A sermon/reflection for Advent Sunday – Year B
The readings for this Sunday are those of Advent Sunday:
Isaiah 64.1-9
Psalm 80.1-7, 16-18; 1
Corinthians 1. 3-9
Mark 13. 24-37
You might like to use the link below to find the above readings, and click on any of the reading above that you wish to use: http://www.katapi.org.uk/CommonWorship/CWLectionarySelV.php
Collect of the day
Let us first spend a few moments in silence to centre ourselves,
to gather ourselves in our souls, to come before the Lord just as we are with our joys and sorrows, our hopes and our fears, our loves and our pains.
Let us just focus our minds and hearts on Jesus
who is the answer for every problem.
Let us pray that the Spirit will work through our lives
to bring Christ to the world.
Silence is kept
Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
help us to hear the call of Christ the King
and to follow in his service,
whose kingdom has no end;
for he is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Prayer before the Sermon
Loving Heavenly Father,
we thank you for the words you have given us today.
We know they are words of life and salvation.
Open our hearts Father,
touch our souls,
forgive us our sins,
especially our lack of faith,
help us to respond to your word.
May we know
that you are our Lord and Saviour
who promises us the power from on high,
your Holy Spirit.
May we experience in our hearts
your love and your presence always.
Amen.
A homily based on the gospel reading of today Mark 13.24-37) is given below:
Keep awake! Watch! Pray!
The snowflakes aren’t there yet are they? I hope you all had a fairly good week; I also hope that during the week you did experience the presence of God in one way or another. Just spend a moment or two to recall times in the past week when you felt God was there for you at your side, always faithful, always loving, always merciful.
Pause a few moments to reflect ….
The Word of God today
In the Word of God this morning, the key message that comes out from the readings especially from the first reading from Prophet Isaiah as well as from the gospel (Mark 13.24-37) is: Keep awake! Watch! And I would add “Pray!” Let me quote below these key verses from the gospel that we have listened to today.
“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” (verse 33)
Again in verse 35: “Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,
(36) “or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.”
And verse 37: “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
I think these verses which are words of Jesus could indeed be the theme for this Season of Advent we begin today: Keep awake! Watch! Pray!
What is Advent?
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin “venire” which means “to come.” That person who comes and for whom we keep awake is none other than Jesus Christ. He already came on earth 2000 years ago. He will come again at the end of time. During the Advent Season and at Christmas, we celebrate this two-fold coming of Christ. In the Holy Communion we proclaim: Christ has died! Christ is Risen! Christ will come again!
Watching! Waiting! Keeping Awake – A Way of Prayer
Watching and waiting is so much part of our daily lives. We wait for all sorts of things. We wait for a new child to be born. We wait for the bus or train or a flight. We wait for the postman every day. We wait for the arrival of a dear one. The psalmist says in psalm 27. Verse 13: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!”
There are different ways of keeping awake and alert for the Redeemer. One way for us to wait, watch and keep awake is the Way of Prayer.
Prayer is keeping awake, keeping watch with God.
Prayer is spending time with God. It is relaxing spiritually with God, just being with the Lord, talking to the Lord and also listening to the Lord in our hearts, opening our hearts to him, abiding in the Lord, having a spiritual walk with the Lord.
To conclude
Let me conclude with the key message from the word of God today which is the theme for this Season of Advent: Keep awake! Watch! Pray!
Let me also read a few verses from the Bible to encourage us to pray in this way during the four weeks of Advent leading to Christmas. They are from the prophet Isaiah:
- “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. (Is 30.15)
- “Therefore, the Lord waits to be gracious to you; (18a)
- “Blessed are all those who wait for him.” (Is 30.18c)
May you experience the Lord’s coming in your hearts as he did at Christmas over 2000 years ago. That is my prayer for you and your dear ones this Advent. Advent Sunday is also the Church’s New Year Day. So, A Happy and Holy Advent to you all!
[ST Mattapallly, Rector, Springline Parish Diocese of Lincoln]
Pause to pray …
A Prayer you can say now:
Lord Jesus,
I believe you are the Son of God.
Thank you for becoming one of us.
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.
Thank you for rising from the dead
to give me hope and the gift of eternal life.
I repent of my sins
and invite you into heart and life
as my Lord and Saviour.
Please grant me your Holy Spirit
so that I may know you, love you
and follow you every day of my life.
Amen.