Second Sunday of Advent
This past Sunday, I had the wonderful opportunity to deliver the sermon for an English speaking worship service in Szeged. Even though I very recently updated my blog, I want to share my sermon with any who wish to read it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Text:
Malachi 3:1-4
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
It’s the season of Advent and I couldn’t be happier. Advent is a beautiful time of year when we celebrate the coming of Jesus, as well as prepare in anticipation of Jesus coming again. For me, this Advent is even more joyous than usual as I get to experience Advent in Szeged. I have loved seeing all of the lights, the Christmas market, the Ferris wheel, and the hot wine, but my favorite thing so far has been the giant Advent wreath in Dóm Tér.
Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus which means “Coming.” Adventus is a translation of the Greek word parousia, which is often used in reference to Jesus’s second coming.
The Advent wreath is designed to represent all that advent means. Advent wreaths are circular, which represent God’s infinite love for us. It is because of this infinite love that God chose to take on human flesh in the form of Jesus to bring us Grace and salvation. Advent wreaths are often made of evergreen leaves, which represent the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The candles as a whole represent the light of God coming into the world in the form of Jesus. The world had been trapped in the darkness of sin and temptation and could not save themselves. We all need salvation through Jesus as we cannot do it on our own. That is why we celebrate and give thanks for the light of God shining so bright and coming into the world.
Each candle represents a different theme for each week of Advent as well. The first candle is hope, the second faith, the third joy, and the fourth is love.
As this is the second Sunday of Advent, todays candle represents faith. Faith and hope are both intertwined concepts that can be hard to differentiate between. Faith is having trust and confidence in God and God’s existence while hope is about what may come from that trust and confidence. Faith is about the right now, while hope is about what may come in the future. Faith leads us on the path of how to act, and hope gives us the strength to get through the hard parts of life while waiting for the better things to come.
John son of Zechariah, also more commonly known as John the Baptist, is a wonderful example of someone with faith. John is told to prepare the way for the Lord. John takes this instruction and goes out into the world, preaching about God, telling the world of the savior yet to come, while baptizing any who ask. Many who are baptised by John wonder if he is the Messiah, but as John’s story continues in Luke 3, John says to the crowds “I baptize you in water, but one who is more powerful than I will come.” John makes it clear to those around him that he has faith in God and hope of the messiah to come. John’s faith leads to his imprisonment, as he never backs down from spreading God’s teachings. John’s faith tells him how to act, and his hope gives him the strength to face those who oppose him.
Malachi, one of God’s prophets, is told a messenger will come to prepare the way before God. Malachi’s name in Hebrew means “My messenger,” and he is one of the many messengers who God uses to spread God’s word to the world. Malachi is another one whose faith leads him to follow God’s instructions to prepare the way for Jesus to enter the world.
In Paul’s letter the the Philippians, which he writes from his jail cell, he encourages them to continue to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. In other words, he is encouraging them to continue to follow the path of faith to live life with and through Jesus in preparation of Jesus coming again. Paul is a faithful servant of God who suffers through imprisonment, but still writes to the church’s he started words of encouragement as well as instructions of how to live a faith-filled life. Paul has hope in the future he will have in eternal life with Jesus.
Staying true to your faith and living life according to God can be hard. When life gets tough, it can be easy to feel God does not love you or care. It can be easy to think God has turned away from you. Thankfully, the truth is that God loves us so unconditionally and eternally that even when we doubt God, God waits for us with open arms to forgive us and welcome us back.
The way we can get through hard times is with God. Having hope in God’s promise of more to come. Of having hope in the good that is on it’s way. Having hope in the God’s light in the form of Jesus.
We are to prepare the way for Jesus to come again. How do we do this? By having faith. John, Malachi, Paul, the disciples, Mary Magdalene, they all spread the word of God to any who would listen. That is what we are asked to do. Spread God’s words through proclaiming God’s good news and show God’s love through our actions. Tell others of the wonder that is Jesus and the hope of eternal life Jesus brings us. Prepare others hearts to be open to God. The best way to prepare the way for the Lord, is to open your heart to living a life of faith.
This advent I challenge you to go out and tell others about Jesus. I do not mean discuss your faith with other members of church who you know believe as you do, although I do encourage that as well. But I mean share the word and love of God with strangers, friends, family, anyone. I challenge you to cast aside any fears you may have of someone looking down on you for your beliefs. To cast aside fears that you will be judged. To cast aside fears that you may strain relationships. Because John cast aside his fears to prepare the way for Jesus. Because Paul cast aside his fears to start churches. Because Jesus cast aside his fears to die for us. We can cast aside ours to tell of a beautiful baby who is born to bring salvation to the world. A baby who is God’s light and brings us hope, faith, joy, and love.
Let us pray
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only son. By his coming to give all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation, through a Jesus Christ our savior and lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3894
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2006. Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Pew Edition.
Published by Augsburg Fortress.
Han, Jin H. Commentary on Malachi 3:1-4. Working Preacher. Retrieved from
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3911
Hearon, Holly. Commentary on Philippians 1:3-11. Working Preacher. Retrieved from
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3906
Text:
Malachi 3:1-4
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6
It’s the season of Advent and I couldn’t be happier. Advent is a beautiful time of year when we celebrate the coming of Jesus, as well as prepare in anticipation of Jesus coming again. For me, this Advent is even more joyous than usual as I get to experience Advent in Szeged. I have loved seeing all of the lights, the Christmas market, the Ferris wheel, and the hot wine, but my favorite thing so far has been the giant Advent wreath in Dóm Tér.
Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus which means “Coming.” Adventus is a translation of the Greek word parousia, which is often used in reference to Jesus’s second coming.
The Advent wreath is designed to represent all that advent means. Advent wreaths are circular, which represent God’s infinite love for us. It is because of this infinite love that God chose to take on human flesh in the form of Jesus to bring us Grace and salvation. Advent wreaths are often made of evergreen leaves, which represent the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. The candles as a whole represent the light of God coming into the world in the form of Jesus. The world had been trapped in the darkness of sin and temptation and could not save themselves. We all need salvation through Jesus as we cannot do it on our own. That is why we celebrate and give thanks for the light of God shining so bright and coming into the world.
Each candle represents a different theme for each week of Advent as well. The first candle is hope, the second faith, the third joy, and the fourth is love.
As this is the second Sunday of Advent, todays candle represents faith. Faith and hope are both intertwined concepts that can be hard to differentiate between. Faith is having trust and confidence in God and God’s existence while hope is about what may come from that trust and confidence. Faith is about the right now, while hope is about what may come in the future. Faith leads us on the path of how to act, and hope gives us the strength to get through the hard parts of life while waiting for the better things to come.
John son of Zechariah, also more commonly known as John the Baptist, is a wonderful example of someone with faith. John is told to prepare the way for the Lord. John takes this instruction and goes out into the world, preaching about God, telling the world of the savior yet to come, while baptizing any who ask. Many who are baptised by John wonder if he is the Messiah, but as John’s story continues in Luke 3, John says to the crowds “I baptize you in water, but one who is more powerful than I will come.” John makes it clear to those around him that he has faith in God and hope of the messiah to come. John’s faith leads to his imprisonment, as he never backs down from spreading God’s teachings. John’s faith tells him how to act, and his hope gives him the strength to face those who oppose him.
Malachi, one of God’s prophets, is told a messenger will come to prepare the way before God. Malachi’s name in Hebrew means “My messenger,” and he is one of the many messengers who God uses to spread God’s word to the world. Malachi is another one whose faith leads him to follow God’s instructions to prepare the way for Jesus to enter the world.
In Paul’s letter the the Philippians, which he writes from his jail cell, he encourages them to continue to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. In other words, he is encouraging them to continue to follow the path of faith to live life with and through Jesus in preparation of Jesus coming again. Paul is a faithful servant of God who suffers through imprisonment, but still writes to the church’s he started words of encouragement as well as instructions of how to live a faith-filled life. Paul has hope in the future he will have in eternal life with Jesus.
Staying true to your faith and living life according to God can be hard. When life gets tough, it can be easy to feel God does not love you or care. It can be easy to think God has turned away from you. Thankfully, the truth is that God loves us so unconditionally and eternally that even when we doubt God, God waits for us with open arms to forgive us and welcome us back.
The way we can get through hard times is with God. Having hope in God’s promise of more to come. Of having hope in the good that is on it’s way. Having hope in the God’s light in the form of Jesus.
We are to prepare the way for Jesus to come again. How do we do this? By having faith. John, Malachi, Paul, the disciples, Mary Magdalene, they all spread the word of God to any who would listen. That is what we are asked to do. Spread God’s words through proclaiming God’s good news and show God’s love through our actions. Tell others of the wonder that is Jesus and the hope of eternal life Jesus brings us. Prepare others hearts to be open to God. The best way to prepare the way for the Lord, is to open your heart to living a life of faith.
This advent I challenge you to go out and tell others about Jesus. I do not mean discuss your faith with other members of church who you know believe as you do, although I do encourage that as well. But I mean share the word and love of God with strangers, friends, family, anyone. I challenge you to cast aside any fears you may have of someone looking down on you for your beliefs. To cast aside fears that you will be judged. To cast aside fears that you may strain relationships. Because John cast aside his fears to prepare the way for Jesus. Because Paul cast aside his fears to start churches. Because Jesus cast aside his fears to die for us. We can cast aside ours to tell of a beautiful baby who is born to bring salvation to the world. A baby who is God’s light and brings us hope, faith, joy, and love.
Let us pray
Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only son. By his coming to give all the people of the world knowledge of your salvation, through a Jesus Christ our savior and lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Works Cited
Dinkler, Michal Beth. Commentary on Luke 3:1-6. Working Preacher. Retrieved from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3894
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 2006. Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Pew Edition.
Published by Augsburg Fortress.
Han, Jin H. Commentary on Malachi 3:1-4. Working Preacher. Retrieved from
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3911
Hearon, Holly. Commentary on Philippians 1:3-11. Working Preacher. Retrieved from
https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3906
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