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1 corinthians 1.1-9, mark 13.24-end
acts 1.6-14; john 17.1-11
acts 4.1-22, 1 kings 2.10-12,3.16-end
deuteronomy 16.9-15, john 15.26-16.15, psalm 48
deuteronomy 18.15-19; matthew 10.1-22, psalms 86 and 117
ezekiel 11.14-end, matthew 13.44-52, psalm 26
ezekiel 34.11-16, 20,24; matthew 25.31-end
malachi 3.1-4.4, philippians 4.4-7, psalm 68.1-20
psalm 90
1 chronicles 29.6 – 19, john 2.13 – 22
1 chronicles 29v6-19, acts 7v44-50
1 cor 12.12-31a, luke 4.14-21
1 corinthians 1. 18-25, john 2. 13-22
1 corinthians 1.1-9, john 1.29-42
1 corinthians 11.23-26, john 6.51-58
1 corinthians 15. 1-11
1 corinthians 15. 51 – 58, john 14. 1 - 7, 27
1 corinthians 15.20-26, 51-58
1 corinthians 15:1-11; luke 5 1-11
1 corinthians 15; john 11.17-27
1 corinthians 3 : 10 – 17; matthew 21 : 12 - 16
1 corinthians 3.11
1 corinthians 4. 1-5
1 john 1. 1-5; john 1. 14, 18
1 john 1.1-2.2; john 20: 19-end
1 john 1.5, revelation 12.7-9, isaiah 6.1-6; ezekiel 1
1 john 2.1
1 john 3. 1-17
1 john 4.16b-21, psalm 121
1 john 4.7-16; john 14.1-7
1 john 5.1-6, john 15.9-17
1 kings 19.1-16, 2 peter 1.16-end, psalms 2,99
1 kings 22. 1-28, romans 15. 4-13
1 kings 3. 3 - 15 and luke 18. 1 - 14
1 kings 8. 22, 23; 41-43
1 peter 2.1-10
1 peter 2.1-12
1 peter 4.12-19, john 16.29-33
1 sam. 17. 41-45, 48-50; mark 2. 1-12
1 samuel 1.1-20, revelation 22.6-end
1 samuel 16: 14-end john 14: 15-end
1 samuel 3.1-20, ephesians 4.1-16, psalm 96
1 samuel 3v1-11, 15, 19-21, john 15v8-17
1 thessalonians 2.1-8 matthew 22.34-end
1 thessalonians 2.9-13, matthew 24,1-14
1 thesselonians 5 v 1-11
1 timothy 1. 12 - 17 and luke 15. 1 - 10
1 timothy 1. 12 - 17, luke 15. 1 – 10
1 timothy 4.6-13; luke 4.16-21
2 chron 35:1-6, 10-16, ps 35, lk 22:1-13
2 corinthians 3. 4-end
2 corinthians 3.12-4.2, luke 9.28-36
2 corinthians 4.16-18
2 corinthians 4: 13 — 5: 1 mark 3: 20-end
2 corinthians 5.20b-6-10, matthew 6.1-6, 16-21
2 corinthians 5: 16-end luke 15: 1-3, 11b-end
2 corinthians 6.1-13, mark 4.35-end
2 corinthians 9 and isaiah 30. 8 - 21
2 kings 2.1-12, matthew 17.1-23
2 kings 23: 15-18; hebrews 12: 18-24
2 kings 4: 8-37
2 kings 6. 8-23
2 samuel 11.26-12.10, 13-15, luke 7.36-8.3
2 samuel 18: 31 – 19:8 and john 18 : 1 - 12
2 samuel 23.1-5 ephesians 1.15-end
2 samuel 23.1-7
2 samuel 7: 1-11,16 luke 1 :26-38
2 timothy 2. 8 - 15; luke 17. 11 - 19
2 timothy 4. 6 - 8, 16 - 18 and luke 18. 9 - 14
acts 1.6-14, john 17.1-11
acts 19:1-7, mark 1:4-11
acts 3:12-19, luke 24:36b-48
acts 4.5-12, john 10.11-18
acts 5.27-32, john 20.19-end
acts 9
acts 9. 1 – 20; john 21. 1 – 19
acts 9.36-43, john 10.22-30
acts 9v1-20, john 21v1-19
amos 3.1-8; psalm 13; ephesians 5.1-17
amos 5. 18-24; matthew 25. 1-13
amos 6.1a, 4-7, luke 16.19-31
amos 8.4-7, luke 16.1-13
amos 8.9-12, mark 15.33-41
baruch 4: 36 – 5 end, john 2: 1-12
colossians 1. 15 – 28, luke 10. 38 – end
colossians 1: 15-20 john 1: 1-14
colossians 3. 1, 2; john 20.19-end
colossians 3. 12 – 17; matthew 24. 30 -35
colossians 3.12-17
colossians 3.12-17, luke 2.41-end
colossians 3.1-4; john 20.1-18
daniel 3.13-end, matthew 13.24-30,36-43
daniel 6.6-23, mark 15.46-16.8
daniel 6; matthew 13. 1-9, 18-23
deuteronomy 18.15-20, mark 1.21-28
deuteronomy 26.1-11, luke 4. 1-13
deuteronomy 5.12-15, mark 2.23-3.6
deuteronomy 7.7-13, revelation 2.1-11
deuteronomy 7.7-13, revelation 2.1-11, psalm 142
ecclesiastes 1; matthew 6.22-34
ecclesiastes 11 & 12 2 timothy 2.1-7
ecclesiastes 11 -12, 2 timothy 2.1-7, psalm 119.89-104
ecclesiastes 11 and 12, 2 timothy 2:1-7
ecclesiastes 11-12, 2 timothy 2.1-7
ecclesiastes 12 & ephesians 1.15-23
ecclesiastes 12. 12
ecclesiastes 3.1-11, 1 peter 1.3-12
ecclesiasticus 35.12-17, luke 18.9-14
ecclesiasticus 38:1-14, colossians 4:7-end
ecclesiasticus 39.1-3, 8, 9, john 20.29-31
ecclesiasticus 39.1-3, 8, 9; john 20.29-31
ecclesiasticus 39.1-3, 8-9, john 20.29-31
ecclesiasticus 42.15-25, hebrews 11.17-31, psalm 88
ecclesiasticus 48: 1-10: matthew 17: 9-23
ephesians 1. 22- 2.1-6
ephesians 1. 3-14; john 1. 10-18
ephesians 1.15-end matthew 25.31-end
ephesians 1: 3-14 john 1: 10-18
ephesians 2 : 1-10, john 3 : 14-21
ephesians 3.1-12, matthew 2.1-12
ephesians 3.14-21
ephesians 4.20
ephesians 5.14
ephesians 6: 10-20 john 6: 56-69
ephesians 6:10-20, john 6:56-69
exodus 16.7
exodus 3.1-15, john 3.1-17
exodus 33.7-11, john 21.19b-end
exodus 34.29-35, 2 corinthians 3
exodus 35.30-35
exodus 5.1-6.1, philippians 3.4b-14, psalms 11,12
exodus 6v2-13, romans 5v1-11, psalms 13,14
ezekiel 1; revelation 4
ezekiel 13.11-12, 15-16, john 10.11-15
ezekiel 17: 22 – end & mark 4: 26-34
ezekiel 2. 1 – 3: 4 galatians 1. 11-24
ezekiel 2.1-5, psalm 123, mark 6.1-13
ezekiel 34.11-12, 15-16; john 10.11-15
galatians 3. 1-9, 23-29
galatians 4.4-7, luke 1.46-55
genesis 1.1-5, mark 1.4-11
genesis 12.1-3; 16.1-16, hebrews 11.1-2, 8-12
genesis 12:1-4a john 3: 1-17
genesis 13, mark 4.21-end
genesis 14:17-20, john 2:1-11
genesis 15. 1-12, 17, 18
genesis 15.1-6, luke 12.32-40
genesis 18. 23 - 33; job 42. 1 - 6; job 30. 19 - 23
genesis 2. 15-17; genesis 3. 1-7
genesis 2.4a-end, luke
genesis 2.4b-25
genesis 21.1-7, 22.1-19, hebrews 11.1-2,17-22
genesis 24.1-27, mark 5.21-end
genesis 27.1-40, mark 6.1-16
genesis 28. 10 - 17
genesis 28. 10 - 19a and 1 peter 2. 1 - 10
genesis 28.10-19a; romans 8.12-25; matthew 13.24-30, 36-43
genesis 28.1-4, 10-21
genesis 28: 10-19a, john 1: 35-end
genesis 3
genesis 3:8-15, mark 3:20-end
genesis 4.1-16, mark 3,7-19
genesis 42. 1 - 25 and corinthians 10. 1 - 24
genesis 42. 1-25, 1 corinthians 10.1-24
genesis 50.4-end, 1 corinthians 14.1-19
haggai 1.13-2.9, 1 corinthians 3.10-17, psalm 48
haggai 2. 1 - 9
haggai 2: 1-9: john 2: 18-22
hebrews 1. 1 - 4 and john 1. 1 - 14
hebrews 1.1-4; 2.5-12, mark 10.2-16
hebrews 10.11-25, mark 13.1-8
hebrews 10.19-25
hebrews 11.32-12.2, isaiah 65.17-end
hebrews 11: 8-10, 13-16; 13: 14-16
hebrews 12. 22 - 24
hebrews 12. 22-24
hebrews 12.18-28, matthew 21.12-16
hebrews 13. 14-15
hebrews 2.14-end, luke 2.22-40
hebrews 2: 14-end luke 2: 22-40
hebrews 5.5-10, john 12.20-33
isaiah 1. 10-18
isaiah 10.33-11.9, john 14.23-29
isaiah 10: 33 – 11: 10 matthew 1: 18-end
isaiah 11.1-9, john 16.1-15
isaiah 26. 1-9, 19; luke 24. 13-35
isaiah 28.14-16, john 15.17-end
isaiah 28.9-22, 2 corinthians 8.1-9
isaiah 30. 8-21, 2 corinthians 9
isaiah 30.8-21, 2 corinthians 9
isaiah 31. 1-2, 4-5
isaiah 31. 5
isaiah 33.13-22; john 3.22-36
isaiah 33: 13-22, john 3: 22-36
isaiah 35
isaiah 35 luke 1: 57-66
isaiah 35. 1-10; matthew 11. 2-11
isaiah 35.4-7a, mark 7. 24-end
isaiah 40
isaiah 40.1-11, luke 1.1-25
isaiah 40.12-17, 27-end, matthew 28.16-20
isaiah 43: 16-21 john 12. 1-8
isaiah 44.1-8, ephesians 4.7-16
isaiah 44: 1-8 ephesians 4: 7-16
isaiah 45. 9 - 22
isaiah 46.3-end, romans 12.1-8, psalm 135
isaiah 5. 1 - 7 and matthew 21. 33 - end
isaiah 5: 1-7; matthew 21: 33-46
isaiah 50. 4-10 luke 13. 22-30
isaiah 52. 13 – 53. 12, luke 24. 13 - 35
isaiah 52:1-12, matthew 24:36-44
isaiah 53.6–12, romans 4.13–25
isaiah 55. 1, 2; 6-9
isaiah 55.1-9, luke 13.1-9
isaiah 55: 1-11, romans 6: 1-11
isaiah 58.1-12; psalm 51.1-18; john 8.1-11
isaiah 58.6-12; philippians 2.1-11
isaiah 58: 1-12 john 8: 1-11
isaiah 6. 1-3; ezekiel 1. 4-10, 22-28a; revelation 4
isaiah 6.1-8, john 16.5-15
isaiah 6.1-8; 1 john 5,1-12, psalm 21, 147.13-end
isaiah 6:1-8 romans 8:12-17 john 3:1-17
isaiah 60. 1-6; matthew 2.1-12; john 1.9
isaiah 60.1-6, matthew 2.1-12
isaiah 60.9-end, hebrews 6.16-7.10, psalm 96
isaiah 60.9-end, hebrews 6.17-20, 7.20-25, psalm 96
isaiah 61, galatians 3.27-4.7
isaiah 61, luke 4.14-21
isaiah 61.1-11, acts 4.32-37
isaiah 61.1-4, 8-end; john 1.6-8, 19-28
isaiah 61; luke 4.14-21
isaiah 62.1-5, john 2.1-11
isaiah 64: 1-9 mark 13: 24-end
isaiah 65.17-25, luke 2.1-20
isaiah 65.17-25; st luke 2.1-20
isaiah 66.20-33, ephesians 1.11-end
isaiah 7.10-14, luke 1.26-38
isaiah 9.2,6,7; luke 2.8-20
isaiah 9.2-7 & luke 2.1-20
james 2.14-end, psalm 8
james 2: 1-10, 14-17 mark 7: 24-end
james 5.7-10; matthew 11. 2-11
jeremiah 1.4-9, matthew 9.35-37
jeremiah 20. 10-12, mark 14. 43-65
jeremiah 20.1-11a, psalms 63,64, romans 14.1-17
jeremiah 22: 1-9, 13-17, luke 14: 27-33
jeremiah 31.31-34, john 12.20-33
jeremiah 31.31-34; psalm 46; romans 3.19-28; john 8.31-36
jeremiah 33: 14-16 luke 21: 25-36
jeremiah 5.1-19, romans 7.7-end
jeremiah 6.16-21, romans 9.1-13
jeremiah 7.1-11, 1 corinthians 3.9-17, psalms 48.150
jeremiah 7.1-11, luke 19.1-10
jeremiah 7v1-16, psalm 39, romans 9v14-26
job 19.1-27a
job 28 and colossians 1:15-23
job 28.4
joel 2. 28, acts 2. 17
joel 2.21-32, acts 2.14-21
john 1 : 1 – 14 and colossians 1 : 15 - 20
john 1. 19-28
john 1. 29
john 1.1-14
john 1.1-5, 10-18, ephesians 1.3-14
john 1.3b-5, john 8. 12, john 12.35
john 11. 1-45, romans 8. 6-11
john 13.31-35, acts 11.1-18
john 14. 23-29
john 14.1-14
john 14.1-6
john 14v1-6
john 15. 12 - end
john 15. 21 - 27
john 18. 36 - 38
john 19. 25b-27
john 2. 1-11
john 20. 19-31
john 20. 19-end
john 20.1-18
john 20: 1-18
john 4. 5 - 42
john 6. 12, 13
john 6. 1-21
john 6. 51-58
john 7.14-36
john 8. 12-58
john 9
john 9. 35 - 41
jonah 3.1-15, 10; mark 1.14-20
joshua 1. 1 - 11 and 1 corinthians 3. 10 - end
joshua 1.1-11, 1 corinthians 3.10-end, psalm 15
joshua 1.1-11, hebrews12.18-24, psalm 15
joshua 1.1-15; hebrews 12.18-24
joshua 1.1-9, ephesians 6.10-20
joshua 3.7-end; matthew 10.1-22
joshua 3:1-8, 14-end, hebrews 1:1-12, psalms 46 & 47
joshua 4. 1 - 14 and luke 23. 39 - 49
joshua 5.9-12, luke 15.1-3,11b-32
lamentations 3. 22 - 33 and john 11. 32 - 44
leviticus 19. 1-2, 15-18; matthew 22. 34-end
leviticus 23.39-end, john 6.1-15
luke 1. 1-25
luke 1. 35
luke 1.26-38
luke 1.38
luke 1: 39-55
luke 10. 38 - end
luke 10.1-9
luke 10.38-42, genesis 18.1-10
luke 11. 1 - 13
luke 12. 13 - 21 and colossians 3. 1 - 11
luke 12.29-34
luke 14.27-33, numbers 21.4-9
luke 15. 1-10
luke 18. 1-8
luke 2. 15-21
luke 2. 22-40
luke 21:25-36, 1 thessalonians 3:9-13
luke 23.43
luke 24. 36 - 48
luke 24.13-35
luke 3.21-22
luke 6 : 17 – 31
luke 6:20-31, ephesians 1:1-11
luke 7. 11 - 17
luke 9. 27-36
luke 9. 30-31
luke 9.28-36, 2 peter 1.16-19
luke 9:28-43
malachi 3. 1 –4, luke 3.1-6
malachi 3. 1-4, 4; luke 1. 78
mark 1. 21 - 35
mark 1. 9-11; matthew 3. 13-17; luke 3. 21-22
mark 10.46-end, hebrews 7.23-end
mark 14. 1 - 11
mark 14. 1-21
mark 14.66-15.15
mark 15.26-16.8, daniel 6.1-23
mark 15.40-16.7 (john 20.1-18)
mark 15: 16-32
mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23, james 1.17-end
mark 8. 27 - 38
mark 8. 27-38
mark 9. 2-8
mark 9.2-9
mark 9.30-37
mark: 14.22-42
matthew 1.18-25
matthew 1:18-end
matthew 11. 28-30
matthew 15.10-28
matthew 17. 1-13
matthew 2. 13 - end
matthew 21.23-32, philippians 2.1-13
matthew 28.1-10, 16-end, zephaniah 3.14-end
matthew 28.18
matthew 5. 1 - 10
matthew 5.21-37, 1 corinthians 3.1-9
matthew 5.5
matthew 6.1-6, 16-21, 2 corinthians 5.20-6.10
matthew 9: 9-13
micah 3.5-end, matthew 24.1-14, psalm 43
micah 4.1-5, matthew 5: 1-12
micah 4: 1-5 romans 8: 31-end
micah 6. 6 - 10
nehemiah 8. 9-end; john 16. 1-11
nehemiah 8v9-end, john 16v1-11
numbers 11.4-6, 10-16, 24-29; mark 9.38-50
numbers 21. 4-9; john 3. 14-21
numbers 21: 4-9 john 3: 14-21
numbers 9.15-end, 1 corinthians 7v17-24
philemon, luke 14: 25-33
philippians 1. 21-end
philippians 1.3-11, luke 3.1–6
philippians 2. 5-11
philippians 3. 1-14; acts 9. 1-22
philippians 3: 4b-14, john 12: 1-8
philippians 3:4-14; matthew 21:33-end
philippians 4. 1-9
prayer of manasseh john 11: 17-44
proverbs 25.6-7, luke 14.1, 7-14
proverbs 4.1-18, 1 john 3.16-4.6
proverbs 8.1, 22-31, revelation 4
proverbs 8.1-4, 22-31, john 16.12-15
psalm 104 (vv 1-4, 14-26)
psalm 11, malachi 2.17-3.5, matthew 13. 44-58
psalm 116. 10-end
psalm 119. 17 - 32 and isaiah 28. 9 - 22 and 2 corinthians 8. 1 - 9
psalm 125, proverbs 15. 1-17, romans 12. 9-21
psalm 131.2
psalm 19
psalm 23
psalm 23; john 10. 3-5
psalm 23; john 10.11-18
psalm 37
psalm 4
psalm 51, exodus 32.7-14, luke 15.1-10
psalm 65
psalm 80: 1-8
psalm 81 and genesis 41. 1 - 16, 25 - 37 and 1 corinthians 4. 8 - 13
psalm 84; matthew 9. 1 - 23
psalm 87
psalm 90.4, psalm 96, malachi 4. 1-2, luke 21.5-19
psalm 96
psalm 96. 7-13
psalms 15 and 128, ecclesiastes 3
revelation 1. 4-18
revelation 12: 7-12, john 1: 47-end
revelation 20.11-end
revelation 21.1-6a, john 11.32-44
revelation 3. 20
revelation 4, luke 8.22-25
revelation 5. 1-10, psalm 139.1-9, john1. 43-end
romans 10: 8b-13, luke 4: 1-13
romans 11.25-end
romans 12.9-13; 13.8-10; luke22.24-30
romans 12: 9-end matthew 16: 21-end
romans 13. 1-10
romans 13.11-end, matthew 24.36-44
romans 14.1-12 matthew 18.21-35
romans 6.3-11, mark 16.1-8
romans 8. 28-end, john 14. 1-6, 27
romans 8.26
romans 8.34, hebrews 7.25
romans 8: 26-end: matthew 13: 33-35, 44-52
romans 8:12-17, john 3:1-17
romans 9. 1-5; matthew 14. 13-21
sirach 44.1-10; hebrews 11.8-16
song of solomon 3.2-5, 8.6-7; john 20.11 – 18
song of solomon 3:2-5; 8:6,7. & john 20:11-18
song of solomon 4.16-5.2, 8.6-7; revelation 3.14-end, psalm 45
song of solomon 4.16-5.2; 8.6-7, revelation 3.14-end
st john 2. 1-11
st luke 14.12-24
st luke 2. 15-21
st matthew 2. 13-18
wisdom 11.21-12.11, galatians 4.8-20
wisdom 3 .1 - 5, 9 and psalm 23
wisdom 7.22b-8.1; 1 corinthians 1.18-25
zephaniah 3. 14 – end, matthew 28. 1 - 10, 16 – end
zephaniah 3:14-end; luke 3:7-18
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Advent themes: death, judgement and the Second Coming of Christ
Romans 13.11-end, Matthew 24.36-44
Preached on 27 November 2016
Sung Eucharist: The First Sunday of Advent
by Rosalind Brown
Celebrating the new year today reminds us that the Church keep different time to the secular world, although it is the secular world marked that has changed because for centuries the calendar year once kept church time, beginning on Lady Day, 25th March, the Feast of the Annunciation. However, in a switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, after a nine-month year in 1751, 1752 began on 1st January. Action was also taken to redress the problem that over the centuries the calendar year had got out of kilter with the lunar year that the church follows, especially with sunrise and sunset at the equinoxes. So a combination of introducing leap years and skipping eleven days in September 1751 established a new and secular base. But taxes are always a sore subject and, on 25th March 1752, people objected to paying normal taxes for a shorter year, so for tax purposes the eleven days were added back in and the tax year has started on 6th April ever since. So next time you pay your taxes, remember you are living in church time. That may not be a lot of consolation to you!
We have begun the church’s new year by surrounding the Cathedral in prayer as the Litany in procession articulates our new year’s resolution to pray for all aspects of life in God’s world. Yet on New Year’s Day we are not only concerned with what happens during the next 365 days because the gospel thrusts us into the world of eternity presaged by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. At Christmas we will celebrate his first coming but we prepare for that by preparing for his second coming as king and judge. Advent, the period between now and Christmas, is the season of four great themes, known as the four last things: death, judgement, heaven and hell.
Starting with death. This week’s story about the teenager who wanted her body frozen in case she can be revived, disease-free, in centuries to come, is heart-rending. Tragically the theology is faulty: neither resuscitation of the body nor reincarnation are God’s way. God’s purposes are far more wonderful than that. The death of our bodies is indeed final, yet we are not just physical bodies and although Jesus’s friends had to bury his physical body, as he died Jesus gave up his sprit to God. We are spiritual beings and God saves us body, soul and spirit. So Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Christians, ‘may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’
Christ is coming again, and coming as judge. Advent faces us not just with death but with judgement. And if we are judged, then there is a verdict and consequences. If we dismiss the idea of judgement after death by a righteous judge, we remove all accountability for how we live our lives and open the door to the cruelty and depravity that the Stalins and Pol Pots, the Jimmy Saviles and the human traffickers of this world perpetrate. Put bluntly, if actions do not have eternal consequences and I have power to abuse you without fear of reprisal, what is to stop me?
Every time we say or sing the creed we affirm our belief that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. Advent confronts us with the comforting but hard truth that actions have consequences and we will be held accountable for our actions. This is not a terrifying prospect because the certainty of judgement comes with the assurance that the one who judges us, Jesus Christ, is the one who knows what it is to be human and lives to pray for us. This great good news is expressed every Sunday when at Matins the confident words of the Te Deum, an ancient hymn of the church, ring out: ‘We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge. We therefore pray thee; help thy servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance.’
Canon Jagger spoke last week about the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year being “post-truth”, when objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than emotional appeals. Post-truth ultimately denies judgement but, whether the world likes the idea or not, Advent confronts us with the truth that we are to be judged. Advents faces us with how we prepare for that.
If the prospect of judgement alarms us, the answer is not terror or denial, but turning to Jesus Christ to save and redeem us. Last Sunday, on Christ the King Sunday, Canon Jagger said that to be in God’s kingdom is to be in a safe place because, in Jesus Christ, God has rescued and transferred into the safety of the kingdom of his beloved Son, even while we live on earth. Canon Jagger quoted one of the men being crucified alongside Jesus who faced the reality of death and judgement and the reality of salvation and redemption in Jesus Christ. He said to the other man being crucified, “We are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong”, and then to Jesus. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. “Jesus replied, ‘today you will be with me in Paradise.’ The glory of the gospel is that God then raised Jesus from the dead and if we are in Christ we are raised in him. As Canon Jagger said, it is a simple as that – to see, to trust, to ask. If you have not done that, speak to one of the clergy afterwards.
We heard Paul exhorting the Roman Christians to prepare for Christ’s coming by laying aside the works of darkness and putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, putting on the armour of light; living honourably as in the day when light can reveal things we’d prefer to keep in the dark. His examples were to avoid drunken revelry, debauchery, promiscuity, quarrelling and jealousy, but the list is not exhaustive and, if your conscience is twinging about your lifestyle, listen to it and act.
Jesus’s teaching in the gospel was given to his disciples in the context of preparing for his second coming in power and glory, inaugurating the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. He did not criticise people for getting on with ordinary life – eating and drinking, marrying and carrying on with daily work – we have to do that and, a few years later, Paul had to tell off some Thessalonian Christians for not working on the grounds that God’s kingdom was coming. We prepare for Christ’s coming by living life faithfully day by day.
At the same time, we must also heed Jesus’s warning to be ready for when God acts. His example of people unprepared for the flood is vivid for us who are bombarded with images of sudden disasters around the world. We have disaster plans for many things because preparing and waiting with readiness takes determined effort. Our spiritual disaster plan requires us to keep awake spiritually because we have no idea when life as we know it will end, either through our death or because Jesus comes again. Either way, he will be our judge.
So, on this new year’s day in the Church’s time frame, how can we respond in confident hope of the resurrection to eternal life? We prayed earlier, “Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light now in this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ comes to us in great humility.” Casting away is vigorously intentional, the sort of instinctive action when we have picked up something horrible and want to get rid of it quickly. We throw it away from us jerkily. So this Advent we ask God to make us rapid and intentional in throwing the works of darkness as far away from us as we can.
But we don’t just cast off, we prayed too for grace to put on the armour of light now, in this life which Jesus has shared with us. Christmas is all about God in Christ sharing our life. To prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ as a baby in Bethlehem, we must also prepare for his second coming in glory to judge the living and the dead. We do this in at least three ways: by turning to him to be our saviour as well as our judge, something we can do now; by living godly lives that express our Christian commitment; and by doing in our lives what we have done in church, enfolding, encircling our lives and the life of the world in prayer. Can I suggest that, as a sort of Advent calendar, you take the service leaflet home and pray the Litany day by day, perhaps dividing it into seven parts so that you pray it all the way through once a week.
Advent demands that we face reality. In 1938, as the world hurtled towards war, an American theologian, Richard Niebuhr, put his finger on the world’s problem of its denial of its violence and chaos. He wrote of belief in a God without wrath bringing people without sin into a kingdom without judgement through the ministration of a Christ without a cross. Advent confronts that utter travesty of that panacea by being brutally honest about the horrific mess the world is in – something no one can deny in these turbulent times – and its need for judgement whilst holding before us the hope and wonder of what God is doing about it. Death is real; Jesus died; we will die; we will be judged. But as the Easter hymn puts it, that is not the whole story because ’Jesus lives! Thy terrors now can, O death, no more appal us. … Jesus lives! Henceforth is death but the gate of life immortal’.
So, in that light of God’s great provision from before all time and God’s utter holiness and righteousness, we believe in a God who will judge the world for its sin, bringing a people who have sinned into the kingdom of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ who died on a cross to bear the sin of the world and who has been raised form the dead and has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
We are called to be resurrection people of Advent hope and joy, casting off sin, putting on Christ and living holy lives in anticipation of our Saviour’s second coming just as much as his first. As we will soon sing, ‘Yea, amen, let all adore thee. O come quickly, alleluia, come, Lord, come.’