Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
1st Reading:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
“The days are surely coming…” signifies talk of a frequent topic of the Jewish prophets: the day of God’s judgment. But here, Jeremiah (otherwise nicknamed “the gloomy prophet”) speaks a word of future hope: “he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” Christians have always seen this “righteous branch” which has “sprung up for David” as Jesus.
33:14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Psalm 25:1–9
Our psalm is an acrostic poem (each
line beginning with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) that is a
prayer for deliverance from enemies. The
psalmist recognizes that such deliverance depends on the gifts of wisdom and
repentance.
my God, I put my trust in you; *
let me not be humiliated,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; *
let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O Lord, *
and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, *
for you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, *
for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; *
remember me according to your love
and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; *
therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right *
and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness *
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
2nd Reading:
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Paul has written to the Thessalonians based on a report he has received about them from his protégé Timothy. Here he expresses his desire to visit them and bolster their faith. This desire, as well as the faith of the Thessalonians, is in the context of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Both Paul and the Thessalonians would have believed that this was to be soon, although some Thessalonians were beginning to wonder—see 4:13—5:11. Paul never talks about the coming of Jesus as a threat, but rather a time of revelation and fulfillment of God’s promises.
3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Gospel Reading Luke 21:25-36
On this First Sunday of Advent, we read from one of the “apocalyptic” chapters of Matthew, Mark or Luke. Apocalyptic is writing about the end times, the time of revelation, the time of justice and judgment, the consummation of the Kingdom of God. The threatening signs of the end are actually a patchwork of Old Testament sayings and phrases. In one sense there is nothing new here that the prophets haven’t already said before. In the face of a world in crisis, Jesus’ advice is to “stand up and raise your heads,” and pray for strength.
21:25 Jesus said, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 34 Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
The Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are
from the New Revised Standard Version
Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. The Collect of the Day and the Psalm translation
are from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2021
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843. www.EpiphanyEsources.com. All rights reserved. Permission is given to copy for group
study.
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