Midweek Musings for Christmas 2

Sunday, January 2, 2011
Second Sunday of Christmas

YEAR A

Reflection by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
Within the gospel reading's profound words lies the simple message that God is revealed in a human person. Though we may try to understand how the Word existed with God from the beginning of time, the wonder we celebrate at Christmas is that the Word continues to dwell among us. Christ comes among us in the gathered assembly, the scriptures, the waters of new birth, and the bread and the wine. Through these ordinary gifts we receive the fullness of God's grace and truth.

Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, died 1872
A nineteenth-century German Lutheran pastor, Loehe worked to enliven the church with the eucharist at its center, from which would flow evangelism and social ministry. He sent pastors to North America, Australia, New Guinea, Brazil, and the Ukraine.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word. By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Jeremiah 31:7–14

God promises to bring Israel back to its land from the most remote parts of exile. In Zion Israel will rejoice over God's gift of food and livestock. Young women will express their joy in dancing; God will give gladness instead of sorrow.

⁷For thus says the LORD:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
"Save, O LORD, your people,
the remnant of Israel."
⁸See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
⁹With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
¹⁰Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."
¹¹For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
¹²They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.
¹³Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
¹⁴I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the LORD.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 147:12–20

Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. (Ps. 147:12)

¹²Worship the LORD, ^| O Jerusalem;

praise your ^| God, O Zion,

¹³who has strengthened the bars ^| of your gates

and has blessed your chil- ^| dren within you.

¹⁴God has established peace ^| on your borders

and satisfies you with the ^| finest wheat.

¹⁵God sends out a command ^| to the earth,

a word that runs ^| very swiftly.

¹⁶God gives ^| snow like wool,

scattering ^| frost like ashes.

¹⁷God scatters ^| hail like bread crumbs.

Who can stand a- ^| gainst God's cold?

¹⁸The LORD sends forth the ^| word and melts them;

the wind blows, and the ^| waters flow.

¹⁹God declares the ^| word to Jacob,

statutes and judg- ^| ments to Israel.

²⁰The LORD has not done so to any ^| other nation;

they do not know God's judgments. ^| Hallelujah!

Second Reading

Ephesians 1:3–14

In Jesus, all of God’s plans and purposes have been made know as heaven and earth are united in Christ. Through Jesus, we have been chosen as God’s children and have been promised eternal salvation.

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹²so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

Gospel

John 1:[1–9] 10–18

John begins his gospel with this prologue: a hymn to the Word through whom all things were created. This Word became flesh and brought grace and truth to the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.

REFLECTION:

In the past God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. Now God speaks to us through his son, Jesus, whose divine sonship is clearly stated in this gospel. We are also told in this gospel that the revelation of his divinity was not believed by many, but for those who did receive him and believed in his name, they were born of God. I wonder what it was that made it so believeable? Would I have been able to hear this good news and believe it? Or would I have had the doubts that so many people had? Would l have wanted to just catch a glimpse of God, just so I could be sure? Have you ever read accounts of someone who has "died" on the O.R. table and brought back to life? In the accounts I have read, the person who has died has referred to a blinding light drawing them "up." That light to many of them has been described by them as God--proof positive!

But, then, I'm not sure I want that proof.

Where is my proof? Where do I see the light of Jesus overcome the darkness? I see it in so many places. This past Sunday the youth, a couple of parents and I helped at the Soup Kitchen at Asbury Methodist Church, something we do about 4-5 times a year. Usually I help serve the meals, but on this day I was the greeter. I was happily greeted by men, women and children who were freezing cold as they entered. When I asked them if they had a prayer that they would like to write down, many gave thanks for the meal they were about to receive, thinking of their blessings, rather than their needs. There were some needs, too, but many of those needs were related to relieving the burdens they were on others. After having had their meal, on leaving I would say that I hoped they would find a way to stay warm this week. Some didn't even have mittens (which I tried to provide them through the Dining Center supplies) and as they left they all confidently told me that they would be OK. I could see the light of Jesus in all of them, just as I can see His light shine through our youth who work at the Soup Kitchen. I see His light in many of the prisoners at Attica, and even in the guards, as they work through their struggles.

Sure, "no one has ever seen God." But "it is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known." God has always been there for us and wanted us to know that he was there for us. He has always loved us. Then He sent His son to live among us, to "speak" His love. I guess this is my proof positive.

LET US PRAY:

for the homeless men, women and children

for the agencies that provide for them

for world peace

for the men and women who fight for that peace

for the world leaders who can determine that peace

for all to see the true light in this world

Musings for the first Sunday after Christmas

Sunday, December 26, 2010
First Sunday of Christmas

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
As we celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, our gospel today confronts us with the death of innocent children at the hands of Herod. The birth of Christ does not remove the power of evil from our world, but its light gives us hope as we walk with all the "holy innocents" of past generations and today who have suffered unjustly. In our gathering around word and meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.

Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Stephen was a deacon and the first martyr of the church. He was one of those seven upon whom the apostles laid hands after they had been chosen to serve widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the temple authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

O Lord God, you know that we cannot place our trust in our own powers. As you protected the infant Jesus, so defend us and all the needy from harm and adversity,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Isaiah 63:7–9

God does not delegate divine intervention to a messenger or angel. God's own presence brings salvation. The prophet and all who read these words join in celebrating God's gracious deeds. God trusts that God's people will not act falsely.

⁷I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD,
the praiseworthy acts of the LORD,
because of all that the LORD has done for us,
and the great favor to the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
⁸For he said, "Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely";
and he became their savior
⁹in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
but his presence that saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 148

The splendor of the LORD is over earth and heaven. (Ps. 148:13)

¹Hallelujah! Praise the LORD ^| from the heavens;

praise God ^| in the heights.

²Praise the LORD, ^| all you angels;

sing praise, all you ^| hosts of heaven.

³Praise the LORD, ^| sun and moon;

sing praise, all you ^| shining stars.

⁴Praise the LORD, heav- ^| en of heavens,

and you waters a- ^| bove the heavens.

⁵Let them praise the name ^| of the LORD,

who commanded, and they ^| were created,

⁶who made them stand fast forev- ^| er and ever,

giving them a law that shall not ^| pass away. R

⁷Praise the LORD ^| from the earth,

you sea monsters ^| and all deeps;

⁸fire and hail, ^| snow and fog,

tempestuous wind, do- ^| ing God's will;

⁹mountains ^| and all hills,

fruit trees ^| and all cedars;

¹⁰wild beasts ^| and all cattle,

creeping things and ^| flying birds;

¹¹sovereigns of the earth ^| and all peoples,

princes and all rulers ^| of the world;

¹²young ^| men and maidens,

old and ^| young together. R

¹³Let them praise the name ^| of the LORD,

whose name only is exalted, whose splendor is over ^| earth and heaven.

¹⁴The LORD has raised up strength for the people and praise for all ^| faithful servants,

the children of Israel, a people who are near the LORD. ^| Hallelujah! R

Second Reading

Hebrews 2:10–18

Through Jesus' suffering and death, the trail to eternal salvation has been blazed for us. We do not fear death, because he has conquered the power of death. Thus Christ, our merciful and faithful high priest, has the final say over the destiny of our lives.

¹⁰It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, ¹²saying,
"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."
¹³And again,
"I will put my trust in him."
And again,
"Here am I and the children whom God has given me."
¹⁴Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. ¹⁶For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Gospel

Matthew 2:13–23

Matthew relates the slaughter of babies in Bethlehem as one example of evil in the world. Jesus has been born into this world to manifest God's presence and save his people from their sins.

¹³Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." ¹⁴Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."
¹⁶When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
¹⁸"A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."
¹⁹When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ²⁰Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead. ²¹Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. ²³There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Reflections

I forget from time to time how dreams play such a dramatic part in Joseph’s life and by default, in Jesus and Mary’s life. They seem to be appearing from everywhere at any time without any warning. Not a surprise there, that’s how they normally operate in scripture!

It was an angel that appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary as his wife, that the child she would bear would be the God Son. Now another angel appears and warns him to flee to Egypt until another angel appears telling him it’s safe to return home. They are relentless! And, Joseph is obedient.

Note that the first one sends Joseph into Egypt, the place where the Israelites had been in bondage and set free after the final plague which involved the slaughter of the first born. Now he is being sent back there in order to avoid the murder of his son, Jesus. God sometimes works in strange ways and through strange mediums, doesn’t God?

I mean, really, save the world through a Messiah born in a stable and seen first by shepherds? No place in the inn? Fleeing to Egypt? Angels galore? Calling me to faith? Sending me out to tell the story and share the good news like the shepherds? Come on, how ridiculous is that?

You tell me.

Let Us Pray

For those for whom love is a stranger

The homeless who have no place to rest their heads

All who go hungry again and again and again

Those in need of healing

Open hearts to hear this old, old story anew

Quote

"God came to us because he wanted to join us on the road, to listen to our story, and to help us realize that we are not walking in circles but moving towards the house of peace and joy. This is the great mystery of Christmas that continues to give us comfort and consolation: we are not alone on our journey. The God of love who gave us life sent his only Son to be with us at all times and in all places, so that we never have to feel lost in our struggles but always can trust that he walks with us.

The challenge is to let God be who he wants to be. A part of us clings to our aloneness and does not allow God to touch us where we are most in pain. Often we hide from him precisely those places in ourselves where we feel guilty, ashamed, confused, and lost. Thus we do not give him a chance to be with us where we feel most alone.

Christmas is the renewed invitation not to be afraid and to let him-whose love is greater than our own hearts and minds can comprehend-be our companion"

- Henri Nouwen

Musings for Advent 3

Sunday, December 12, 2010
Third Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Judy Lazenby

Introduction
A note of joyful expectation marks today's worship. Isaiah announces that the desert shall rejoice and blossom. Jesus points to signs of God's reign: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear. We wait with patience for the coming of the Lord, even as we rejoice at his presence among us this day: in word and holy supper, in church and in our homes, in silent reflection and in works of justice and love. We pray that God would open our eyes and ears to the wonders of Christ's advent among us.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading	Isaiah 35:1–10

The prophet describes the return from the Babylonian captivity as a joyous procession to Zion. God's coming reign will bring a renewal of creation in which health and wholeness will be restored. There is no need for fear, for God is coming to save.

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus ²it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the LORD,
the majesty of our God.
³Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
"Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you."
⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
⁶then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
⁷the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
⁸A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God's people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
⁹No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 146:5–10

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down. (Ps. 146:8)

⁵Happy are they who have the God of Jacob ^| for their help,

whose hope is in the ^| LORD their God;

⁶who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that ^| is in them;

who keeps promis- ^| es forever;

⁷who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to ^| those who hunger.

The LORD sets the ^| captive free.

⁸The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; the LORD lifts up those who ^| are bowed down;

the LORD ^| loves the righteous.

⁹The LORD cares ^| for the stranger;

the LORD sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way ^| of the wicked.

¹⁰The LORD shall ^| reign forever,

your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. ^| Hallelujah!

Second Reading

James 5:7–10

In anticipation of the Lord's coming, Christians are called upon to cultivate patience rather than discontent.

⁷Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. ⁹Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! ¹⁰As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 11:2–11

John the Baptist expects the Messiah to bring God's judgment upon the earth. From a prison cell, he wonders whether Jesus is the one who will do this.

²When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples ³and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" ⁴Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. ⁶And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
⁷As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. ⁹What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written,
'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.'
¹¹Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Reflections

“Go and tell John what you see and hear….” This is the opening line from an anthem the choir has song several times over the years in response to this Gospel. It’s a very lively piece and one we often had fun singing. I’m sure I will always think of it when I hear this lesson. Our actions are always a witness to our true personalities. People will know us by what we do and say, just as Jesus wanted John the Baptist to know him by what he did and said. Let this Christmas season fill you with the Holy Spirit so that those who see and hear what we do will know Christ.

Let us pray for

Safety from the cold for the homeless

Safe travel in the weeks ahead

Safety for children in all schools

Safe return to home for members of the armed forces

Quote

Preach the gospel everyday; if necessary, use words. Francis of Assisi

Musings for Advent 2

Sunday, December 5, 2010
Second Sunday of Advent

Year A

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the light of Christ's coming. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more hurt or destruction. From the Lord's table we are sent in the spirit of John the Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Isaiah 11:1–10

In today's reading the prophet describes the ideal ruler who will come in the future as a green shoot springing from a dead stump (David's royal line) of Jesse (David's father). Gifted by the Spirit, this messiah will seek justice for the poor, and the reign of this monarch will be experienced as paradise regained.

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
²The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
³His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
⁶The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
⁷The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
⁸The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
⁹They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
¹⁰On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19

May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)

¹Give the king your jus- ^| tice, O God,

and your righteousness to ^| the king's son;

²that he may rule your ^| people righteously

and the ^| poor with justice;

³that the mountains may bring prosperity ^| to the people,

and the ^| hills, in righteousness.

⁴Let him defend the needy a- ^| mong the people,

rescue the poor, and crush ^| the oppressor.

⁵May he live as long as the sun and ^| moon endure,

from one generation ^| to another.

⁶Let him come down like rain upon ^| the mown field,

like showers that wa- ^| ter the earth.

⁷In his time may the ^| righteous flourish;

and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall ^| be no more.

¹⁸Blessed are you, LORD God, the ^| God of Israel;

you alone do ^| wondrous deeds!

¹⁹And blessed be your glorious ^| name forever,

and may all the earth be filled with your glory. A- ^| men. Amen.

Second Reading

Romans 15:4–13

God's promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God's blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God's family.

⁴For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. ⁵May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, ⁶so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name";
¹⁰and again he says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";
¹¹and again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him";
¹²and again Isaiah says,
"The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope."
¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel

Matthew 3:1–12

Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ²"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." ³This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.'"
⁴Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, ⁶and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
⁷But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
¹¹I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹²His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Reflection

The shoot which shall come from the stump of Jesse has held a special place in my heart since seminary days. You see, it was the logo for Seminex, a seminary formed from a former seminary; one that appeared to have died but in fact was brought back to life through nurture and commitment. I still have a button on my dresser at home from those early days.

The image speaks of life coming from what appears to be death. It also suggests that when pruning takes place at times new life is allowed to flourish and grow beyond our imaginings. I think of trees and bushes that I have trimmed around the house, the lower leaves growing on the new tomato plant removed to allow more life to rise toward the top and corrections made in life that foster growth and development.

All are signs of hope and promise and new life, central to this Advent season. It is a season that calls for introspection and insight as to how we live and where our lives are taking us. It calls on us to recall what is truly needed, not wanted, in these days and reminds us that even in the midst of the darkness of this world there is light and hope and the promise of peace which will one day come.

Where does pruning need to take place in your life? Where is new growth occurring? What is truly essential in the run up to the birth of the Messiah? Advent and its opportunity for increasing light and hope offer us the opportunity to ask these questions. May your journey be blessed with answers and with peace.

Let Us Pray

For times of quiet so that we might hear God’s voice speaking to us

That enemies might find common ground to work toward peace

For caregivers, that they may find times of respite and hope

For those undergoing surgery and recovery, that they will discover healing

To be peacemakers in our own lives and time

Quote

"During Advent opportunities for works of charity abound calling out for Christians from every side: a sack of food for a needy family, money dropped in a Salvation Army kettle, a donation to an Indian school, a toy for ‘Toys-for-Tots,’ etc. Unfortunately, these works of charity so easily can assuage the Christian conscience, while doing nothing to being about a solution to the root causes of the problem.

"Works of justice, on he other hand, follow the road less traveled of Advent’s hope to pursue solutions for difficult problems. Hope comes through works of justice rather than simply performing works of charity."

Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR