Third Sunday of AdventReadings: Zephaniah 3v14-end; Psalm 146v4-end; Philippians 4v4-7; Luke 3v7-18.Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.A Word : The prophet Zephaniah calls us to sing, rejoice and exult because God is in the midst of us bringing us to victory. For we have a God who is saving the lame, gathering in outsiders and bringing his people home to be seen by all the peoples as a people renewed and restored through God’s love. For, as the psalm tells us, the God who is the creator of all things and reigns forever is also the God who: always keeps his promises; is just to all who suffer wrongs; sets free the bound and lifts up those who are bowed down. This is an amazing God who: opens the eyes of the blind; watches over strangers; upholds the widows and the orphans; and brings bread to those who are hungry. For this is the God who loves the righteous and turns the way of the wicked upside down.This is the one true God who sent John the Baptiser into the world to prepare God’s people for the coming of the promised Messiah. As a messenger John told sinners to bear fruits worthy of their repentance because all who did not bear good fruit would be cut down. John also instructed those who listened to him to share what they had with those who did not have enough and to be fair in their dealings with others, so they would be ready when the Messiah arrived.This is the one true God who Paul says guards our hearts and minds in Jesus and whose peace surpasses all understanding. The one true God that Paul tells us to rejoice in, to pray to, to give thanks to and to offer intercessions for all that we need.Today, let us consider all that God is, all that God does for us and then step up in worship, prayer and praise.Let us Pray: Wondrous, awesome, amazing God, set us on fire by your Spirit so we are found shining as lights in the world when Jesus returns. Help us to be good ministers and stewards of your word, so we help the disobedient to turn into the wise and just and help people to be found acceptable in your sight when you return at the time of the 2nd coming. AmenThanks for joining us today.
Second Sunday of Advent Readings: Malachi 3 v1-4; Canticle-Luke 1v68-79; Philippians 1v3-11; Luke 3v1-6. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word : The first from the Book of the prophet Baruch, which can be found in the Apocrypha, is a call to the people of Jerusalem to cease being a nation of sorrow and be a people clothed in the beauty of the glory of God. A people that God will show off to all in heaven and describe as: Righteous, Peace and Godly Glory. In the reading from the prophet Malachi we hear God foretelling that he will send out a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord because when he comes to his temple the people must be ready to be refined and purified. The canticle from Luke 1v68-79 is a song of praise and thanks to the God of Israel because he came to his people to set them free. This is the fulfilment of a promise that God shared through the prophets – to send the Messiah born in the line of King David. The Messiah who would be preceded by a prophet to prepare the way for God to come to his people. The Messiah who would bring in God’s reign of compassion, peace, light and life. In the letter to the people of Philippi, we hear that even though Paul is in prison, he is full of joy and offering a prayer of praise to God for the Christians in Philippi. Paul is also asking God to bless them with gifts: that they will grow more and more in their knowledge of God; that they will grow in their ability to discern between what is right and best; and that they will grow a great harvest of the goodness that comes through Jesus. Finally in Luke, we hear about God’s calling and sending out of John to prepare the way of the Lord. In answering this call, John fulfilled the prophetic promises of God by calling people to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and in so doing, prepared the way. So, what is the message here for us? I believe that God needs us all to be ready – not just in the old days when he was preparing to send his son to save us – but also now in our time – as we wait for Jesus’ return. For as it says in the prophecy of Malachi – we need to get ready because when Jesus returns he will refine and purify us. For, if we wish to be clothed in the beauty of the glory of God (Baruch), we must let go of our old sinful ways and simply accept with thanksgiving God’s forgiveness of our sins – just like in the time of John the Baptiser (Luke). So today – I dare you to believe this message. For it was given to us in ancient times and re-given to us after the time of Christ in the world. And, what is more, is that this is the very message that Jesus came to share with us and to make us fit to enter heaven. Let us Pray: Wondrous, awesome, amazing God, Generous, loving and merciful. Help us to be ready when your Kingdom comes so we may pass through judgement and inherit the place that Jesus is preparing for us. Send us out into the world as children of your heavenly Kingdom and your servants in this world. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
