We Are All Called To Be Messengers Of Jesus Christ ~ by Ronnie Archer
In the first reading for this Sunday, which comes from the 40th Chapter of Isaiah, the Israelites, who were in exile, heard consoling words of deliverance, forgiveness and the promise of salvation. This is from the mouth of the Lord...
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated."... "Every valley shall be filled in, and mountains and hills shall be made low; rugged land shall be made a plain; rough country, a broad valley. THEN the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together."
The second reading is from 2 Peter. This must not be overlooked... "to the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." The Lord does not delay, as we regard "delay." Because of His love for us, He is being patient, giving us plenty of time to come to repentance because He wishes us all to be saved.
Today's Gospel from Mark, tells us of the preparation for Jesus' ministry. We hear the account of the "messenger," John the Baptist, in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins; and that "One mightier than I is coming after me, I am not worthy to stoop and untie His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
To receive the salvation that God promises, we have to really listen to, repent and turn to God. We should do our very best to conduct ourselves as Christ-like, in holiness and devotion because of the wonderful promise of God. After this world passes away, according to His promise, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, in which only righteousness dwells.
It is most important to understand just what kind of Christmas we are planning; a commercial one or a spiritual one. We tend to worry about everything except Jesus Christ.
Advent is another opportunity to really prepare for the coming of our Lord. Amidst all of the commercial preparations, the "busyness" and the secular noise around us, which, like this earth and the elements on it, will surely "pass away" at the time determined by our God. We must focus on the ONE whose birthday we are preparing to celebrate.
John the Baptist wasn't important because of who he was, but because of the message that he brought. We should ask ourselves "have we been a messenger to others?" Has anyone changed their life positively, because of our life? Have we been a model to anyone?
Internally, God judges us, and we can change others by our behavior. People who see us each day look at our behavior. Is it Christian?
We are called to be a messenger of Jesus Christ.
~ Second Sunday of Advent ~
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated."... "Every valley shall be filled in, and mountains and hills shall be made low; rugged land shall be made a plain; rough country, a broad valley. THEN the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together."
The second reading is from 2 Peter. This must not be overlooked... "to the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." The Lord does not delay, as we regard "delay." Because of His love for us, He is being patient, giving us plenty of time to come to repentance because He wishes us all to be saved.
Today's Gospel from Mark, tells us of the preparation for Jesus' ministry. We hear the account of the "messenger," John the Baptist, in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins; and that "One mightier than I is coming after me, I am not worthy to stoop and untie His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
To receive the salvation that God promises, we have to really listen to, repent and turn to God. We should do our very best to conduct ourselves as Christ-like, in holiness and devotion because of the wonderful promise of God. After this world passes away, according to His promise, there will be a new heaven and a new earth, in which only righteousness dwells.
It is most important to understand just what kind of Christmas we are planning; a commercial one or a spiritual one. We tend to worry about everything except Jesus Christ.
Advent is another opportunity to really prepare for the coming of our Lord. Amidst all of the commercial preparations, the "busyness" and the secular noise around us, which, like this earth and the elements on it, will surely "pass away" at the time determined by our God. We must focus on the ONE whose birthday we are preparing to celebrate.
John the Baptist wasn't important because of who he was, but because of the message that he brought. We should ask ourselves "have we been a messenger to others?" Has anyone changed their life positively, because of our life? Have we been a model to anyone?
Internally, God judges us, and we can change others by our behavior. People who see us each day look at our behavior. Is it Christian?
We are called to be a messenger of Jesus Christ.
~ Second Sunday of Advent ~
Labels: advent, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Sunday, December 07, 2008
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