Praying Together December 7th 2025

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.