For Sunday, December 1, 2024, Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16, Ps 25: 1-9, 1
Thessalonians 3:9-13,
Luke 21-25-36
In those days and at that time I will
cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice
and righteousness in the land. [Jeremiah
33:15]
To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul…I put my trust in you…let the treacherous be disappointed in
their schemes…Show me your ways and teach me your paths. [Psalm 25:1a,
2b, 3]
Now may our God and Father himself and
our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1
Thessalonians 3:11]
…my words will not pass away. Be on guard
that your hearts are not weighed down with…the worries of this life, and that
day does not catch you unexpectedly like a trap. [Luke 21:33, 34]
Happy New Year! That is, a New Church Year. The four-week
liturgical season of Advent begins this Sunday in many denominations of
Christianity. We also begin the 3rd year in a 3 year cycle of appointed
readings from Scripture. These four weeks of Advent are a time of soulful
preparation through self-reflection, repentance, and the expectant waiting for
the Nativity, the birth, of Jesus. It is a time for us to start over, to
unburden our hearts from the weight of worldly worries, and to renew our
commitment to a regular pattern of prayer, worship, and sincere Christian
action. It is time, almost as never before, to remember to answer the call
to increase and abound in love for one another, to restore our
faith, and to be ready for that day, the day of our leaving this
life, that will come for us all. If we are not alert, that day may
arrive unexpectedly, like a trap, and catch us unprepared. Too
often we are caught up in the earthly distractions of preparing the glitter and
trappings of the non-spiritual décor of a now mostly secular holiday, and the
busy and bustling of celebrating as if THAT DAY, the one in which we are each
called on account, will never happen.
In this season, the word advent is from the Latin adventus which
means coming, and we will mark each week by the lighting of a candle in an
Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy (the
Mass or the Service) begins. Each candle represents a theme from the
readings of that week. Some people will also use an Advent Calendar or
wreath at home to mark each day of the week with a special prayer or meditation
on the theme. Advent is the opportunity to be more intentional about preparing
for the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.
This week’s theme is Hope.
In yet another year that the lives of millions and the planet itself have been
upended and decimated across the world by devastating hurricanes, floods,
earthquakes, rampant and horrific fires, and the violence wrought by humans, it
does give pause and perhaps a sharp inhalation of breath and wonder about what
could be next. The readings for this day may cause some fear and trepidation as
if they hit “too close” to our own time. Some in every generation think “THIS
IS IT” as they believe they can interpret the signs. The
apocalyptic images in the Gospel are those with which the followers of Jesus
would recognize from Zechariah and Daniel in the Hebrew/Old Testament and Jesus
used them to make his point about being ready. It didn’t come to pass in that
time, nor has it in the millennia since, obviously. And yet, we who claim faith
in Christ, believe that it most certainly will and as we do not know the
day or the hour [Matthew 25:13], keeping ourselves prepared is not
about fear, but rather it is about faith. Each of us will meet
our Maker whether the Earth falls in our time or not. Christ will come
again, and/or I will get there before he comes here ~ will I be ready either
way? NEVER have we needed hope and self-reflection with faith-filled
soul preparation more than now.
As in every liturgical season of the Church, each
of our readings gives us insight and instruction to ponder and enlighten us for
each day in the week ahead. This week Jesus tells us that his words
will never pass away no matter what else happens. Through prayer and
attention to our call, we will be ready to stand before the Son of Man. Our
Hope truly is in the name and substance of the Lord, and, in our willingness to
turn the thoughts and actions of our daily lives toward the light of God's
presence, now and going forward.
It's definitely not easy to get and stay on the
correct course, especially at this time of year with all the false glitter that
obscures our inner vision and diverts us from our good intentions. But our path
forward begins to clear when we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our
lives to Christ, made easier being actively involved in faith-filled
communities and in our personal and earnest preparation for his return.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light
despite all the darkness.” We light this week’s candle of Hope to brighten the
way ahead and to know that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to
those who keep his covenant and his testimonies [Psalm 25:9]. Hope is on first and we begin again on THIS day to move always
forward, continually in faith, until THAT DAY.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Gracious and Upright Lord, lift up our souls, our
hearts, and our minds from the lowest valley of earthly worries to the highest
vault of heavenly grandeur. Teach us the prayers, the patience, and the trust
to stay alert, unafraid, and ready for our salvation through Christ.
Lord of Love and
Faithfulness
RESPONSE:
Direct our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, bring
gifts of truth, righteousness, and justice to those who govern across the
breadth and depth of Your Creation, globally and locally, and let the
treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct
our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, soothe and heal all who suffer with chronic
illness and renew those who have lost all hope. Grant respite and refreshment
to all caregivers as we now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add
your own petitions
Lord of Love and
Faithfulness
Direct
our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, comfort
the bereaved with a foretaste of the glory in everlasting Salvation where our
loved ones live again and always. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct
our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, we pause in this moment to
offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and
memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
Lord of Love and
Faithfulness
Direct
our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, quicken the energy and spirit of those anointed
to deepen our faith, on our journey together, with strength of heart and love
for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord of Love and
Faithfulness
Direct
our way to You
The
Celebrant adds:
Most Holy Jesus, as we enter this season of preparation and waiting, fill us
with Your forever words, and keep us open to Your Presence now, and in the
promise of Your Coming. We ask through Jesus, the Son of Man; and the Holy
Spirit, Seat of All Wisdom; who together with You are One God, now and forever.
Amen.
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