Let’s start with our 2 Peter reading which really starts by telling us to be patient: A timely word about time in this season of waiting. As we wait to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem there’s a greater wait lurking in the background in the shape of the second coming (the ‘day of the Lord’) we have read so much of in our readings of late. People are always asking me when that day will be, wondering why it’s taken so long – Peter tries to put it into perspective here for us (and them) today – with the words:
“Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.”
We are being told, “Calm down and be patient, He’s coming, He’s just giving you a chance to ‘get it right’!” And actually, as much as I cant wait for Jesus to return, the day of His coming has a bit of terror in there too for everything will be destroyed. Not an easy day then is it?
As much as I look forward to Jesus’ return, suddenly I’m a bit glad of the wait so I can get myself sorted out a bit more! And let’s face it, I think that’s true for all of us (so take your time Lord, I’ll be be busy here getting stuff sorted. Meanwhile the world (and the Church) get caught up in he baby coming and Argos and gifts and food and days off from work and ignore the other coming. A real ‘eat, drink and be merry’ moment – we can leave the thought that ‘tomorrow we may die’ for another day (tomorrow perhaps?).
Of course that is unless He comes today I guess – but be assured, He is coming back – and that’s a challenging thought isn’t it?
Thankfully Isaiah steps in with a bit of comfort for us. So much so that he starts of with the word:
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” Here we have a word of encouragement that the sins are dealt with and things are looking up. Phew! That’s a bit of a relief, all we need is to wait doe someone coming, in the wilderness; crying out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”
Perhaps there’s some good news to be had today, Because the first bit was a bit uncomfortable (wasn’t it?) and all this judgment stuff, well it’s not going to be a popular message now is it?
Isaiah is writing to a bunch of people who I were so wrong that God let them fall to foreign powers and be led off in captivity in foreign lands. But this is a word of consolation, a nod from God to say that they could come off the naughty step!
There would be a way back for them – that the highway in the desert – and though we humans are relatively short lived (like the grass) - God and his promises (His word) will never fail.So cheer up, there’s something (just as He promised) coming. All we need to do is listen to the voice in the wilderness. And we get to hear about him in our Gospel as Mark tells us about John the Baptist.
Mark begins by taking us back into Isaiah and then immediately turn towards the voice in the wilderness: John the Baptist. Who ‘appeared’ in the wilderness and called the people who heard him to repent, that is turn around and walk away from the wrong stuff they were doing (and had done). To help them draw a line under all that had been He baptised them (a ritual, symbolic, washing away of the dirt of the past). And He told the people of the one who was to come – Jesus, the consolation of Israel – the babe of Bethlehem, the Messiah, the coming King!
Here we are at week two of Advent with so much frightening stuff (to the extent that some might hope Jesus never returns) that the wait being explained moves over to show how Jesus is the ‘comfort’ we all so truly long for.
Perhaps that’s why the Collect (so named because it is a 'thought collecting' prayer) is as it is. Meanwhile, just as we empty the clutter in our homes in readiness for those who will visit us over Christmas, so too should we be emptying the clutter that is sin from the spiritual house that are our bodies and or lives.
The Collect
Almighty God, Purify our hearts and minds, That when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and Saviour We may be ready to receive Him, Who is our Lord and our God. Amen.
Isaiah 40.1-11
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’
‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
2 Peter 3.8-15a
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.
Mark 1. 1-8
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ –
‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’
Post Communion prayer
Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* The four Sundays of Advent focus on things from a different perspective each week to help us understand what Jesus first Advent (coming) and the second Advent are all about. Whilst it seems that many are taking various themes for Advent (Hope. Love, Faith, Peace - sausage, eggs, chips and beans, etc.)
In the Church of England, generally, we look to:
Week one: The Patriarchs (the ‘founders’ of Judaism),
Week two: The Prophets (who spoke for God to the people),
Week three: John the Baptist (the herald of Jesus, the Christ),
Week four: The Virgin (the Mother of Jesus).
No comments:
Post a Comment