So our minds turn to Advent, the period of waiting for the coming Christ, which precedes Christmas. Today is the third weekend before Advent and our focus is on the reason why Jesus came.

In this morning's gospel, from the beginning of St Mark, Jesus gives us his manifesto, what he is basically all about. And there are three things: firstly “The time has come”; secondly “The kingdom of God has come near”; and thirdly “Repent and believe the good news!” It is a very stark claim, in black and white, and it throws Jesus into perfect focus.

But it lands badly with his audience. And perhaps it doesn´t land too well with us either. Do we prefer a God who is a bit more ambiguous, a bit less prcise, a bit more fluffy, perhaps? Is Jesus claiming too much? Is he demanding too much?

And as he calls his first disciples, a group of fishermen, do they know what they are getting into?

Come and join us, as we start our run up to Christmas!