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Words of Grace From the Pastor’s
Study December 2011/January 2012
O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel For the last several weeks our Gospel texts have called to us to remain awake, stay alert, and watch! And as we enter the season of Advent we can understand why so much prompting. As the dictionary defines it, Advent is from the Latin adventus meaning ‘arrival.’ So, of course we want to stay alert, after all Christmas will soon arrive, and there is much to prepare as we look toward our celebration of the birth of Jesus, God with us. But Advent isn’t just a time to get ready for Christmas and our remembrance of the incarnation, as mysteriously profound as that is. During the season of Advent we would also be wise to remain awake, stay alert, and watch in anticipation of the God’s glory in the return of Jesus Christ. With this kind of arrival in mind, Advent is also a time for personal reflection, confession, and participation. During our journey through Advent we should ask ourselves the difficult questions we most often wish to avoid, such as, “How does my life reflect Christ’s light into the darkened lives of others?” or “What excuses do I commonly use to justify the things I fail to do?” or “What sins do I engage in that, if known by others, would bring shame to my family and me?” You get the idea. After an honest examination of your innermost self offer your confession to God. And then, trusting in the forgiveness promised to us in Christ, die to the sin within yourself and begin to participate in life anew, the life God intended for you at your birth. But what if it isn’t that easy? What if the weight of this world is crushing your ability to trust in such a glorious promise? After all, aren’t you are already awake, maybe even too much so? Aren’t you already keenly aware of the burdensome, busyness of waiting; waiting for a day that never seems to come, a disappointment to fade from memory, a dream to finally manifest, a healing to occur, a relationship to mend, or an addiction to break? If it were that easy why are there so many lives that experience this season of joy, of light, as more of a cruel reminder of a persistent darkness? In this Advent season remember that as you wait you do so in a world enslaved to sin. Yet, also remember that although you may suffer in that sin, in baptism the Father in heaven calls you child, the Holy Spirit brings you into new life through faith, and Jesus the Christ, God’s Word made flesh, extends to you forgiveness. The Gospel of John 1:5 reads,
“There is a light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it.” So lift your voice to heaven and cry out, “O come, O come,
Emmanuel, and ransom captive Pastor Scott
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