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The Second Sunday of Advent

By December 6, 2015No Comments
SCRIPTURE: Passage taken from Luke 3:1-6 

 “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every 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; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

 

REFLECTION by Cindy Long

On this second Sunday of Advent we hear of the calling of John the Baptist.  It’s a calling that was a long time coming.  Cousin of Jesus,  we first met him when he leapt with joy in his mother’s womb as Mary, pregnant with Jesus, approached.  Then at his 8 day old naming in the temple John’s future was foretold. He would be the prophet of the most high—preparing the way, proclaiming repentance, forgiveness and salvation-proclaiming that a new dawn from on high would soon be breaking in upon all; and through God’s mercy, light would be given to those who sit in darkness and all would be guided in the way of peace.

  And so in today’s reading he comes bursting out of the wilderness, proclaiming repentance and telling people to get baptized, start fresh and turn to God!  The prophet Isaiah’s ancient words ring out with fresh new meaning:  “Every 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; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

 John the Baptist’s message still rings every bit as clear and true today as it did 2000 years ago. His whole life was about proclaiming the one who would come in the name of the Lord- Jesus, who would bring mercy, justice, love, peace, and salvation to the world. 

  That proclaiming is what our whole life is to be about too. 

  Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus, is a season to take some quiet time every day to think and pray about how Jesus makes a difference in our lives and in our world, and to think about the ways we are being called, just as John the Baptist was, to share that amazing difference with others.  God comes to us in Jesus to show us the way, to be the light in the darkness.  May God show each of us the way to joyfully proclaim this Good News.                                      

And then…..Let us go forth in the name of Christ! 

PRAYER

God of justice, help us live the example of Jesus when we meet those in life who are lowly, crooked, and rough.  Help us see that we too are lowly, crooked, and rough.  Infuse us with hope to live justice as a way of life as we prepare for the birth of Christ made new in our lives.

BLESSING

God’s Blessing be with you, Christ’s peace be with you, the Spirit’s outpouring be with you, now and always. Amen. (source: Celtic)

 

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