Musings for Advent 1

Sunday, November 29, 2009
First Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
Advent is about the "coming days." God's people have always lived in great expectation, but that expectation finds specific, repeated enunciation in the texts appointed for these four weeks. The ancients anticipated a "righteous Branch to spring up for David." The Thessalonians awaited "the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints." Our Lord's contemporaries hoped for the time "to stand before the Son of Man." With them we eagerly await the coming days: another Christmas celebration, a second coming, and the advent of our Lord in word and supper.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection alert us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and redeem us for your life of justice, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Jeremiah 33:14–16

In the Old Testament, "righteousness" often has to do with being faithful in relationship. God acts righteously both in punishing Israel for its sin and in having mercy. In today's reading, Jerusalem's future name—"The Lord is our righteousness"—proclaims that the Lord is even now working salvation for Israel.

¹⁴The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 25:1–10

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. (Ps. 25:1)

¹To ^| you, O LORD,

I lift ^| up my soul.

²My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be ^| put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph ^| over me.

³Let none who look to you be ^| put to shame;

rather let those be put to shame ^| who are treacherous.

⁴Show me your ^| ways, O LORD,

and teach ^| me your paths. R

⁵Lead me in your ^| truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

in you have I trusted all ^| the day long.

⁶Remember, O LORD, your compas- ^| sion and love,

for they are from ^| everlasting. R

⁷Remember not the sins of my youth and ^| my transgressions;

remember me according to your steadfast love

and for the sake of your good- ^| ness, O LORD.

⁸You are gracious and up- ^| right, O LORD;

therefore you teach sinners ^| in your way.

⁹You lead the low- ^| ly in justice

and teach the low- ^| ly your way.

¹⁰All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast ^| love and faithfulness

to those who keep your covenant and your ^| testimonies. R

Second Reading

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

Upon Timothy's report from the congregation at Thessalonica, Paul is exuberant with gratitude for them. In this passage from his letter, Paul voices overflowing thanks, joy, and blessings for the people of this growing church.

⁹How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. ¹³And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Gospel

Luke 21:25–36

God will fulfill God's purposes and, already, hidden signs of that fulfillment abound. On that great day there will be dismay, perplexity, confusion, and terror, but God's people shall be given strength to stand boldly and receive God's promised redemption.

²⁵There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
²⁹Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
³⁴Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

REFLECTION:

"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly..........." That is one scary piece of advice. I do enjoy wasting time on frivolity and the excesses of life. I may not get drunk, but I do enjoy imbibing. I certainly get weighted down with the worries of this life, in spite of how blessed I am. I feel as though I am in a constant state of flux waiting for something to happen internationally, nationally, locally, and/or personally. Maybe I am not representative of the general population awaiting Christ's coming, but I know I am not too out in left field when I think about conversations I have had with friends.

Right now, at the beginning of this Advent season, I am in a state of joy with the anticipation of Christ's birth. I know "all things" will take place and that I will have to work through His suffering later. But even through that suffering I become so aware of His love for us, that I can actually feel the hope that His love will triumph over all of the hate, wars, violence, diseases--all in the present that tears God's world apart. If I think I'm suffering, what must God be going through watching what is happening to His creation. We as His children hardly pay heed to what we are doing to it. And still he loves us. Just possibly I should get out of myself and be more on guard. I know the end even before the beginning. Who knows when He will come again--do I need a date? Living in hope is not so bad. Living in all that God has provided me is not so bad either. Love and hope--God is great!

LET US PRAY

• in thanks for our Father's abundant gifts
• in hope for His coming
• for those who cry out for His help
• for the many who cannot sit down with family for a Thanksgiving feast
• for those who will be providing for the hungry and homeless

QUOTE

God is great, God is good, and we thank him for this bounty