Lectionary for Advent 1
They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:27-28
Collect: Father, God of all holiness, whose promises stand unshaken through all generations: lift up the human race, burdened and brought low by so much evil; and open our hearts to renewed hope; that we may look forward without fear or anguish to the glorious return of Jesus Christ, our Judge and our Saviour, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Jeremiah 33:14-16 For Christians the readings for the Advent lectionary are filled with hope and we read into a reading such as this one from Jeremiah as the fulfilment of a great promise from God. However the contemporaries of Jeremiah did not read it as a promise but rather as a rebuke and a warning. Notice that it is addressed to two sections of the Hebrew tribes. Judah linked with Benjamin made up one house; while Israel comprised the other house. This reminds us that the kingdoms were divided, Israel was almost non existent and Judah was under grave threat from Babylon. All twelve tribes were threatened with slavery and extinction. The verses in this reading come after the dire warning that Judah is about to be conquered and only after that has been fulfilled will the promise of a “righteous branch” be revealed. Consequently both the warning and the promise were rejected and once more the prophecies of Jeremiah were a great cause of offence. Tradition tells us that Jeremiah was taken as a captive with a group from Judah who fled to Egypt for safety. It was there that Jeremiah was murdered to silence his ongoing warnings that God’s judgement was being unfolded. Though he was silenced his prophecies did come to pass and so today we read this promise with the knowledge that the Righteous Branch did come bringing not simply the promise of salvation, but its reality. Advent is the season to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ and the beginning of a new era which carries us into the future with renewed hope in God’s rescue. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2–3
Prayer. Holy Lord, as we celebrate once again the fulfilment of your promise to bring healing and wholeness to your people, we give to you all thanks and praise, for Jesus is the great hope on whom we rely. As we hear again the familiar readings and meditate on your goodness and grace in coming among us, may we find our lives refreshed and renewed, knowing that all things are in your gracious hands. All glory to you; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; one God for ever and ever. Amen
Reading. Luke 21:25-36 At the beginning of Luke chapter 21 we read about the widow’s mite and how she trusted God with all she was and had; then comes the prediction of the destruction of the temple, foreshadowing not only the destruction of the temple but the end of the ritual of sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sin. Like our reading from Jeremiah it reminds us that before the new beginning that God has promised will come a time of destruction; an ending of the old and a commencement of the new.
The present situation in which we live has two systems existing in parallel. We have the kingdom of this world, what we can see, handle, and to some extent manage and manipulate. At the same time we have the kingdom of God, announced by Jesus as being now at hand, a kingdom of God’s rule of justice and mercy; a kingdom with the promise of a future of grace and love and a face to face relationship with the whole company of heaven. Through Jesus Christ we have the opportunity to enter this kingdom and live in harmony and obedience.
In our passage for today Jesus is speaking about his return and describing an event of cosmic proportions. Though the disturbance will be world shaking those who trust in Jesus will be able to recognise that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent. With this in mind, Jesus encourages his followers to stand up, lift their heads and renew their hope. Just as leaves appearing on the trees announces that summer is on its way so these signs will announce the Lord’s coming. Then we read the phrase, “heaven and earth will pass away but my word will not pass away!” Interestingly we live in an age where people are anxiously trying to prevent the destruction of the earth or at least the extinction of the human species. It is as if we suddenly have become aware of how vulnerable the world is and similarly the climate which supports life. Earth’s fragility is real but equally real is the promise that the one who created the environment in which we live is able to sustain the people who trust in him. The return of Jesus Christ announces that the Kingdom of God is being restored here on earth. This is the promise of Advent!
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Prayer. Lord as you lived amongst us once, so may we wait with anticipation for your return to reign and live amongst us. As we wait may we not be distracted by things which are of no importance but remember with reverence that you will come to judge and in every way make all things new. May we be true disciples, relying only on your victory on the cross for our redemption. Forgive us and cleanse us from the failures of the past that we may look with confidence into the future and wait with keen anticipation the new beginning that you have promised. This we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. God of the future, help us to live with our eyes open, and remember your faithfulness; may we entrust our lives into the hands of Jesus, whose coming is certain, whose day draws near, and in whose name we pray. Amen.
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