Advent 2019 (3nd Sunday)
I must say, it’s nice to be back. Even though I’ve only been away for one week, it’s good to get back into the rhythm of church life again. It feels almost like coming home. It’s certainly been a while since I came up here to preach. I’ll give it a go. Let’s see if I can remember how to do it. Now, where to begin? Ah, yes, the third Sunday of Advent.
When it comes to the different seasons in the church year, I always like to try to look for a meaning or a definition. If you take a look in a dictionary, you will probably find that “Advent” is described something like the coming or arrival of something, or in our case this morning, someone.
This morning, we continue on our journey through this most holy season of Advent. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve spoken about the importance of preparation and of reflection for ourselves and others. We have done it by listening in the first week of Advent to the word of the Patriarchs. Then last week, it was the turn of the Prophets to give us insight.
This week, we turn to John the Baptist. John, as we know, had his own followers and those who were determined to find out more about him. He came under constant questioning. Many questioned whether he was the Messiah or not.
Composer Orlando Gibbons wrote an anthem around the theme of this part of John’s ministry entitled: “This is the Record of John.” It is distinctive because it features not only a full choir but also a counter tenor, a male voice with a very unique quality in its own right, and worth a listen if you get the chance.
One of the themes of the piece is that when John (sung by the counter tenor) is asked if he is the Messiah, he continually answers “no.” However, we learn more of him through our Gospel reading this morning. We learn that he has his own specific task, that he is the messenger, the forerunnner of Jesus. He is to proclaim the message that the people must prepare for the coming of Jesus.
But what makes this reading so significant this week is that it is Jesus Himself, who, when speaking with His disciples, remarks on the importance of John’s role and of John himself. Jesus recognises John as one of the greatest of the Prophets. He remarks:
“This is the one about whom it is written: ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you’.”
..and surely the best compliment of all:
“Among those born of women, none has arisen greater than John the Baptist.”
John’s message that the people need to be ready for the coming of Jesus speaks not only to the followers of his day but to us too. For those of us old enough to remember it, to paraphrase an advertisement for a humble loaf of bread, John’s message is as important today as it’s always been.
One of the ways in which we can prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord is something which Fr. Brian spoke of in his sermon a couple of weeks ago. He spoke of the need to take stock and give ourselves time in the day to reflect, both upon our own lives and upon the world around us.
The letter of James this morning speaks of the need for us all to have patience. I know this is something I am not blessed with, but that’s life – you can’t have everything. This is something which sounds fairly simple in words, but in reality, living our lives in the hectic fashion we seem to these days, it is not so easy to achieve.
Our hope lies in Jesus – the One whose coming as a humble baby we recall at Christmas. It will be this child who makes known to us the way and works of God, our very pattern for living. Perhaps the most notable of all things about Him is that He comes as a child, totally reliant upon others, (as have we all), yet it is that same child who through His death and resurrection will be our salvation.
John’s message is vital. It is a message of hope. He himself may not be the Saviour whom everyone is looking for, but there is One coming after him who is, and the people need to be alert, expectant and ready for His coming.
How then can we set about preparing ourselves for recalling the time of our Lord’s birth at Christmas? There are a couple of things we can do which we have touched upon here, but let’s just think about them in a bit more detail for a moment or two.
Firstly, we can all ask ourselves the questions: What does this holy season of Advent mean to me? What difference does the recollection of the birth of our Lord mean to me? Next, may we use this precious opportunity to take stock and reflect upon our lives, upon the way we live and the world around us.
With all of the reflection, there also has to be action. As God’s people in this generation, we need to go out into the world and make John’s message of urgency and hope known to the people of our community and beyond.
May we dedicate our lives to being ready and active in God’s service. May this season of Advent continue to be holy, fruitful and a blessing for all.
If we can dedicate ourselves to a truly holy Advent by prayer, reflection and action, then perhaps the true meaning of the coming Christmas may be made known to us, so that we can, in turn, e it known to others.
AMEN