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Lectionary Thoughts
This, very mixed, collection of ideas are the result of looking at the Lectionary readings and noting the thoughts that 'popped' into my mind. I have, very deliberately, not tried to 'polish' them in any way, mainly because I lack the finesse necessary.
Year A
Advent 2
Isaiah 10: 33 - 11: 10
Your 'time' is not our 'time', Lord.
They had to wait seven hundred years
Before your 'sudden' and dramatic
Entry into the world!
We are still waiting after two millennia!
Waiting for your second coming
Waiting for that new rule of
Universal peace!
And yet, Lord, those ancient words
Ring true in our ears, for in Christ
We have, indeed, seen that righteous
Branch, grown "from the stock of Jesse".
Can it be, Lord, that your second coming
Is, properly, delayed until we have found
"The Spirit of the Lord"
"The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding"
"The Spirit of Counsel and Power"
"The spirit of Knowledge and Fear of the Lord"
To be our true delight?
Advent 2
Psalm 72: 1 - 7
In Christ, our King, we have seen
The true nature of divine, royal, justice.
In Christ, our King, we have seen
The true nature of divine, royal, righteousness.
In Christ, our King, we are learning how
"To deal justly with the oppressed ones".
In Christ, our king, we are learning how
To make the hills and mountains provide prosperity".
In Christ, our king, we are following
The way of "the fear, and love, of the Lord".
In Christ, our King, we have indeed
All the future hope we need.
Advent 2
Romans 15: 4 - 13
Your word, Lord, has inspired
The human mind for generations.
Your wisdom is still our guide
And the foundation of our knowledge.
May we, O Lord our God, be united
In our praising of you ,for your
Tremendous, loving, gift of Jesus.
Help us, Lord, to see in one another
A 'child of God' for whom Christ dies.
Help us, Lord, to love one another
Even as Christ loves each one of us.
Advent 2
Matthew 3: 1 - 12
We are all too conventional in our thinking and our acceptance of 'propriety'! We tend to forget that God has been 'breaking the mould' of acceptability from the time of Moses. Consider, for instance, Jacob, an arch deceiver, David, an adulterous murderer, and Paul, an extremist persecutor, from our scriptural record! These are all extremely powerful reminders that "the Lord looks at the heart".
Thus, in our extraordinarily materialist and status conscious society, we, who are followers of Christ, need to be watchful of the way in which we assess one another's 'worth' or even 'status' on the sole basis of outward appearances.