Dear All
We had another lovely service this morning following the RSCM Advent Pilgrimage. This morning’s theme was fearing. It was wonderful to welcome Laura and the girls back. Once again thank you to the musicians.
The St Andrew’s Christmas cards are available at the back of the church – please do take one and distribute accordingly.
Just to remind you there will be a Carol Service in church at 5pm on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day the Sung Eucharist is at 10am
Third Sunday in Advent 2020 St Andrew’s Milngavie
1Thess 5:16-24, Isaiah 61:1-4,8-end, John 1:6-8,19-28
One of the great joys of Advent is the scripture. In particular, I love some of the great passages from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
This morning we had just such a treat in “The Year of the Lords Favour”. It is a great passage of prophecy which speaks of a messianic figure on whom the spirit of the Lord will dwell, who will come to bring liberation and health to his people.
We also associate the words this great prophecy with the well-known scene in Luke’s gospel when Jesus preaches in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:16 to 21) of course in his ministry Jesus really did bring this prophecy to fruition.
This prophecy in the text today is especially focused on the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem.
But the passage has a wider significance, pointing to the dawning of a new era of constellation and joy for those who previously had only known sadness and despair. For the Christian, the references to Jesus Christ are unmistakable.
So, we come to the gospel today where the scene has been set for the coming of Christ. John opens his account by describing ministry of John the Baptist, who affirms that his purpose is to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. He emphatically denies being anyone of any importance and he assures everyone that he is not a long-awaited prophet nor The Messiah.
He is simply there to point to someone else. In many ways John the Baptist’s mission was a tough call. A life of self-denial rudely cut short and an influential ministry remembered only in the context of someone else’s far more important work hard.
But all the years of prayer and attention to God that allow John to stand up and say with clarity “I am not the messiah” may perhaps have given him enough insight to know his own value in God’s eyes. John was doing the things for which he was born, he saw what all the prophets long to see – God’s messiah coming to bring love and peace to the whole world. So perhaps his commitment had its rewards after all.
This week our Advent theme is fearing.
Many of us, for a variety of reasons are fearful for the future. Considering the year we have just had, many of those fears maybe heightened. In the bible we frequently hear the words “Do not be afraid”.
“Do not be afraid” Moses says to Joshua “Lord will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” Deut 31:8
“Do not be afraid” The angel Gabriel tells The Virgin Mary.
“Do not be afraid” Jesus tells Simon Peter as he is called to follow him.
“Do not fear, only believe” Jesus says to Jairus as his daughter lies ill. Mark 5:36
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Jesus says to his disciples as they were tossed by the storm at sea. (Mark 4:40)
But there always seems so much to concern us: now it’s the pandemic, the Brexit no deal and climate change; not to mention our own personal situations and many other things which crop up unannounced and unwanted.
But Jesus understands this and so often his first words were “Do not be afraid”
He knew that we are so full of fears and worries. That we do fear for the future, for the unknown, for change, for ourselves and for the world.
Today we recognise all that makes us fearful and lift it in our prayers to the one who is perfect love, who will cast out our fear and give us peace.
Paul, in the closing lines in his letter to the Thessalonians, reassures his readers of the total faithfulness and reliability of God. The God who has called them is faithful and will see them through to the end. Will see them through their fear.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances……hold on to what is good………..reject every kind of evil………The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” 1 Thess 5:16ff
In the darkness of our fear, we shall light the advent candle.
We will recall the prophets of old and John the Baptist, who all put their trust in God and faced their fears in the hope and knowledge of the coming messiah……
The light of Christ which overcomes the darkness of our souls and world.