The theme of hope, explicitly and implicitly, seems to unite the readings this coming week The Second Sunday in Advent. In Old Testament lesson (Isaiah 11:1-11) we hope for the righteous government and world peace. In the Epistle (Romans 15:4-13) hope comes from the scriptures and the Spirit. John the Baptist in the gospel (Matthew 3:1-12) 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 On Jordan’s bank
the Baptist’s Cry (LSB #344) 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.
—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!”
Collect for Psalm 105: God our Father, through the death and resurrection of your Son you have fulfilled the promise to Abraham, Joseph, and Moses to redeem the world from slavery and to lead us into the Promised Land. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and praise you forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord.[1] -28 November 2022
Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[1] Collect for Psalm 105, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book for and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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