It is good to be with you on this Second Sunday of Advent. I thank Fr Duncan for his invitation to preach this morning as well as inviting me to your Christmas Luncheon.
At the start of Mass, the second Advent Candle was lit. Yes, we have heard many times about the Advent wreath, but there are three realities of our faith represented in the wreath. First the wreath is a circle and a circle has no beginning or ending; as God’s love for us has no beginning or end. God’s love is just abundant.
There are four coloured candles, one each for the four weeks of Advent. We lit one candle last week. Today is Advent 2, thus the second candle is lit.
You will note that there are three purple candles and one rose. We light the rose candle at the start of the third week, next week. This year, Advent 4 falls on Christmas Eve, making this Advent the shortest possible. This year Week Four of Advent is only one day.
Now each of the coloured candle in the Advent wreath has a particular focus
Week One Hope
Week Two Peace
Week three Joy
Week Four Love.
Just a few comments about today - Peace. We seek peace at several levels, acknowledging that peace can be very elusive.
We seek peace globally. We are saddened at the moment that in some parts of God’s wonderful world peace is absent. We must constantly pray for the peace of the world and those who are suffering and grieving as result of war.
Each of us seek the peace of Christ in our daily lives. Peace within us can be elusive. We all know that we need to be still and know God. Advent is also about waiting and it is important we make time each day to wait on God
Also, many are seeking peace between family members and some among their friends.
The white candle in the centre is the Christ lit at the Christ Mass, reminding us that the babe born at Bethlehem is the Light of the World, and we are to be lights for Christ in world.
So, the Advent Wreath speaks to us about what we believe and how we live out our faith.
The season of Advent has a two fold focus. We focus on the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus, who came among us in human form as a baby in Bethlehem. The birth of our Lord is recorded in only two of the four Gospels.
First, Matthew’s account contains the birth and then goes onto the visit of the Wise Men which is the Epiphany that we celebrate on the 6th January or the Sunday closest to the 6th January. The visit of the Wise Men reminds that Jesus came from all people, Jew and Gentile alike.
Second, Luke records the birth of Christ, from Mary’s point of view. It is only in Luke that we have the angel Gabriel visiting Mary. It is only in Luke that Mary visits Elizabeth. It is only in Luke that we have those glorious words spoken by Mary when she uttered The Magnificat. It is only in Luke that we have the visit of the Shepherds.
The second focus of Advent is the second coming of Christ. We read in Mark 13:32-37.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Each week at Mass - we say or sing:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen
Christ will come again.
As implied before, the birth of Christ is not recorded in Mark’s Gospel. Mark’s Gospel is short, sharp and to the point. It starts off with “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. Then Mark quotes the prophet Isaiah,
A voice cries out
“See I am sending you my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord’. (Mark 1:2&3)
John the Baptist, is the one who prepares the way of the Lord and Jesus is the one to come.
Or as John the Baptist said, “The one who is to come is more powerful than him. John the Baptist said he was not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. While John baptised with water Jesus will baptised with the Holy Spirit.
This raises the question for each of us as Christians and as a Church. How did we prepare the way of the Lord?
Three quick points:
First we have to be available - At times I went to the Mall in Townsville and just sat on a seat, dressed in my clerical colour. I was surprised how many people came up to me and asked about the Christian faith, the Gospel.
Second, we have to answer the questions people are asking, not the questions we think they should be asking in terms of the faith.
Third, we need to walk with people at their pace, not our pace.
May we use this Advent to prepare the way of the Lord and may people see in us the significance of our Lord’s birth for each of us as disciples of Christ; as we wait for our Lord’s return in glory
I would like to close with an alternate Collect for this week:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming
sent your messenger to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous,
that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
(APBA, page 466)