Lectionary for Advent 1
I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ Come, people of Jacob, let us walk in the light of our God. Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 2:5
Collect. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came among us in great humility; that on the last day, when he comes again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading. Isaiah 2:1-5. Chapter Two records a vision that Isaiah saw and then tried to describe in words. We know from chapter six that Isaiah began his prophetic ministry at the end of the reign of king Uzziah. Isaiah had family kinship with the kingly line and so it is most likely that he was situated in Jerusalem and attached to the King’s court. By this time the Northern kingdom had been dispersed into exile and so much of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry is trying to bring the Lord God’s warning to the kingdom of Judah. The warnings were delivered in the hope that Judah would return to more godly ways and therefore avoid the fate of the people of Samaria.
Despite his best efforts Isaiah’s warnings fell on deaf ears, the various kings in whose reigns he prophesied refused to listen, much preferring to follow the idolatrous ways of the nations which surrounded them. As a consequence the nation of Judah grew smaller and weaker while the nations surrounding them grew more dominant and aggressive. It is into that setting that Isaiah describes his vision.
Isaiah is foreseeing a future time when Judah will once again be prominent and secure. This security will come about through the obedient worship of the people towards their God and the law. Furthermore Isaiah also sees a time when not only Judah but all the nations will gather to join in worship in the Lord’s house. When this happens God’s judgment will bring about a climate of peace in which all can dwell securely. All peoples will live together in peace and therefore there will be no need to train for war. Individual nations will no longer strive for supremacy for all will be included under the kingly rule of the Lord God.
As a result of the vision Isaiah invites and encourages Judah to begin to return to a more obedient walk with God for from the prophet’s perspective the future vision is dependent on the faithfulness of God’s people. In the initial call of Abraham that principle had been announced, God’s blessing to all the nations comes through the blessing of Abraham. (Gen 12;2-3). In God’s economy all are linked together and as Jesus reminded the woman from Samaria “salvation is from the Jews’ (John 4:22)
Sadly the kingdom of Judah did not listen to the words of Isaiah, indeed they were so angry with his constant warnings that finally tradition tells us that they murdered him to still his voice. Nevertheless his vision for a world enveloped in harmony still stands and with the Advent of Jesus that prophecy is moving towards it’s fulfillment.
Prayer. Holy and Righteous God how often do we long for a better world, especially when we see sadness and sorrow, injustice and violence abounding: when we see greed and power exploiting the weak and the vulnerable. We long for change even more when we realise that we are part of the system which causes the injustice. Like the prophet Isaiah, we are people of unclean lips and we dwell among a people of unclean lips for we have neglected your ways and followed along paths which have given us false hope. Help us Lord, to reframe our lives according to your perfect plan. Help us to keep close contact with you and through the power of your Spirit, refresh us and set us on the pathway of trusting in you alone. This we pray, through Jesus Christ the only Saviour, now and for ever. Amen
Reading. Matthew 24:36-44. In this section of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus has been teaching his disciples and the question had been asked about the “day of the Lord”. A time when God would make right all things. This event would be a climactic day of both judgement and reconciliation. As we commence the season of Advent our minds turn to the return of Jesus Christ in majesty and power. It is an event which has been termed the “second coming”, however the bible does not teach about a second coming but rather a second appearing. (Heb 9:28) With the death and resurrection of Jesus a new era has begun. This new era will continue until evil and those who gain power through it are finally overcome and God is sovereign over all.
Jesus reminds us that speculating about the time of the completion of the age is wasted time; rather followers of Jesus must be alert and watchful not simply looking for his coming but looking to be obedient to Jesus’ way of living. It is therefore a reminder that the work of overcoming evil is already being continued by Jesus
The illustration taken from the time of Noah reminded the disciples that people were just focussed on getting on with life and in doing so were drifting further and further away from God and his requirements. The wickedness of the world led to the separation of Noah and his family from everyone else, so Jesus’ reference is a warning: a warning to always keep in mind the continuing work of Jesus.
To be so concerned about the things of this world while forgetting the work of Jesus is to court disaster. The battle against evil continues under the direction of Jesus and will one day be gloriously fulfilled.
While we cannot know the time of Jesus’ final appearing the season of Advent reminds us that we can be confident that the work will be completed and a time of “beating swords into ploughshares” will one day come. Our task is to live watchfully and prayerfully in faithful obedience to the way of Jesus. Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Heb 9:28 NRSV.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, we often seem to live in a world sliding deeper and deeper into disaster. All about us we hear and see the destruction and violence that is perpetrated against people, causing them pain and suffering. Forgive us Lord but it is hard to see any signs of improvement, and yet with the eyes of faith we know that good does prevail and that love triumphs over hatred. You are faithful and just and it is your love and your way that will finally conquer. So today we pray for the great needs we see and hear about: We pray for people involved in war, the hurt, the maimed, the bereaved: Those who have lost homes, possessions, even dignity itself. We pray for those who are suffering through lack of food and for those who are riddled with disease simply because they don’t have clean drinking water. We pray too, for greater confidence as we pray, for a freedom to discern what you would have us pray. Teach us to live our lives through our prayers, not simply bring our needs and mistakes to you in prayer. In prayer may we put on the armour of faith and then today, live as your children looking forward with greater confidence the day of your glorious appearing. Amen
Collect. Jesus, Coming One, we cannot know the day of your appearing; help us to keep awake, to look patiently for you, ready to embrace your reign of peace; in your name we pray. Amen.
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