A Meditation for Advent 4 – Love

Matthew 1: 18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

A Meditation for the second Sunday in Advent

provided by Reverend Barbara Irrgang-Buckley

One who is more powerful than I is coming after me…
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Advent Collect

Old Testament Reading from Isaiah 11: 1-10

Romans 15: 4-13

Gospel Reading from Matthew 3: 1-12

By tradition, the two great figures of Advent are the prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist. Both feature in today’s readings, both point to the coming of Jesus. No less important a figure is St Paul. This year, we hear from his letter to the Romans on the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays of Advent. The second reading acts as a kind of bridge between the prophet Isaiah and the figure of John the Baptist.

The primary reason for the letter to the Romans is given in the opening line of the second paragraph of today’s reading (in the NRSV version):
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)

In a word, all is grace, all is gift. The human differences we only too often create are precisely that: human differences. But in the light of all we have received from Christ, they simply lose their significance. And this is highly relevant in the world of today.

The concluding sentence gives in the briefest format the theology of the entire letter:

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the ancestors and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. (Romans 15:8-9)

It is all in there in one sentence. We might often ignore the significance of this truth for our lives.

And we continue to reflect in our prayers

God our Father, in Isaiah, you promise us the gifts of wisdom, courage and the fear of the Lord. Let us recall when we needed those gifts in the past and let us be aware that we need your gifts anew. And give us the ability to receive these your gifts with gratefulness.

Your prophet paints an idyllic scene of nature in harmony and antagonisms reconciled. Looking at this picture let us recognize the disharmonies, the frictions, the cracks and the brokenness in the world around us and in our own lives. Give us the courage to reconcile and to repair where we find unfinished business in our relationships.

Loving God, you hold out to us the hope of reconciliation and new life. In this
time of Advent, open our hearts to receive your gifts of wisdom and courage
and so lead us more deeply into your own life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

John the Baptist came to bear witness to Jesus. Give us an awareness and gratefulness for people who have been the people who have witnessed to us the good news of the gospel that God loves us— maybe this was a friend, a parent, a teacher, a colleague or a neighbour. Were we open to receive the good news brought to us?
And we ask ourselves to whom have we borne that witness? Have we left opportunities to witness unused?

John appears in the story as one who had the courage to be himself in the face of opposition. He was also a person who knew his own value, did not make exaggerated claims and was content with his mission.
Let us ponder and recall times when we have been content to be ourselves, without pretending to be more than we are. But also, not less.
Let us be thankful for and give us the hearts to grow moments of having that freedom, even in the face of criticism from others.

John was “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness”—announcing confidently to those in the wilderness that they must not despair because God’s grace may come to them at any moment.
We reflect on times when we experienced being in the wilderness, feeling lost. From whom did we hear a voice that gave us hope? And have we been able to give hope to other people when they were in the wilderness?

Your kingdom is at hand, O God of justice and peace; you made John the Baptist its herald to announce the coming of your Christ, who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Give us a spirit of repentance to make us worthy of the kingdom. Let complacency yield to conviction, that in our day justice will flourish and conflict give way to the peace you bestow in Christ.

We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near:
your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord, you gave us your scripture. Let us remember when Scripture has brought us endurance, encouragement and hope.

We are to welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed us. This is not always easy. Where does this challenge us?

We recognize that we require your grace and mercy to transform ourselves in the way you are calling us through your scripture.

By your grace we have the gift of the Scriptures. With the help your grace, may we listen deeply to what you want to say to each one of us. May we know your gifts of endurance, encouragement and hope, so that not only our lips but also our lives may be a song in praise of your mercy.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Previous Posts

A Meditation for Advent Sunday

Romans 13: 11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him”

I came upon the following essay explaining the significance of the Themes and Candles we light during the Advent Season. Rather than paraphrase it, I am in linking it here in full. It comes from a very well produced website 
Best Bible Resources For Christians | Christian.net

A Meditation for Trinity 23 – Christ the King

Colossians 1: 11-20

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Luke 23:33-43

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

Next Sunday will be Advent – the beginning of the Church Year. It will instigate the days of reflective preparation for the coming of the Christ, the start of the annual cycle of religious belief. Most of its significance will be lost in the jingaligalling retail frenzy as the world celebrates the Saviour’s birth (at least nominally). But that celebration is incomplete – and in fact pretty meaningless – unless we complete the cycle by also marking and celebrating the final chapter of the story – the crowning of the King of Kings.

The Gospel description of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and coronation is remarkably similar to the pattern of the Agricultural year.

‘We plough the fields and scatter’. Plough Sunday is a time especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry as we prepare the ground for renewal. The Prophets and John the Baptist promised the coming incarnation of a Messiah, the Christ, who through grace will redeem the world from its sinful past.

At Rogation tide, we plant the seed that will grow to fulfilment and feed the world. In Jesus calling of the first disciples He plants the seed that will germinate and grow to equip them to spread the message of God’s love through their teaching and example.

Lammastide, (in Ireland Lughnasadh), originally ‘Loaf Mass’, is traditionally the day of first fruits – the bread of the new harvest. The fresh New Covenant relaces the misinterpreted and corrupted law, healing the pain of subjection to secular power.

In the late Autumn, at Harvesttime, we give thanks for God’s unfailing provision, and then the nights become darker as the earth becomes silent and rests. Jesus sets His face to Jerusalem and takes His place in the final act of His Passion. It appears that everything dies.

But it doesn’t. Instead, it is death that is defeated. The winter has no lasting power; the lamb triumphs over sin. The harrowing of the old order prepares the way for the new one to begin under His rule, and the crown of Glory is cast upon His head.

The voice from the criminal on the cross is the first to acknowledge Jesus as King forever, and as old year turns to new year, the story is to be told again.

We celebrate the beginning of the story in Advent – but before we do, it is equally important to celebrate the final act of Coronation. The Gospel proclaims that Jesus is King.
…and He is prepared to do it all again, in love.

A Meditation for Trinity 22

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Malachi 4:1 – 2a

Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near! Do not go after them.

‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

The Gospel passage above is sometimes referred to as a ‘Little apocalypse’, in which Jesus is talking about the ‘end times’ that we read about in the Book of Revelation – the victorious battle over evil leading to this world being replaced by the New Jerusalem. It certainly does have a prophetic element – but I’m not sure that Jesus really is talking about those ‘end’ times – rather, He is predicting the more immediate persecution of His followers on earth, not in the heavenly realm. ‘The end will not follow immediately’; He is talking about now and the immediate future.

Jesus is hosting a discussion with His followers (not just the Disciples, and not necessarily Jews) – most of whom don’t appear to have ever travelled far from their home village. They have never seen such magnificence. It’s grandeur could almost attract them back to the old ways of legalism and religious hierarchy.

Jesus destroys that admiration. Look at it while you can, He says, because like all the other things of the world, it won’t last. But the eternal Kingdom of God will.

Terrible things will happen. Humankind has fought wars since the beginning of time and is likely to continue to do so if current world conflicts are anything to go by. False prophets and corrupt leaders will attempt to manipulate our lives, and that, Jesus tells them, may result in us experiencing hardship, treachery and suffering – but it will also provide you with an opportunity to witness to the truth. The world is not necessarily going to hell in a handcart tomorrow, though it often seems that way – just as it has for many, many years. (The invention of gunpowder in the 9th Century was thought to be the beginning of the end)

In ways, the Christian Journey is like a race – a Marathon, not a sprint. The key is endurance, Jesus says. There will be mountains to climb, tears and heartache in the depths of your soul, and it will sometimes feel like it’s impossible to carry on. But the world will continue, and end only in God’s good time.

The word of truth will prevail despite everything the world can throw at us. Whatever happens in the world, pray ceaselessly, wear the whole armour of God, keep your eyes fixed on the prize, and our certain reward is eternal life in the Kingdom.

But on those who honour my name, the dawn will break, the sun will rise – the sun of righteousness – and there will be healing in its light.