Time
in the Word
November
28 – December 3, 2016
Preparation for Advent 2
The Day of the Lord
The theme of hope, explicitly and
implicitly, seems to unite the readings this coming week. In Old Testament
lesson we hope for the righteous government and world peace. In the Epistle
hope comes from the scriptures and the Spirit. John the Baptist in the gospel
gives us hope through Christ’s baptism of the Spirit. If we have this hope, we
are in need of preparation. Today’s gospel calls for repentance as preparation.
The Prayer of the Day asks God “to prepare the way for your only Son.” The Hymn
refers to John’s ministry calling for moral preparation, through repentance. On
Advent 1 we considered the Second Coming. On Advent 2 we deal with Christ’s
coming anew this Christmas by rebirth into our personal lives. If this is to be
a real experience, preparation by repentance is necessary. In recent years blue
has been introduced as the liturgical color for Advent because it is the color
of hope.
Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent: Stir
up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by
His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same
Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming, give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world.
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share His wisdom and become one with Him when He comes in glory, for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen
Lord, free us from our sins and make us whole. Hear our prayer, and prepare us to celebrate the incarnation of Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen
Collect for Psalm 72: Almighty God, You gave the kingdom of justice and peace to David and his descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ. Extend this kingdom to every nation, so that through Your Son the poor may receive justice, the destitute relief, and the people of the earth peace in the name of Him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Monday, 28 November 2016—Psalm
105:4-8; antiphon, Isaiah 40:3b —In the Introit for Sunday, we
pray In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in
the desert a highway for our God. Yet another prophecy is fulfilled! John
the Baptist becomes that agent who will prepare the way for Christ to enter and
begin His earthly ministry. The words of the Baptist are still needed for
today’s ears “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand!”
Tuesday, 29 November 2016—Psalm
72:1-7 — Key verse “Give the king your justice, O God, and your
righteousness to the king’s Son” (v. 1). Psalm 72 is a prayer for the king.
This last psalm of book 2 is a fitting one for king Solomon’s reign. [See the
title] Israel’s golden age of peace, prosperity and power come under the rule
of King Solomon. But it also looks beyond it to the perfect idea; an endless
reign (5) over the entire world (8, 11) and the rule of God-like justice and
righteousness (7, 12-14) a time of unequalled fruitfulness (16). V.8 “The
River” is the Euphrates. V.10 “Tarshish, Sheba”, means the remotest
outpost of the empire. Sheba may be a region of Arabia. Tarshish is probably
Tarshish in Spain. V. 16 “Like Lebanon” For a small country Lebanon
produced an amazing abundance and variety of fruit and vegetables.
Wednesday, 30 November 2016—Isaiah
11:1-11— Can anything come out of a “stump”? Can life come out of death?
The Messiah is rooted in the past, which is apparently as dead as a stump. Yet,
out of death comes the life of Christ as the son of Jesse, the son of David.
Our roots are vital. We go back to the life that comes out of our dead
ancestors. Eternal life came out of Jesus’ grave. The butterfly comes out of a
cocoon. Hope comes out of despair.
Thursday, 01 December 2016—Romans 15:4-13— The “scripture” in Paul’s day was the Old Testament. How can the Old Testament provide hope to Christians? Hope deals with the future and the Old Testament contains thousands of promises by God for the future. The greatest of these promises is the coming of the Messiah. In Jesus He has come. Hope has been realized. Yet, He is coming again for the consummation of history. We hope for His return.
Friday, 02 December 2016—Matthew
3:1-12 — We are to prepare a highway for God to come to us. Christmas
is a receiving time of life when God comes to us in Christ. The world thinks of
Christmas as a giving time and so we go through a mad rush to buy gifts. If
Christ is to come to us this Christmas, we need to prepare to properly receive
him. Thus, Advent is a preparatory season of repentance as the only way to be
receptive.
A tree with bad fruit is to be
burned, as millions of orange trees diseased with canker were destroyed in
Florida. At the end of time, the chaff is to be burned with “unquenchable fire.”
John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and with
“fire.” Fire symbolizes judgment. Christ comes as both Savior and Judge. The
latter we like to forget. Evil is to be exterminated. In 2 Peter we are told
that “the elements will be dissolved with fire.”
Saturday, 03 December 2016—Isaiah
40:3; Mathew 3:1-6- Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is On Jordan’s bank
the Baptist’s Cry. (LSB #344). This great Advent hymn is in harmony with
the Gospel lesson. When the Baptist started preaching a message of repentance
his words often were not heeded. As you sing this great hymn let the words
speak to you. May the Lord prepare you to receive Christ joyfully this
Advent/Christmas season and expect to see Him soon as we anticipate His return
in glory.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
No comments:
Post a Comment