RCL Readings Sunday 28 November 2010
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Sunday 28 November marks the beginning of Advent, a time of expectance and waiting for the new, a time of hope and anticipation. Central to Advent is the anticipation of God’s kingdom coming in justice, peace and well-being. We are called to live and pray in the light of this. It is easy to allow the business of the run up to Christmas to dull our praying for and living in the light of God’s kingdom.

Our reading from Isaiah 2:1-5 focuses on Judah and Jerusalem as they will be, as they are meant to be, yet the prophecy is at a time when Jerusalem is far from this expectation and ideal. The prophecy sets out the vision of the purpose of Jerusalem: a place of pilgrimage, a place to meet with God, a place to learn God’s ways so as to walk in God’s paths (v.3). That, I would contend, is the purpose God has for the Church – both as a people and as a place of gathering. Pray that the Church where you are involved will be a place to which people will come, will meet with God, will learn God’s ways and will then walk in God’s paths. Pray that this may be so this Advent and into the coming year.

God’s ways according to the prophecy are ways of justice, peace and well-being (v.4). These are things that are needed in the geographical Jerusalem as well as throughout our world. Pray for justice, peace and the well-being of all people and consider what you can do in your daily life to enable these things. Say to one another “come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!” (v.5). Psalm 122 addresses exactly the same themes and invites us to participate in their coming about (Ps 122:6-9) ending with the commitment: “I will seek your good”.

There is a note of urgency about all of this in the New Testament readings. Romans 13:11-14 begins with the stark reminder that “now is the moment for you to wake from sleep”. Consider what the sleep is that we are to awaken from. Is it indifference to the key themes of the Kingdom of God? Is it apathy? Is it preoccupation with the wrong things? Our wakefulness leads to behaviour that reflects now the ways and values of the kingdom that is coming (v.13). We are encouraged to “put on the armour of light” (v.12) and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (v.14) – think of yourself doing this symbolically each day as you get dressed, think of yourself as you go out wearing the armour of light and being clothed in Christ. How does that affect the way you live the day and relate to people?

Matthew 24:36-44 is a graphic warning of the need to be awake and ready – note the delightful sense of humour as you read it. There is a story, whether true or not makes no difference, of a novice asking a very senior and Godly monk “When must I get ready for the Lord’s coming?” To which the reply was given “Oh, not until the last minute”. The novice was silent for a moment and then said “When will that be?” The old monk replied “I haven’t got a clue, so you’d better do it now!” We are called to live today as though it were our last, for indeed it might be. We are called to live now joyfully in the light of God’s kingdom coming in all its fullness – go on, do it!