Advent 3 Part 2

Lectionary Reading  Advent 3  Part 2

An Advent Prayer: Almighty God: you have made us and all things to serve you; May the world be made ready for your rule. Come quickly Lord to save us, so that violence and crying may end, and your children live in peace, honouring each other with justice and love; through Jesus Christ, who lives in power with you, and with the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen. (Presbyterian Prayer Book)

Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24. These verses represent a package. They link us with what is God’s will for us: This is what God wants. The head verse reminds us that we are called to be joyful. Perhaps you might think that following on from the year we have just had this is a tall ask. The word translated as “rejoice’ is best described from the Greek word and being “calmly happy” so it suggests an inner quality rather than an exuberance of hilarity! The passage is reminding us to be open to a closer relationship with God; praying, listening for God’s word to us and conducting ourselves in a way that would meet with God’s approval. The passage reminds us why rejoicing is possible when it sums up with the statement. “The one who calls you is faithful”. This is the key; here is a God on whom we can rely, one who has every base covered and who always assures us of the outcome that is best for us in every circumstance. God never shields us from life, for life is to be lived and that in itself results in risk, yet God is always at work leading us on and helping us grow. As we keep an inner calm and continue to reminder ourselves that the Faithful God is watching over us, even a year like we have had can continue to be faced with confidence.

Prayer. Holy and righteous Lord; before you all people must bow and give you honour. Help us good Lord, that events of life would not overwhelm us nor keep us from the understanding of your great love for us. In all events strengthen us, so that we may keep a tranquil and inner peace that will enable us to know your presence. Help us in the rush of this season to be still and breathe in the calming sense of your Holy Spirit. Grant that the presence of your Spirit will be an anchor for our lives. May we listen for your voice, guiding and directing us, so that the coming of our Lord will encourage us to faithful service in his name. To you belongs all glory. Amen

Reading. John 1:6-8, 19-28; John the Baptist breaks hundreds of years of prophetic silence when he announces afresh the ancient prophecy from Isaiah which signals the coming of Messiah. This prophetic voice links the Covenant from the Hebrew Testament, with the New Testament era and ushers in what Paul would call the New Covenant. John bears witness to the light and also bridges the gap between the Old Covenant and the New. As John was baptising those who were already Jews it brings a sense of preparing for something new that is coming, namely “the day of the Lord”. The coming Messiah will accept the people under both the old and the new covenants. John’s gospel indicates that the religious leaders understood the significance of John the Baptist’s proclamation yet at the same time they did not fully understand: Perhaps because it did not quite fit the pattern that the leaders were expecting. However John makes it clear that someone greater than him is standing unrecognised among them to usher in this new era. John was a voice crying in the wilderness straightening the way of the Lord and as such was an essential herald who marked the coming of Messiah. When we look at John’s proclamation in that way we see once again how amazing is the coming of Jesus. He stands at the very centre of human history and opens the way of salvation to all humanity. More than that he also announces that the Kingdom of God is beginning and through this Messiah, all are welcome.

Prayer. Gracious God, through Jesus Christ you have given us a renewed hope into a future that is unknown to us and yet known to you, for to you life holds no mysteries. As always you go ahead of us preparing the way. We thank you for the witness of John the Baptist who heralds the message of salvation which Jesus Christ will accomplish. We thank you that he is a universal Saviour and that all peoples are included. May we be worthy of his love and grace and live our lives always to honour his ministry. To you Lord be all glory, now and forever. Amen

Collect Hidden God, Jesus, the true light, enters the world and surpasses all that came  before; may we be enlivened by the light of Christ, as he brings to fulfilment all your purposes for the world; this we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.