First Advent Sunday – 11/28/2021
“What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” Luke 18:41
Wherefore saith the Scriptures, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14
“Fractus laboris nomen est – The fruit of her labor is her name. The Church received her name as the unity of those who believed in the coming of the Lord.” Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy, The Christian Future
By our fruit and its effects, we become who we are before the Lord.
In this time of growing anxiety and uncertainty, God leads us into the Advent season, which is the beginning of the church year. Everything we see testifies to increasing darkness, not only that winter is coming, but also, as the Bible says, that the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16), and not only but too that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). Let us remember the most common command God issues us found in the Bible is, “Fear not!” God has given us His word, He promises us, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). “And lo,” says our Lord, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).”
And so, we sing with the children,
Advent, Advent,
A little light is burning.
First one, then two,
Then three, then four,
Then the Christ Child is at the door.
Today we remember that because we bear the name Christian, we are the people of hope in this world. Today we remember that, as the prophets promised, the hope of the world has come into the world.
Behold:
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2.)
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and the world knew him not (John 1:5, 9, 10).
And Jesus spake unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).” We have hope because we believe, and what we believe we proclaim, telling the world what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the Jewish people, and to the people of the nations (Acts 26:23).
Who is our hope? His name is Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (Matthew 1:21, 23). What is our hope? The testimony of Jesus tells us, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” And he that sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:3-5)!” In this world that is passing away with its lust, we are living parables – advertisements – announcing nothing means anything except the coming of God’s new creation (Galatians 6:15). For in Christ nothing availeth anything but faith which worketh by love. So through the Holy Spirit, we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith (Galatians 5:5-6). Lord, give us the fruit of your lips that we might speak of what you give with lips of praise. Let us pray for one another, that we may be among those of whom it is said, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tiding of good things (Romans 10:15)!”
That is what Advent means. The prophets said, “He will come.” The apostles and prophets said, “He will come again.” And God Himself has said, ”I will dwell among them.” Knowing the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God? May he find us waiting, according to his promise, looking for the new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:10-13).
This Advent season many homes and churches display as a favorite Christmas decoration the Advent wreath with its four candles. This humble catechist asks us to reflect on some beautiful truths. Here are some of the things the Advent wreath helps bring to mind.
1. It reminds us of a very special imperishable wreath – the crown of righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ, the righteous Judge, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing, gives this victory wreath to all those that love His appearing. That is, to them who have kept the good deposit committed unto them by the Holy Spirit who dwelleth in us, who fought the good fight and have kept the faith (2 Timothy 1:14; 4:7). For everything that is born of God overcomes the world, and our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5)?
2. The Advent wreath is woven of small evergreen branches. Coniferous trees remain green all year round; therefore, symbolizing eternal life. In addition, the color green reminds us of the reign of God and of God Himself. The Bible records the vision of John who wrote: And behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald… And the four living ones in the midst of the throne and around about the throne, rest not day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4: 2-3, 6, 8)!”
3. The Advent wreath is circular. The circle God calls into His creation has no interest in eternity as a forever-ticking clock or an ever-ringing bell. It wants to signify the everlasting God from everlasting to everlasting, who reigns forever and ever. It symbolizes perfection and completion. Christ is our perfection and God completes everything in Christ. Therefore we complete our salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in us both to will and to do, according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). We present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). We serve Him with reverence and godly fear, knowing that what He has begun in us He will also complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). We encourage one another to let patience have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4). Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19). The Lord is at hand. Let us not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let us make our requests known before God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6, 7)!
4. We light the Advent wreath’s four candles one after the other. This reminds us not only that we are getting closer and closer to the celebration of Christ’s birth, but also to the moment when he will come again. Jesus says, Yes, I am coming soon! Just as He wills that we be with Him where He is that we may behold His glory; so too by the same Spirit do we desire to be like Him and see Him as He is (John 17:24; 1 John 3:2). Thus we pray, Amen, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20)!
What else might the Advent wreath want to tell us? It points away from itself to say, “See the hole in my middle that I envelop. The Advent wreath’s center reminds us of those who are still in darkness, dead in their sins and transgressions. In this Advent season, they are without hope and without God. And if they die in this condition, what will happen to them? The Bible says, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe the Son will not see life but the wrath of God abides on him (1 John 5:12; John 3:15, 16, 36). Without believing in Jesus, they will go into eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46), and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10). God will punish them with everlasting destruction away from His presence and from the glory of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:9). And the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And they were judged every man according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15).
Let us make it our goal this Advent season to be faithful to Christ. Let us remember that God loves those who are without Christ, without life and without light, who are without hope in this world. Let us remember that when Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Therefore, this Advent season, let us remember the blind man who, realizing that Jesus was approaching, cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Why did he cry out like that? He believed that Jesus was the Messiah. He believed Jesus was the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies. He believed Jesus brings healing because He is the one who will restore all things. And Jesus commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” And he said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” And Jesus said unto him, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee (Luke 18:35-43).”
This Advent season let us take the question of our Lord to heart. May he work in us so that we may answer him, “Lord, we want to see the lost with your eyes.” Let us pray for one another that we may receive this gift of sight. We are the light of the world. We give thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in Him we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:12-14). Having received this grace, we should proclaim the love of God revealed in His Gospel. Let us be ready to proclaim into the darkness during this Advent season and throughout the church calendar year: God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all, for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, in that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him (1 John 4:8-9). For God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). We plead to those corralled in by God’s love. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9). Jesus was delivered for our offences, and was raised again from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25). The Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:11-13).
This is the message of Advent. There is no one else who can proclaim the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit except those of whom Jesus said, “You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). He commanded us, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).” Might our obedience glorify God to whom be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (Ephesians 3:21). May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may overflow with hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Amen.
Fruit of His Lips 