The Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Psalm 97. Dominus regnavit.
THE Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof; *
yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: *
righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
3 There shall go a fire before him, * and burn up
his enemies on every side.
4 His lightnings gave shine unto the world: * the
earth saw it, and was afraid.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of
the Lord; * at the presence of the Lord
of the whole earth.
6 The heavens have declared his righteousness, *
and all the peoples have seen his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that worship carved
images, and that delight in vain gods: * worship him, all ye gods.
8 Sion heard of it, and rejoiced; and the daughters
of Judah were glad, * because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art higher than all that are in
the earth: * thou art exalted far above
all gods.
10 O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the
thing which is evil: * the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the
ungodly.
11 There is sprung up a light for the righteous, *
and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; * and give
thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the
Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
The Collect.
The
Collect from the First Sunday in Advent is to be repeated every day, with the
other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve:
ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O LORD, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour† us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let* and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
†”Succour” – give assistance or aid
*“Let” – impede or obstruct.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40.1-11
Psalter: Morning-98, 99; Evening-101, 103
Epistle Reading: Philippians 4.4-7
Gospel Reading: St. John 1.19-28
Saint Thomas the Apostle
21 December
The Collect
Almighty and everliving God, who for the more confirmation of the faith didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son’s resurrection; Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. Amen.
The Epistle: Ephesians 2.19-22
The Gospel: St. John 20.24-31
Advent Reflection - Joy Pt 3 (adapted from my letter to my congregation this last week)
These last couple of weeks, for Advent (see Joy Pt 1, and Joy Pt 2), I have been writing about joy drawing from Psalm 43:4, “to God my exceeding joy.” We come back to the Joy Giver and gift of joy one more time, considering Romans 15:1-13. Open a Bible and follow along.
Paul describes the way the Gospel draws together different
people around Jesus (Romans 15:1-3), where the God of endurance and
encouragement grants us the ability to live in harmony with one
another, in accord with Christ; and to worship together with one voice; and to
welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us (Romans 15:4-7). He continues
this theme, showing how Jesus makes believers from different ethnic groups (Jews
and Gentiles), together, a welcome part of furthering God’s world rescue
operation (Romans 5:8-12). And then he prays (Romans 5:13). It's his prayer
that brings us back around to joy, along with peace and hope:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
In Romans 15:1-13, the God of hope is the Giver of joy and peace. He does this graciously through His Son, Jesus, who bore our reproaches (verse 3). Further, he does this by the Holy Spirit (verse 13; and see 14:17 again). And he does this from within our healthy, health-fostering fellowship, from within Christian camaraderie and community (verses 1-13).
Joy, real joy, is found in communion with God the Giver. It is located in the saving work of his Son, Jesus. It is powerfully accompanied with hope and peace by the Holy Spirit. And joy is supported by, and cultivated in our fellowship with one another – not in isolation from each other, nor as rugged individualists all alone. And clearly not when we become at odds with each other. But, rather, while we walk, work and worship together, with Jesus at the center!
Peace has a vertical (Godward) and horizontal (one another) reach, as you will hear this Sunday when we think about the child who is born, the Son who is given, who is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The One whose increasing government and peace will have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7).
In the same way, according to Romans 15:1-13, joy also has a vertical (Godward) and horizontal (one another) reach. And so, Advent and Christmas ought to propel us toward greater times of community with God’s people. Advent and Christmas should bring us to spend more time together to enjoy the coming of our Lord, together. How suitable that have a Children’s Christmas programs, Christmas Brunch on Sunday, and a Christmas Eve services! Lots of opportunities to be filled with joy vertically and horizontally! And to foster joy with one another!
Therefore, let this season draw you upward, closer to “God my exceeding joy.” To revel with the joy that is found in Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, supplemented by peace and hope. And let this time of year draw you closer to one another, to find ways to be together, cultivating, fostering, developing joy together.
Pastor Mike
