Weekly Thoughts

26 NOVEMBER 2021 THE COMING OF CHRIST

As November gives way to December our thoughts turn from the past to the future. During November we look back to the heroes of our faith, to those who laid down their lives in time of war and to our own departed loved ones and friends. In December we look forward to the celebration of Christmas, which in our culture almost dies the death of a thousand anticipations, and to the New Year and all that 2022 may bring.

But in church the position is more complicated. Yes, Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth when God enters the world of space and time that God created. In doing so the Church asks us to get behind the external froth: angels and the shepherds, the Magi and the baby in the manger to the heart of the matter God becoming a human being. The incarnation is one of the central teachings of our faith and one which distinguishes it from other religions. In looking forward to the birth of Jesus we are in fact looking back to an historical event albeit one with significance for our lives today.

At the same Advent is a time when we look forward both to the second coming of Christ at the end of time but also to our own end. It was customary in Advent to preach on what were termed the four Last Things: death, judgement, heaven and hell. This emphasized the penitential aspects of the season over a joyful looking forward to commemorating the incarnation. 

But there is also a third coming of Christ which we often overlook: the coming of Christ into our lives today: coming to us in our work, our prayer and our worship. Christ comes to us in the worship of the Church especially in the Eucharist. Here we make present Christ’s victory over sin and death on the Cross and take that power into our lives in Holy Communion. Thus, Christ comes into our lives to change us that through us the world may be changed. Our prayer should make the presence of Christ a reality in our lives that through our purposeful activity, our work, Christ may change the world. 

READINGS AND PRAYERS

28 NOVEMBER – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Luke 21.25-36 – look up, your redemption is drawing near – that we may find Christ in our daily lives 

29 NOVEMBER – DAY OF PRAYER FOR MISSIONS – Ephesians 2.13 – end – Christ proclaimed peace to those who were far off and those who were near – that we may proclaim Christ in every aspect of our lives

30 NOVEMBER – ANDREW THE APOSTLE – Matthew 4.18-22 – for grace to follow in the footsteps of the Apostles

1 DECEMBER – Charles de Foucauld, Hermit, 1916 – Philippians 3.7-14 – I want to know Christ – our Christian pilgrimage

2 DECEMBER – Thursday – Isaiah 25.6-10a – God will wipe way all tears – Advent hope and expectation

3 DECEMBER - Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, 1552 – 1 Corinthians 9.16-19,22-23 – I made myself all things to all men – for effectivemissionary work athome and abroad

4 DECEMBER – Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding community, 1637 – Luke 12.32-37 – be dressed for action – for religious communities today 

Dates For your diary :

Sunday 28th November, 6.00 pm – Advent Carol Service

Sunday 19th December, 6.00 pm – Traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols

Kind regards    

Ian