Midweek Musings for the Name Day of Jesus

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Mid Week Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen
Name of Jesus

INTRODUCTION
From the beginning, by virtue of our baptism, we are called Christian. We were "Christ-ened" at the font. Bearing his name, we share the same Father and are invited to address him intimately: Abba! Jesus bears our sins in humble obedience to the will of the Father. Today we pray that the mind of Christ, whose name we bear, would be our own. It is a good way to begin, again, another year.

Name of Jesus
By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this event in Jesus' life. The keeping of the covenant as well as Jesus' name are signs of God's salvation given to us through him.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Eternal Father, you gave your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation. Plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Numbers 6:22–27

God commanded Aaron to say these words, known as the Aaronic benediction, in blessing the people of Israel. We too are marked with God’s name and God’s blessing as we are sent from our assemblies into the world.

²²The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ²³Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
²⁴The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
²⁶the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
²⁷So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 8

How majestic is your name in all the earth! (Ps. 8:1)

¹O ^| LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth!—²you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of in- ^| fants and children; you have set up a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe ^| and avenger.

³When I consider your heavens, the work ^| of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set ^| in their courses,

⁴what are mere mortals that you should be mind- ^| ful of them, human beings that you should ^| care for them? R

⁵Yet you have made them little less ^| than divine; with glory and hon- ^| or you crown them.

⁶You have made them rule over the works ^| of your hands; you have put all things un- ^| der their feet:

⁷all ^| flocks and cattle, even the wild beasts ^| of the field,

⁸the birds of the air, the fish ^| of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths ^| of the sea.

⁹O ^| LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in ^| all the earth! R

Second Reading

Galatians 4:4–7

Paul proclaims the ultimate significance of the nativity: Jesus was born the Son of God so that, because of him, we all may be God's children.

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel

Luke 2:15–21

Eight days after his birth, Jesus is circumcised according to Jewish law and given the name announced by the angel before his conception.

¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
²¹After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection

I've always been interested in and perhaps mystified by angels. There are many yarns spun about them, outside the Bible and even outside of the Hallmark Channel. While the total angel count is exceedingly numerous, in the Bible only two are significant enough to mention by name, Michael and Gabriel. Angels are messengers used by God. And although they are spirits, power is given them to become visible taking on the semblance of a human form. This is what happens in Luke 1, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary with a message from God. He tells her she will give birth to a son and will name him Jesus. God's message to Mary was not delivered to her in a dream; it was a 1-on-1 encounter. Did Mary know the significance of her encounter with the angel Gabriel? I think she did because in our Gospel reading for this week, Jesus is born and Mary names the infant Jesus. Mary was obedient to God's message. I believe that God sends messages to us today, but most are not as unmistakable as a 1-on-1 meeting with an angel. Regardless, he expects our obedience.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom and the patience to understand your scriptures. Help us to listen for your voice and obey. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Christmas

Sunday, December 25, 2011
Nativity of Our Lord (II), Christmas Day

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ann Patterson

INTRODUCTION
On this Christmas morning the people of God gather to celebrate the birth of the Word made flesh, Christ our Lord. Luke recounts the familiar story of shepherds and angels; John’s gospel tells of the Word that dwells among us, full of grace and truth. The meaning of Christmas is made clear: the light shines in the darkness. It is in the liturgy that we encounter the Word made flesh—in the people of God gathered together as the body of Christ, and in the meal around the holy table. We go forth to be bearers of light as we proclaim this good news to all the ends of the earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brightened weary hearts with peace. Call us out of darkness, and empower us to proclaim the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 62:6–12

The prophet invites the people to give God no rest until God reestablishes Jerusalem. In turn, they will receive names full of promise: Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, a City Not Forsaken.

⁶Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have posted sentinels;
all day and all night
they shall never be silent.
You who remind the LORD,
take no rest,
⁷and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it renowned throughout the earth.
⁸The LORD has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink the wine
for which you have labored;
⁹but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the LORD,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in my holy courts.
¹⁰Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway,
clear it of stones,
lift up an ensign over the peoples.
¹¹The LORD has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
"See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him."
¹²They shall be called, "The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the LORD";
and you shall be called, "Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken."

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 97

Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the honest of heart. (Ps. 97:11)

¹The LORD reigns; let the ^| earth rejoice;

let the multitude of the ^| isles be glad.

²Clouds and darkness sur- ^| round the LORD,

righteousness and justice are the foundations ^| of God's throne.

³Fire goes be- ^| fore the LORD,

burning up enemies on ^| every side.

⁴Lightnings light ^| up the world;

the earth ^| sees and trembles.

⁵The mountains ^| melt like wax

before the Lord of ^| all the earth.

⁶The heavens declare your righteous- ^| ness, O LORD,

and all the peoples ^| see your glory. R

⁷Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight ^| in false gods!

Bow down before the LORD, ^| all you gods.

⁸Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Ju- ^| dah rejoice,

because of your judg- ^| ments, O LORD.

⁹For you are the LORD, most high over ^| all the earth;

you are exalted far a- ^| bove all gods.

¹⁰You who love the ^| LORD, hate evil!

God guards the lives of the saints and rescues them

from the hand ^| of the wicked. R

¹¹Light dawns ^| for the righteous,

and joy for the hon- ^| est of heart.

¹²Rejoice in the ^| LORD, you righteous,

and give thanks to God's ^| holy name. R

SECOND READING

Titus 3:4–7

God saves us not because of what we do. Rather, God is a God of mercy and salvation who graciously cleanses us in baptism and renews our lives through the Holy Spirit.

⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. ⁶This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

GOSPEL

Luke 2:[1–7] 8–20

The world’s deep night is shattered by the light of God’s new day. The glory of God is revealed to poor shepherds, who share the good news with others.

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection

This weekend Christmas will be here. The day for which we’ve been waiting and preparing is only hours away. On that first Christmas, God became a child and gave us our beginning, a starting point for the Kingdom. On that miraculous night, a savior was born, a savior who would rescue and re-create the whole world.

Christmas is in many ways the beginning, yet it is also an event which through us shines in the present. If Christ is incarnate for us today, our Lord must daily come among us bringing renewal and reconciliation. Our worship and devotions must have the power to change our hearts so that we are witnesses to God’s love.

According to Isaiah, the Kingdom is also about the future. Isaiah admonishes us to take no rest, and give God no rest until Jerusalem is established. We take comfort in knowing that Jesus will one day return to complete his rule. In that regard, God desires our persistent prayers and sincere efforts to remake the world and bring about God’s sovereign rule. There can be no rest until God’s Kingdom is “on earth as it is in heaven.”

. . . the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you (Luke 17:20-21)

QUOTE

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. Agnes M Pharo

Let us Pray

Let us be thankful for a Kingdom which cannot be shaken and pray

that the homeless find shelter

that the work of our hands reflects the meaning of the Gospel

that Christ be reborn in our hearts

Advent 4

Sunday, December 18, 2011
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Brother Christopher

INTRODUCTION
God keeps the promise made to David, to give him an everlasting throne. The angel tells Mary that God will give David's throne to her son Jesus. She is perplexed by Gabriel's greeting and by the news of her coming pregnancy, but she is able still to say, "Count me in." We who know that Jesus is called king only as he is executed still find it a mystery hard to fathom, but with Mary today we hear the news of what God is up to and say, "Count us in."

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16

Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David's house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord's anointed.

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." ³Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."
⁴But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

PSALM (ELW)

Luke 1:46b–55

You, Lord, have lifted up the lowly. (Luke 1:52)

^46bMy soul proclaims the greatness ^| of the Lord,

⁴⁷my spirit rejoices in ^| God my Savior,

⁴⁸for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your ^| lowly servant.

From this day all generations will ^| call me blessed;

⁴⁹you, the Almighty, have done great ^| things for me,

and holy ^| is your name.

⁵⁰You have mercy on ^| those who fear you,

from generation to ^| generation. R

⁵¹You have shown strength ^| with your arm;

and scattered the proud in ^| their conceit,

⁵²casting down the mighty ^| from their thrones

and lifting ^| up the lowly.

⁵³You have filled the hungry ^| with good things,

and sent the rich ^| away empty.

⁵⁴You have come to the aid of your ^| servant Israel,

to remember the prom- ^| ise of mercy,

⁵⁵the promise made ^| to our forebears,

to Abraham and his chil- ^| dren forever. R

SECOND READING

Romans 16:25–27

Paul closes his letter to the Romans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

²⁵Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — ²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

GOSPEL

Luke 1:26–38

In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from littleknown places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." ³⁴Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" ³⁵The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God." ³⁸Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Behold a great mystery: Mary is the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son and the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Christmas is one of the too few times we look at and consider the life and faith of Mary, mother of Our Lord.

Yet our Lutheran tradition, unlike some of the more radical Protestant traditions, has from the very beginning honored Mary for her unique role

in salvation history.

Martin Luther had a deep and tender devotion to Mary. Br. Martin said, “The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart.” (Sermon, September 1, 1522).

“[She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ . . . She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures.” (Sermon, Christmas, 1531).

“No woman is like you. You are more than Eve or Sarah, blessed above all nobility, wisdom, and sanctity.” (Sermon, Feast of the Visitation, 1537).

“One should honor Mary as she herself wished and as she expressed it in the Magnificat. She praised God for his deeds. How then can we praise her? The true honor of Mary is the honor of God, the praise of God's grace . . . Mary is nothing for the sake of herself, but for the sake of Christ . . . Mary does not wish that we come to her, but through her to God.” (Explanation of the Magnificat, 1521).

Mary was the first Christian and is the most honored woman in all of Christendom. Her “yes” to the angel Gabriel changed human history forever.

God is still looking for souls like Mary’s who will say yes in word and deed. God is still calling men and women to be “Christ bearers” in and for the world.

Mary’s message is always the same, timeless and perennial. Her words from the wedding at Cana still call to us, “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” (John 2:5)

This Christmas may you be inspired by Mary’s faith, radical trust, humility and pondering spirit.

Intercessions

For all women who serve in the church and in society.

For all mothers and caregivers.

For all deaconesses and members of religious orders.

For all women suffering oppression and degradation.

For mothers who have lost children to death or miscarriage.

For women who are victims of sex trafficking.

For a rediscovery and renewed awareness of women saints, mystics and martyrs.

For women who have made the selfless choice of adoption.

For all those who carry the holy child Jesus in the cradle of their heart.

Quote

“Just as Jesus was born in a humble stable, so Christ today is only born in humble hearts.”

Musings for Advent 3

Sunday, December 11, 2011
Third Sunday of Advent

Musings by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
"Rejoice always," begins the reading from First Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. "All God's children got a robe," go the words of the spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes that make us feel happy just to put on. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God's party.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; 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 61:1–4, 8–11

Though the people had returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon, they continued to face hardship and oppression. In the language of the jubilee year described in Leviticus 25, the prophet, moved by the spirit of the Lord, announces deliverance for those who are oppressed and comfort for those who mourn.

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
²to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
³to provide for those who mourn in Zion —
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
⁸For I the LORD love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 126

The LORD has done great things for us. (Ps. 126:3)

¹When the LORD restored the for- ^| tunes of Zion,

then were we like ^| those who dream.

²Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with ^| shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great ^| things for them."

³The LORD has done great ^| things for us,

and we are ^| glad indeed.

⁴Restore our for- ^| tunes, O LORD,

like the watercourses ^| of the Negeb. R

⁵Those who ^| sowed with tears

will reap with ^| songs of joy.

⁶Those who go out weeping, carry- ^| ing the seed,

will come again with joy, shoulder- ^| ing their sheaves. R

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 5:16–24

Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians by encouraging them to live lives of continual joy, prayer, and thanksgiving. The closing blessing is grounded in the hope of Christ's coming.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²²abstain from every form of evil.
²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

GOSPEL

John 1:6–8, 19–28

John's gospel describes Jesus as the "light of the world." John the Baptist is presented as a witness to Jesus, one who directs attention away from himself to Christ, the true light.

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.¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." ²¹And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." ²²Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³He said,
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'"
as the prophet Isaiah said.
²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" ²⁶John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

REFLECTION:

In this gospel, John's purpose is to be a witness to Jesus, someone who points to and directs people to Him. When I thought about his role in this gospel, I thought of our youth out in the community working at the Soup Kitchen, ringing the bell at the Salvation Army's red kettle, serving and cleaning up at our Labors of Love lunch, wheeling the residents at St. John's Home to their church service, working on recycling projects, etc. They are out there serving those who need their help. They are out in our community in these various venues "as witnesses to Jesus." They are out there helping those in need, as Jesus instructs us to do--simply witnessing to Jesus.

PRAYERS:

Let us give thanks for:

Our youth in the community as a light to Jesus

Our vibrant Youth and Family Ministry

Our Sunday School teachers who teach our youth

God's unwavering love for us

Our freedom to love God

QUOTE:

"Nobody is so poor that he/she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he/she has nothing to receive" Pope John-Paul II

Musings for Advent 2

Sunday, December 4, 2011
Second Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Joshua Brown

INTRODUCTION
John called people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing would get in the way of the Lord's coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, "See, your God is coming!" We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.

John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749
A monk in an abbey near Jerusalem, John wrote many hymns as well as theological works. One of his works, The Fount of Wisdom, remained influential for centuries.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (ELW)

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming strengthen us to serve you with purified lives; 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 40:1–11

In grand, flowing, poetic lines, the prophet announces that the exile of God's people in Babylon is over. The Lord will deliver Israel and will care for her as a shepherd cares for his sheep. This word can be trusted, because the only enduring reality in life is the word of the Lord.

Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
³A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
⁵Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
⁶A voice says, "Cry out!"
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
⁷The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
⁹Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
¹⁰See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

PSALM (ELW)

Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13

Righteousness shall prepare a pathway for God. (Ps. 85:13)

¹You have been gracious to your ^| land, O LORD;

you have restored the good for- ^| tune of Jacob.

²You have forgiven the iniquity ^| of your people

and blotted out ^| all their sins.

⁸I will listen to what the LORD ^| God is saying;

for you speak peace to your faithful people

and to those who turn their ^| hearts to you.

⁹Truly, your salvation is very near to ^| those who fear you,

that your glory may dwell ^| in our land. R

¹⁰Steadfast love and faithfulness have ^| met together;

righteousness and peace have ^| kissed each other.

¹¹Faithfulness shall spring up ^| from the earth,

and righteousness shall look ^| down from heaven.

¹²The LORD will indeed ^| grant prosperity,

and our land will ^| yield its increase.

¹³Righteousness shall go be- ^| fore the LORD

and shall prepare for ^| God a pathway. R

SECOND READING

2 Peter 3:8–15a

This short letter deals with pressing concerns regarding the final advent of Jesus, especially concerns that could arise over its apparent delay. The author of the letter calls on Christians to anticipate the promised coming of the Lord through conduct dedicated to God.

⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
¹¹Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? ¹³But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
¹⁴Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; ¹⁵and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

GOSPEL

Mark 1:1–8

The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus' birth but with the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
²As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
³the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,'"
⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

REFLECTION

Reflecting on these lessons for the second Sunday of Advent it occurred to me how much of life we spent waiting. We wait on hold for the next representative, we queue at the store to purchase Black Friday bargains, and we sit impatiently in traffic congestion waiting for the cars in front of us to start moving. Additionally the act of waiting can become a source of anxiety. Waiting for a baby to come but not knowing when, waiting for test results after the latest treatment for a serious ailment, waiting to for a job offer in a difficult economy, waiting for the safe return of a deployed soldier or any number of similar scenarios can trigger the nervousness and fear that accompanies waiting.

As we wait during this Advent season, God offers up a method to ease our waiting anxiety. Prepare says the prophet Isaiah! Prepare declares John the Baptist! If you might have a baby n the next three days, PREPARE, with your bags packed and arrangements for the care your children or pets. If you head to the mall on the day after Thanksgiving, PREPARE, knowing that you will wait in line, that traffic will move slowly and that the trip will require extra time. If you wait for Christ’s coming with new heavens and a new earth, PREPARE! While you wait for these things, strive to be found by Christ at peace with a straight path to your heart. A road cleared of all obstacles that keep us from embracing the love of Christ.

At the beginning of last week each time I sat down to dinner I heard a voice in my head recite a line from Exodus. “This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand” the voice said. My wife had reached the point in pregnancy when the baby could arrive at moment. As I awaited the arrival of our son Elijah I took comfort knowing we had the bags packed and all the arrangements in place. By my preparations I knew that I had my “loins girded,” “my sandals on” and “my staff in hand” so I could remain at peace while we waited.

This Advent listen to what the Lord God is saying; for God speaks peace to God’s faithful people.

Prepare the way of the Lord for the Lord of peace, the Lord of comfort and the Lord of love comes!

Prayers

· For all who wait in expectation, anxiety, or apprehension

· For our brother and sisters who serve in the military

· For strength and perseverance among all those who strive for economic justice

· For all new mothers, new fathers and new siblings

· For those who suffer the pain of mental illness

QUOTE

For it is we who must pray for our daily bread, and if He grants it to us, it is only through our labor, our skill and preparation. -Paracelsus

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men. - George Eliot

I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance - waiting for the bathroom.
- Bob Hope