The Day of the Lord
Advent
begins a new church year and is designed to prepare us for Christ’s coming both
personally and cosmically. Advent 1 deals with Jesus’ Second Coming. It is the
one Sunday of the year that is totally given to the doctrine, although the
Epistles lesson in Advent urges us to patiently wait for the Lord’s return. The
Prayer of the Day cries for the Lord to come. The Hymn of the Day calls for us
to prepare for Christ to enter our lives. The Gospel lesson emphasizes the need
of constant preparedness for Christ’s return because the time of his coming is
unknown. The Epistle lesson urges us to put on Christ as preparation for his
coming which Paul considers to be soon. When God comes to us, according to the
Old Testament lesson, all nations will have their differences settled and peace
will return.
—Psalm118:25-28;
antiphon, Zechariah 9:9b —In the Introit for Sunday, we pray Behold
you king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation. Fulfilled
prophecy is one feature which makes Christianity so appealing. Throughout the
season of Advent we will find prophecy after prophecy which was fulfilled in
Jesus Christ. Here is one among so many that the Lord as king would come to His
people. During this busy and important season we prepare for Christ’s return in
glory and we make ready our hearts and minds to celebrate His birth. If we
prepared for the former we will be in the right frame of mind for the latter.
This
week finds us preparing both for Thanksgiving as well as the start of the
Advent season. There is much for us to plan, organize and get ready for the
celebration which will soon commence. In the midst of all of your arranging
take time to ponder the importance of this season. Christ has come to set us
free from the bondage of sin, while at the same time He continues to provide
for all that we need to support this body and life. Your life is ordered by Him
who loves you. He provides for all you would ever desire. Fare thee well child
of God. Fare thee well!
Collect for Psalm 118: Lord God, your Son, rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory upon your Church. that it may be seem as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring our from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. [2]
[1] Advent copyright © WELS Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church
Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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