Enlarging our hearts

This week we will be celebrating the second Sunday of advent. I have often thought of advent as a mini lent in terms of it being a time to get serious in asking questions of our relationship with God. I was really pleased to come across a quote from Rosalind Brown. She wrote, “Advent’s promise is that God will enlarge our hearts so that, more and more, we can delight to run in the way of God’s commandments.” (Fresh from the Word, pg.5). 

I love that quote with the feeling that in advent we are enlarging our hearts. This sounds absolutely beautiful to me. The readings for this Sunday almost feel quite harsh. In the Old Testament reading (Isaiah 11:1-10) we hear of judgement. There is the idea that God can see past all our good works, He can see past everything that we may think makes us seem good, He just knows if we are good.   This sounds quite scary until we read what will happen when the world is put to right. That is, that when everything is right the seemingly impossible things will make sense. In our world no-one in their right mind would encourage a toddler to play with a snake which is described in the reading.

I love the image in Isaiah, a perfect world but, of course, we need to be ready for this. We are back to our time of growing closer to God. We want to enlarge our hearts so that we will rejoice and delight in what He promises. 

In the gospel reading (Matthew 3:1-12) we are pulled up short again. This time we are introduced to John the Baptist. The kind of man you wouldn’t want to run into on a dark winter’s night. John who was preparing the way for Jesus could sound quite threatening. He was judging people and making sure that they were ready to greet Jesus. Of course, for us with Christmas around the corner, with our wanting to experience and delight in the laws of God this is a challenge. John had a go at those who thought they were doing right. He questioned the religious leaders asking more of them. It reminds me of the reading from Isaiah – God just knows. 

As I am writing this,  I keep singing in my head the song that Santa Claus is coming to town. ‘He’s making a list, he’s making it twice, trying to find out who’s naughty or nice…’ 

I think that the whole thought of advent is having the effect of me not being complacent in thinking that I am good enough. Clearly, the readings are working. In advent, we are getting ready and as we do this, we do it knowing that it will all be worth it. Yes, God knows if we are good. Yes, God does ask us to follow Him. However, when He does this, it is out of love and the promise of something so much better. A relationship with Him. I do want to have my heart enlarged and I do want to keep enjoying following the laws of God.

The final verse of our epistle reading (Romans 15:4-13) sums it all up well. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Spirit.”

Being in the light

This Sunday will see the beginning of Advent. I always used to love Advent as a child because the countdown to Christmas was beginning.  As an adult I have enjoyed the first Sunday of Advent as the beginning of the Church year. There is something reassuring in the consistency of one Church year out and another year in. I often used to get confused as to why we started the year before January when I was younger, but now it all makes sense. The Church year begins with a period of waiting. Like the people of Israel in the Old Testament we wait, except that we know that Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah has come.

In the readings for this Sunday, there is hope in Isaiah 2:1-5 with the description of people going to the mountain of God. A really beautiful picture of joy and hope with the final words, ‘come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.’   It is very encouraging.

In the epistle reading (Romans 13:11-14) we read Paul telling the people that salvation was near and this meant that they needed to be ready. It all sounds very exciting, we are to be alert. Not just this, but there is a dress code. It is that we are to put on the armour of light. Basically, we are to clothe ourselves with God, that is to live so much like Him that we are full of His light.

It all sounds great, advent will begin by us being told to walk in the light of the Lord and also to put on the armour or light. However, just in case it is all sounding too lovely I have noticed that we are being instructed to actually do something which involves us moving. We are to walk in the light and put on the armour of light. We are to make an active decision to allow God’s light

Now, it is sounding more like a normal advent to me. In advent we are waiting to celebrate God coming amongst us as a baby, growing and living in our world. We are also encouraged to make sure we are ready spiritually as we look towards Jesus coming again.

The gospel reading (Matthew 24:36-44) is a reminder to be ready for Jesus’ second coming. In the reading we are reminded of everyone carrying on as normal in the time of Noah. However, there was a nasty surprise when the flood came. This is a reminder that when Jesus comes again people could be doing normal things when suddenly there is a big shift and change. People will be taken by surprise. This is a good jolt for us as we enter into advent. We don’t know when the world will end, we don't know when Jesus will return. 

That all sounds a little less encouraging than walking in the light and being clothed in the armour of light. But it doesn't need to be because it does mean that by enjoying the light of God we will always be ready. As we wait, we wait in the knowledge that we know the light of God. Knowing that helps me, once again, to know that everything will be alright in the end.

Meekness and Majesty

This Sunday we celebrate Christ the King. Every time I think of those words I remember the hymn, ‘meekness and majesty’ by Graham Kendrick. The two words meekness and majesty go against each other perfectly. There is the thought that as we think of and worship Jesus, we are worshipping someone who became as nothing and died for us and yet someone who remains King and Lord of all.

The readings for this Sunday could seem really mixed up, unless we looked at them with the view of Jesus being our King. A King who is majestic, yet also one who was crucified for us. In the gospel reading (Luke 23:33-43) we read of the crucifixion. Jesus the King made nothing, dying the death of a criminal. It is a reading that sends chills. This is because, as I read it, I want to shout at the soldiers for mocking Jesus and His Kingship. I want to tell the passers by, who said that He could not save Himself, that ‘yes He could’, but He was too busy saving them. This very fact reminds me of Jesus as King. He could have stopped it but He didn't. Then of course with the two criminals by Jesus, there is the one laughs at him. This is because he could not see the strength and power of who Jesus was. The other criminal recognised Jesus as King. 

With the gospel reading being about the crucifixion we are reminded that, as we move into Advent next week, we are preparing to welcome in the King who was beyond all expectations. 

Mighty and majestic, the gospel reading reminds us that majesty seems to go with suffering on a cross. However, so we don't get confused or too mixed up, the epistle reading (Col.1:11-20) reminds us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Jesus was involved in creation. It always makes me think of the reading from John 1:1-19 which explains who Jesus is and what it meant to God to become one of us.  

This Sunday used to be known as stir up Sunday,  it was when we were reminded that we needed to get ourselves ready for Advent. To be ready to receive the greatest gift of all a Christmas. The post communion prayer for this Sunday explains it best,

‘Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; they they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ 

After the first verse of the hymn ‘Meekness and Majesty’ we are called to bow down and worship. I hope that I will always be ready to bow down and worship Christ my King. 

Remembering

This coming Sunday we will remember those who’ve gone before and fought for peace and justice. As Christians we do this knowing that we worship the Prince of peace, the Almighty one. How strange then to read in the gospel (Luke 21:5-19) for Sunday of Jesus saying that there would be war and people were not to be terrified, they were to stay strong. I often worry about this, the idea that regardless of everything going on around us we are to stay strong, to not panic.  To be honest this makes me wonder how? In this last year we have seen the awful things that have happened in Ukraine, we know of suffering throughout the world and we want to have something we can offer to make things better. In the gospel reading it’s almost like a rallying call. A call to keep going in spite of everything.

I found it really interesting when I looked at the passage to note that after all the awful things of war, arrest and persecution for their faith Jesus tells the disciples that not a hair on their head would perish. This is certainly an encouragement, and where better to find protection than with God and in His love.  This helps to make sense of terrifying moments, or a world in turmoil. 

It is certainly true that those who have served in the armed forces, those who have lived in war torn countries know a distress and turmoil in a way that is far beyond most of our own experiences. It is right to remember this, and to pray for those who suffer turmoil today. 

Of course, we all have experiences of turmoil and distress in our own lives and for these occasions it is important to remember that the same promise the disciples where given, that not a hair on their head would be touched, applies to us as well.  This is because I take the statement of not a hair on your head being touched to mean more than a literal sign. I take it as a promise of protection, a promise that we are never deserted by God. 

The gospel reading gives us not only a warning of things to come, and the promise of protection it also helps us not to get carried away with ourselves. To not believe the latest thing. I can be both very cautious and then suddenly impulsive. I hope that if I saw people claiming to be Jesus I would take a moment before following them. Of course, my impulsive side might get the better of me. Jesus warns the disciples against doing this. I hope that I would take a measure of caution. That I would stay true to God. 

I know that bad and terrifying things do happen, but I also know that God will never desert us. In verses 13-15  of the passage Jesus explains that the disciples would need to give a defence for their faith. After this He strangely tells them that they do not need to prepare. This is because, in these situations, He would give them the words to say.

Promises of protection, words to say, Jesus was making it clear that the disciples wouldn't be deserted. This is the same for us today. We are never alone and in the most distressing of circumstances we can know that we not only cling to the promises made by Jesus but we can also know that everything will work out.

I think that when it comes to Remembrance Sunday we have an option to not only pray for peace and work to make it happen, but we have an option to do so knowing that the promises of God to never desert us are true. When we pray, we do so praying that people will truly know the promise of God to be with them.

In the midst of turmoil that we see on the news may we pray that people everywhere will find peace.  The final verse reminds us that when we keep going in our continued following of Jesus we will gain our souls. This makes it clear that, yes, it is all going to be ok in the end.  After all we can know that we are loved and also that our very being, our souls, are safe in the hands of God. May we never forget this

Things change...

I heard a discussion on the radio about what word would best describe this year.  I think ‘confused’, ‘uncertain’, ‘astounded’ are all words that could come into play. I can’t remember what word they decided upon. However, this year in a very short space of time we have had three prime ministers and a new monarch. It is certainly not what we expected at the beginning of the year. Of course, this doesn’t even begin to take into account the situation in Ukraine or the cost of living crisis. All in all this year has had a strange mix of emotions between hopefulness as the effect of COVID lessens and sheer confusion.  

I am very pleased that the readings for this Sunday talk of things improving. At the moment in the Church we are moving speedily towards the Advent season. As we travel we think of judgement and the end of time. 

In the reading from Job (19:23-27a) we read that even though he had undergone the most incredible misfortune and tests of faith he was still convinced by his faith. This faith was that everything would be ok in the end. This was because his redeemer lived, and not only this but Job knew that he would see Him at the end. I find this to be one of those very humbling moments caused by the Bible. Life was really tough for Job, not only was it tough but his friends decided to point out to him that it was all probably his fault and God was of course punishing him. My first reaction to this is that Job should have found some better friends! Of course, after much searching and some anger with God, Job finally came to see that God is not punishing him and also that He is with him. What a challenge to us. Do we always think that everything will be ok and as we trust God, things will not only change but we will see God. 

In the epistle reading (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17) we read of Paul giving the Thessalonians a warning. The warning is that at the second coming of Jesus people were to be ready and not just this but when it happens they were not to panic, they were to stand firm in their faith. People might wonder why the end times haven’t come yet, however what Paul was doing here was encouraging the believers to be ready, and to  trust.  I particularly like the way that the passage concludes in verses 16-17,

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace, gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.”

The gospel reading (Luke 20:27-38) records the time when some Sadducees went to Jesus and asked Him a most perplexing question. They asked him about a woman who married 7 brothers, and wondered who would be the woman’s husband at the resurrection of life, that is, in heaven. Jesus pointed out that they were judging things by earthly and not heavenly standards. It makes sense really that in heaven our perspective and understanding will change in ways that we can’t even begin to imagine and Jesus made that point. 

There is a promise in our readings that things will change. This is beyond a ‘things can’t get any worse’ feeling to a ‘things will change for the better’ and not just better from our own perspective but better in a way that we can not even begin to imagine let alone understand. 

Now that's a change worth waiting for.