Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16 Luke 21:25-36
Luke 21v33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Today is the first Sunday in Advent. It is the way the Christian community begins its preparation for the coming of the Saviour.
The theme for this First Sunday of Advent is HOPE!
Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns of the last four kings of Judah. It was a terrible time for the Jews and Jerusalem in particular. First they were subject to Assyria who had conquered and exiled the 10 tribes in the south; so the kingdom of Israel was no more. Then Babylon conquered Assyria and Egypt, becoming the dominant power. For a year or so Judah remained independent but finally Jerusalem was captured, the temple destroyed and the king and the elite were exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah spoke from Jerusalem to the people in exile for almost half of his ministry. That gives the context to our reading from Jeremiah. The days are coming when a “righteous branch” will take charge. The promise was that through God the world order would be changed. Luke’s reading holds on to that theme, underlining the promise that God’s word (promise) will not simply pass away but will be fulfilled. Thus both readings focus on hope for the future which comes from God and his word.
When we prepare for Advent through the Hope from God, three things emerge:-
1]. We see the fulfilment of Promise. History shows that the exiles did return. History also shows that Jesus did return as the “righteous branch”,
Christmas is God’s promise. It is part of his plan for humanity. Because of God’s plan every man and woman on earth has the promise potentially fulfilled. Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you. 4Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 23:3-4)
2}. We see there is power. Jesus came and lived and died. This is the story of the gospel but it was God’s power which called him back to life again. Life in a fuller and more complete way. Jesus came, as the reading from Jeremiah said, to execute justice and righteousness. This doesn’t just happen, it needs a driving power to accomplish anything of that dimension. God’s yes to the ministry of Jesus was the victory signal that sin and death had been defeated in God. It also means power for us for living in God’s way: A power which makes a difference as we live our lives.
3]. Because of God there is purpose. It is not a one off situation but part of an onward moment. This is the name by which ‘it’, shall be called. (Jeremiah) This is a collective description. It means that we are all included. We all together will be called and in fact are called, the righteousness of God. We have been called to a purpose and that purpose is to be God’s people. To rejoice in who and what we are.
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
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