about the rapture & those left behind.   

Notice I did say FICTIONAL.  But this is the popular understanding of the word apocalypse, not its actual meaning & what it meant in its original language, Greek.   

The word apocalypse actually means “uncovering” in Greek.  “A disclosure of knowledge” or “a lifting of a veil” or “disclosure of things hidden”.     

In other words, a revelation.     

The word “apocalypse” really has nothing to do with end times or prophetic scenarios of the future & end of the world!   These are interpretations.  And we can thank Christian fundamentalism for this interpretation, and because they have been good at spreading this interpretation around, it has become the popular understanding of it.   

Now, also notice that in Mark’s gospel, chapter 13, that more than once it mentions to keep awake, to be aware, be watchful, and to keep alert.

But how many of us, myself included, go thru our days with periods of totally zoning out?  And not only spacing out, but not even being aware that we have spaced out!    

‘Did I close the gate?  Did I lock the door?  Did I turn off the stove?’  And when we double check, of course we did those things, but have absolutely no recollection of doing it!  

How does this happen?  Don’t just blame getting old for this!  It happens to all ages.  Anyone who has taught children, high school and or college knows this!    We sometimes just walk around with our heads in a cloud!  Unaware.  Not paying attention.  On automatic pilot.  Oblivious. 

But what things, important things are we missing out on?  

What things are flying past us when we zone out like a, dare I say it…like a zombie?

Yep, zombies are abound, right here and right now!   Not just in those “bad cinema” horror movies & TV shows!   

Perhaps mindlessness is one of the main spiritual ailments of our times.

This Advent season, let us take heed to Christ’s teaching.   

We may think we are aware & paying attention in life, but are we?    
What is it that we are not seeing?  Or hearing? 

What is it that we might be missing? 

Like a revelation, an apocalypse, a revealing of things hidden, God’s messages come to us all the time.   But are we listening? 

God speaks to us in various ways, but it tends to be ‘delicate’.  If we don’t keep awake, the message can fly right past us!   God can speak to us as we pray, walk down the street, and thru another person.  Perhaps it is just one thing they do, or a little phrase or word they say, and “wham”, we have an “aha” moment, a revelation, and a new spiritual awareness and realization…  

Yes, there are many ways God speaks to us.   Are you watching?  Are you listening?   

Let us pray…

Loving God, keep us awake in faith; when our faith grows weary, strengthen us …when our faith grows fearful, grant us courage, when our faith grows despairing, grant us hope, and when the faith of others falters, may we be a light in their darkness...   

Amen.

[Sermon by the Rev. Laura Adelia at St Peter's Episcopal Church, NOV 30, 2014]