III Sunday of Advent

Readings: Isaiah 61v1-40&8-end; Psalm 126/Luke 1v46b-55; 1 Thessalonians5v16-24; John 1v6-8&19-28.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: Today readings tell us about God’s plan of salvation for the world.

In Isaiah we hear what God has foretold in a prophecy that tells of a time when God would put all things right - for God was announcing that he was coming into the world to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and establish an everlasting covenant with his people. For the Lord God of justice was coming to bring in salvation and righteousness, by planting oaks of righteousness and re-building ancient ruins, and by exchanging ashes for decorations, mourning for gladness and weakness of spirit with a cloak of praise. Isaiah was told by God that - before this time came - a witness would be sent out into the world to announce that God had sent him to bring good news to the oppressed, to the broken hearted, to captives, to prisoners and to all those who mourn.

In the gospel, we hear the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the witness who would be sent into the world. This witness was a man sent by God, whose name was John. (John was the child of Zachariah and Elizabeth, the cousin of Jesus, the John known as John the Baptiser). When asked who he was, John gave his testimony, saying: he was not the Messiah, he was not Elijah, nor the prophet; for he was the voice crying out in the wilderness, one who baptised with water, one who was unworthy to untie the sandals of someone already amongst them, who was going to succeed him.

In other scriptures, we learn that the one John was speaking about was his cousin Jesus. A cousin who was not just any man, but God become man, the Messiah. The Messiah who died on the cross for our sins, who rose back to life and was seen by many disciples, before returning to heaven at his ascension. It is Jesus that other scriptures tell us will return one day to bring heaven and earth to its close and then judge the living and the dead.

In Thessalonians, we hear Paul testify that when Jesus returns, the one God who is faithful will sanctify his people by making them clean, unblemished and faultless – so they are fit to enter into heaven. This is a gift of grace that we do not deserve it to which Paul responds by calling God’s people to action. This is to pray, to rejoice and to give thanks in all circumstances. To hold on firmly to all that is good and to give up all that is sinful. To allow the spirit freedom, to listen to the words of the prophets and to test everything through discernment.

I pray that we will hear and then act on what we learn from scripture because a time is coming when all will be restored – when God will turn all things right side up. This is a time that has been foretold to us by God’s people down the ages and is a time that is drawing ever closer - minute by minute, day by day and year by year. For it is the time when we shall all be judged – so we need to get ready to face our maker.

Let us pray: Almighty God, our Father in heaven, thank you for the messengers you have sent to forewarn and prepare us so we can be ready to meet you at the second coming of Jesus, when he comes to judge the world. Set us alight with the fire of your Holy Spirit so we can turn away from disobedience and become a just and wise people who shine as lights in the world and acceptable in your sight. Amen

Thank you for joining us.