Lectionary for Advent 3.
This will be the last Lectionary reading until February next year. Happy Christmas to regular readers and to those who drop in occasionally. May your Christmas be blessed as we celebrate together.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. The Mighty One has done great things for me; holy is your name, O God. Luke 1:47, 49
Collect. O God, Father of the poor and lowly, you have called all people to share the peace and joy of your kingdom. Show us your kindness and grant us hearts pure and generous, that we may prepare the way for the Saviour who is coming, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. Isaiah announces this prophecy while exiled in Babylon. It comes at the end of a series of promises about restoration and the forgiveness for the nations failure to live obediently under God’s covenant. When we read these words, we think of Jesus but that would not necessarily have been in Isaiah’s thinking. For him and indeed for the people in exile this word of hope for the future was a reminder for the people that there would come a time when Yahweh would rescue them and return them to their homeland. This raft of promises is not directed at an individual but is for the nation as a whole. They are the oppressed, they are the ones in captivity and they are the ones longing for Yahweh to release them and return them to Jerusalem. The promise from Isaiah is that God will comfort all those who mourn and wait for God to act.
Once more this released people will rebuild, repairing the devastation that past generations of Israelites have left behind. Through the determination of God wrongs will be righted and recompense will come for all the injustice perpetrated by past disobedient people. Yahweh will begin a new and righteous era, filled with the blessings of God. The, prophet Isaiah says the whole nation will rejoice in the Lord and the new beginning will bring resounding praise to God.
The exiles did return to their cherished Promised Land but it was not long before they returned to their fallen ways. Once more they fell captive to powers which held them in bondage. Still the promise from God remained a cause for hope in the future. One day Messiah will come and justice and righteousness will abound.
This is an ancient promise and yet even today as any who believe and trust in God know we long for righteousness and justice to be experienced across our world. In so many places and in so many ways humanity is suffering. Despite that there does not seem to be any collective will to work towards a time of true peace and security. What the prophet Isaiah foresaw is what we celebrate in the season of Advent. Jesus the Messiah has come and the establishment of God’s kingdom has begun. For those who have eyes to see and heart to trust in the faithfulness of God there are many signs which give us hope. Not least is the promise of Christ’s return in glory.
Prayer. Holy Lord, you are the faithful God who is always working for the good of all creation. By your sustaining power all things exist. We humbly acknowledge your sovereignty over us. Above all we thank you for sending your Son to be our Lord and Saviour. Grant that we might wait with patience as you fulfil your promises towards us. In all circumstances we eagerly wait for his return continuing to trust in you. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
Reading. John 1:6-8, 19-28. The Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the Logos, the eternal Word who was present even before creation began. Then in a most profound statement declares that, “the Word became flesh” In the very simplest of statement we see that John has summed up the stories of the virgin birth the adoration of the heavenly hosts and the early life of the Saviour. John’s Gospel then skillfully weaves the announcement of the Saviour through the prophetic voice of John the Baptist. Like Jesus, John the Baptist has been set aside from birth to be the one who would announce that the Messiah was coming. The Baptist’s presence was so authentic that the priests and Levites came from Jerusalem to him in the wilderness to check out his credentials. You may remember a political satire titled “Yes Minister”. One of the characters has the line, “Never ask a question to which you don’t know the answer!” Politics does not change and the priests and the Levites where political people. They would have already known that he was an authentic voice from God as they knew the scriptures very well. As John was not “one of them” they then ignored his message.
John answered that he was not the promised Messiah, but he linked his coming with the ancient prophecy from Isaiah. John is the forerunner whose ministry is to announce the coming of the Messiah and so to get the people ready to greet him. John’s baptism was a baptism for repentance. Just like the sacrificial system itself it did not bring the gift of forgiveness. However, as John told the priests and the Levites, when the Messiah came he would bring a baptism that would bring the true light of God.
So often we focus on the personal salvation that Jesus brings, and I by no means devalue that aspect of Jesus’ ministry but as we read the message from John the Baptist we are reminded again that with the coming of Jesus the world has been changed. The true light of God has dawned. We now live in that light. We know forgiveness and we are assured of a future eternally with God. All this is achieved through the ministry of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now in the season of Advent we remind ourselves that Jesus will return again and then the light of God will fully shine on all the world for all will see his glory. We also remind ourselves that we live with confidence and expectancy trusting in the ongoing grace of our Lord and Saviour.
Prayer. Holy Lord, we thank you for the prophets who brought the gift of your promise among us. Through their words my we look to you with confidence for the future that you are preparing for all who love you. Grant that we may be faithful and that our witness in your name may at all times honour you. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
O Christ our God, who at all times and in every hour, in heaven and on earth, you are worshipped and glorified; you are long-suffering, merciful and compassionate; you love the just and show mercy upon the sinner; You call all to salvation through the promise of blessings to come; O Lord, in this hour receive our supplications, and direct our lives according to your commandments. Amen. (Adapted from an evening prayer of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church)
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.
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