First Sunday in Advent

This is my first step towards achieving my personal goal of writing a message for every sunday of the new church year. Please be patient as I am sure I have lots of room for growth. The style and flow will most likely be different than in previous posts as these will be less "from the hip."

Readings:
Old Testament: Jeremiah 33:14-16
Epistle: 1 Thesselonians 3:9-13
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-36

Grace, Peace, and Mercy be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome to the first Sunday of the church year: the 1st Sunday of Advent. It is a time of promises and anticipation and fulfillment.

Of course, we know, that the culmination of Advent is in the birth of our Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ, celebrated on Christmas day. It is a most wonderful time of year, and a most stressful time of year. But Advent is about looking forward with anticipation, with hope, with the surity that God fulfills his promises, to the coming of Christ.

"'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.'"
";In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called, The Lord Our Righteousness." (O.T. lesson)

It seems that every year the stores are stocked and the displays for the Christmas season are put out earlier and earlier. And for us this shouldn't necessarily be considered in negative light- for us it is the beginning of our anticipation, and a reminder of our eternal hope-for we know the fulfillment of His gracious promise- our righteousness is soon to come. The birth of our Savior is on the horizon, and for the next month this should be our focus- Christ's coming.

But we should not only consider the birth orf our Lord in this time of year. We should give thanks to God for his merciful promise being kept (He always keeps his promises), and, in that truth, also look ahead to the second advent, or coming of Christ. that we should look with hope and anticipation as our redemption draws near, again with the surity that God fulfills His promises, and to the coming of the Kingdom of God. The gospel lesson for this day warns that we need to be careful, "or our hearts will be weighed down with dissipation , drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the Earth." So we have been told by the Lord, who spoke only the words that God had given him, that this second advent is coming. But, with love, he also warns of the traps, which seem ever magnified in this bustly time of year. Dissipation being idle or frivolous amusement or diversions; a wasting or squandering. do not spend your time on that which is not fruitful. Remember your redemption when the season weighs on you. I know the days are getting colder and snow is just around the corner. I know some of you are worried about how to pay for the gifts during this time of economic hardship. I know that some of you are worried about finding a job, or what to cook, or what lights and where, and the tree... it really can be frustrating. But take those moments to remember your Savior draws near; your Redemption is near at hand.

so be glad and give thanks to God, for he sent us Christ and He will again come and for those of us that have heard, that have knowledge in the spirit, it will not be a trap. Love others by warning them of the traps, and the hope that is in Christ.

Christ is drawing near! And just as the fulfillment of God's gracious promise drew near over 2000 years ago and culminated in the birth of Jesus, The Lord our Righteousness, so again will His promise be fulfilled. so look with hope and joy in Christ to the future.
Amen.