Advent 2 Musings

Sunday, December 9, 2012
Second Sunday of Advent
Midweek Musings

Reflection by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
Forerunners and messengers advance the advent of our God. While John the Baptizer's voice in the wilderness may be the principal focus of the day, Malachi's prophesy could as easily herald the coming Lord Jesus as forerunner of the Lord of hosts. Finally all the baptized are called to participate in the sharing of the gospel. In so doing we prepare the way for the coming of the Lord and assist all flesh in capturing a vision of the "salvation of God.".

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son.
By his coming give to all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

First Reading

Malachi 3:1–4

The Lord announces a covenant with Israel. A messenger like Malachi (his name means "my messenger") shall prepare the way for the coming of the Lord by purifying and refining God's people, as silver and gold are refined.

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the LORD whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. ²But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; ³he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. ⁴Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

Psalm (ELW)

Luke 1:68–79

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us. (Luke 1:78)

⁶⁸Blessed are you, Lord, the ^| God of Israel,

     you have come to your people and ^| set them free.

⁶⁹You have raised up for us a ^| mighty Savior,

     born of the house of your ^| servant David.   R

⁷⁰Through your holy prophets,

you promised of old to save us ^| from our enemies,

     ⁷¹from the hands of ^| all who hate us,

⁷²to show mercy ^| to our forebears,

     and to remember your ^| holy covenant.

⁷³This was the oath you swore to our ^| father Abraham:

     ⁷⁴to set us free from the hands of our ^| enemies,

free to worship you ^| without fear,

     ⁷⁵holy and righteous before you, all the days ^| of our life.   R

⁷⁶And you, child, shall be called the prophet of ^| the Most High,

     for you will go before the Lord to pre- ^| pare the way,

⁷⁷to give God's people knowledge ^| of salvation

     by the forgiveness ^| of their sins.

⁷⁸In the tender compassion ^| of our God

     the dawn from on high shall ^| break upon us,

⁷⁹to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shad- ^| ow of death,

     and to guide our feet into the ^| way of peace.   R

Second Reading

Philippians 1:3–11

The apostle Paul was the pastor of many new churches. He writes in this letter about his joy to be in partnership with the Christians of Philippi. Listen to how tender-hearted Paul, sometimes a stern preacher, is with his friends as he encourages them to grow in love and knowledge.

³I thank my God every time I remember you, ⁴constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, ⁵because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. ⁹And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight ¹⁰to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, ¹¹having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Gospel

Luke 3:1–6

John the Baptist is a herald of the saving Lord, whose way is prepared by "repentance for the forgiveness of sins." As we hear the careful record of human leaders, we sense the spectrum of political and religious authority that will be challenged by this coming Lord.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, ⁴as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
⁵Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
⁶and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

                                                                             

Musings:

     In Luke, John the Baptist tells us of the misery and oppression that existed in the times before Christ's birth.  There was death, destruction, oppression and unbelievable brutality.  Sound familiar?  Today there is horrendous brutality and mass killing in the Middle East; there is increasing poverty, as well as oppression, all over the world and in our own backyards.  In these times of strife, the "crooked made straight", the "mountain and hill made low", and "the rough ways made smooth" seem to be so out of reach, just as they did in John the Baptizer's time.  He travelled the Roman Empire on foot (no small accomplishment) spreading the message of repentance and forgiveness, warning the people to shape up, as God's coming, would bring His judgements, as well as His mercy.      

     He had a message of hope, something that drew the people to him.  They were ready to receive John's message to reform their ways--to receive God's salvation.  John the Baptizer paved the way for Christ's coming.

     As much as our world and local communities are in the same troubling times that existed in the Roman Empire, we have so much to hope for--filled valleys, low mountains, straight paths..........  We are blessed.  Yes, we experience troubling times, but John says that we "shall see the salvation of God."  That swaddled baby in the manger is our salvation.  We just need to patiently wait for Him and hold Him in our hearts during these difficult times.

Let us Pray for:

·         an end to the bombing of the people in Egypt                                                                                                                          

·         peace on our streets

·         shelter and food for our homeless

·         quiet waiting for our Savior

Advent 1

Sunday, December 2, 2012
First Sunday of Advent

Midweek Musings

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
[Joshua Brown] I’ve had a busy week, so instead of my thoughts as we begin a new church year I want to share the following column by the Reverend John Buchanan, editor of The Christian Century. His words spoke to me and I hope they provide you some meaningful insight as this season of waiting begins. – JHB

Awaiting God’s reign

Nov 28, 2012 by John M. Buchanan

The large Christmas tree in Macy’s department store in downtown Chicago (formerly Marshall Field’s) was lighted in a festive public ceremony on November 2, two days after Halloween and almost eight weeks before Christmas. The event made me think of an observation about Americans that Henri Nouwen made after he’d lived and taught in the United States for decades. We are not very good at waiting, Nouwen noted. In fact, most people consider waiting to be a huge waste of time. The culture says don’t just sit there—do something!

Patience is not one of our stronger characteristics. A flight delay at the airport, an unanticipated traffic jam on the freeway or a doctor’s appointment that leaves us too long in the waiting room can become an emotional and physical crisis, bringing with it stress, a racing heart and elevated blood pressure.

Our culture celebrates action, results and instant gratification. Relentless and highly sophisticated advertising convinces us that we deserve to have whatever we want now. As a result, Nouwen observed, waiting is an awful desert between where we are and where we want to be.

Yet waiting is a major biblical theme. “I wait for the Lord all day long,” the psalmist wrote. Then there’s the promise of Isaiah 40: “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

The interesting thing about biblical waiting is that it almost always happens in situations that are bleak. People wait while they are in captivity, prisoners in a foreign land. Defeated, expelled from their homes and their beloved city, their beautiful temple in ruins, they are described by the prophet as “sitting in deep darkness.” We sing about those people and about ourselves in gorgeous Advent hymns: “O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile.”

Near the end of his life Jesus began to prepare his disciples for something that was still to come. He told his followers to wait hopefully and actively anticipate the future. “Watch. Stand up. Stay awake. Be alert.” Christians trust that something is coming that is not yet fully here: redemption, fulfillment, wholeness, peace and the world as God intends it. The reign of God will be characterized by peace among nations and justice for all people—particularly for oppressed people. In this world, old and young will be secure and safe, little ones will not be shot in random street violence, people will not suffer for lack of access to adequate health care, and weapons will be melted down and recast into farm implements.

That’s why we do some serious waiting during Advent. Yes, Advent waiting is patient and unhurried, to be sure. But it is also living into the promised future. Advent waiting is gently but steadily working for the reign of God here and now. It is waiting for the birth of a child, and working for the future that that child promised and embodied and taught and lived.