4th Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Readings: Micah 5v2-5a; Psalm 80v1-8; Hebrews 10v5-10; Luke 1v39-55.

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 : The prophet Micah tells us that God , the ancient one from the days of old, is sending his Messiah into the world in the town of Bethlehem to rule Israel, to bring peace, to be known across the whole of the earth, to feed the people of God’s flock and help them to live securely. This is the Messiah that the psalm is praying for during a time of great difficulty.

This is the Messiah that we hear is coming into the world in the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth. The Messiah that Mary has agreed to bear and that Elizabeth declares is the Lord of all, the fulfilment of a long awaited promise from God. The Messiah that Mary says will lift up the lowly, feed the hungry and bring mercy to all who put their trust in him in every generation by turning the world upside down and bringing down the powerful, scattering the proud, and sending away the rich.

The letter to the Hebrews tells us that through Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed one, the Christ that God’s will was done. First by abolishing the burnt offering and sin offering that God did not want and in its place establishing real sanctification through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

This is the wonder and joy of Christmas – that God the son came into the world to do for us that which we are unable to do for ourselves: to clean us from our sins; and to make us fit to live with God in heaven. But this gift came to us at a terrible price – the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. A price that we did not deserve to have paid for us. A price already paid for us even if we ignore or reject it. For this is the only price that can sanctify us – no matter how bad we are or have been. A price paid that I believe only the hard of heart can ignore and the foolish reject. For in Jesus we are shown how much we are loved by God. For Jesus came to save all who dare to put their trust in him. And, one day all of us will face our maker, and when we do we will have chosen either to accept or reject God’s gift.

Today, those of us who know the Christian story need to put our trust in the God of love, the God of our Salvation, the God who came to save us. We also need to do as Mary did and follow God’s call into a world that needs to hear the wonderful news of God’s love, for the salvation of everyone depends on each one of us accepting God’s gift and the sanctification that comes with it.

Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, redeeming God we thank you for choosing Mary who agreed to be the mother of Jesus, your son and our saviour. Fill us with your grace that like Mary we will embrace your holy will and look for the coming of your son. Help us to rejoice in your gift of the salvation that Jesus offers us and to be ready to meet him when he returns to judge us at the end of time. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.