A sermon/reflection for Second Sunday of Advent – Year B
The readings for this Sunday are those of Advent 2:
- Isaiah 40. 1-11
- Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13
- 2 Peter 3.8-15a
- Mark 1. 1-8
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
O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
and purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as
judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, 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 readings of today (Isaiah 40. 1-11, Mark 1. 1-8) is given below:
Make way for Jesus!
Introduction: Let us look at the key verses in the Gospel reading of today:
Mark 1. 1-8 : Although this passage appears to be about John the Baptist, the real focus is Jesus.
Verse : 1 : “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” It is a dramatic beginning, clear and unequivocal. Note especially Mark’s declaring of Jesus Christ as the “Son of God”. The gospel of Mark is the first gospel written and so it has a special significance for us. Mark had seen Jesus in his youth and had heard of Jesus from Peter of whom Mark was a disciple. So his testimony is of particular importance. Mark clearly states right at the beginning of his gospel that Jesus is not just the carpenter of Nazareth, not just any Jew or Galilean, not just any teacher or religious leader. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
The point of the matter is that as we are preparing ourselves for Christmas, we are not just going to celebrate the birth of any baby-boy — it’s all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Redeemer, our Saviour, truly our God made flesh.
Verses: 2 and 3: It is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”– “a voice of one calling in the desert”, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’”
Mark recalls the prophecy of Isaiah 20.3, the lesson that we read in the first reading. Mark is very careful to demonstrate the continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophecies. John is the messenger who prepares the way for the Lord. Mark gives a lot of importance to John the Baptist as he begins the New Testament unlike the evangelist Luke who considers John the Baptist as the last of the Old Testament prophets.
Verse : 4 : And so John came, baptising in the desert region and reaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John preached a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins. This is actually the central message of the gospels as well as the Christian proclamation. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1. 15)
The “kingdom of God” is not something spatial, material, but the “rule of God”! “Repentance” is change of mentality to that of Jesus’ outlook. The baptism of water is the symbolic sign of the cleansing of sins.
Verse : 7 : And this was his message : “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.” John is a very humble man. He doesn’t take any credit for himself. He says: “I’m just a messenger.” In fact, John points to Jesus as the one who would take people back to God.
Verse : 8 : I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is the one, John points out, as the one who will baptise us with the Spirit.
(There are several family units here. Each one as an individual and as a family respond to God’s word in different ways. I have asked David and Sylvia Johnston to come forward and tell us how they, as a family, have responded to the Word of God that we have just now heard.)
What is the Word of God telling us today?
Isn’t it wonderful to relive that time just before Jesus came in to the world. Every year, this special season of Advent gives us that chance to ‘remember’ and to ‘relive’ and to ‘make way for Jesus’ in our hearts.
- The four weeks before Christmas Day are called Advent (The Coming) because the Church focuses on the coming of Christ to the world, both as a baby in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago and also at the completion of all things, as our Judge and King.
So it is a time of individual and collective preparation and expectancy as we focus on those ‘end things’ of such deep importance for us. We are watching and waiting, doing some honest soul-searching, living through the bustle of pre-Christmas as with a rather wider agenda than presents, tinsel and turkey. It is as if, deep in the heart of us as God’s people, there is in Advent an insistent and urgent drumbeat, summoning us to be watchful and attentive to what God has done, is doing and will do.
- Although the passage that we have heard tells us a lot about John the Baptist, the real focus is Jesus. The gospel is all about Jesus. The New Testament is all about Jesus. He is the ‘good news’ in a world filled with ‘bad news’ of humanity’s ongoing sinfulness. Sin divides us from God and from each other. Jesus, instead, unites us (and redeems us) to God.
- John invites us to repent and confess our sins. Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God. Last week, did some of you watched the inauguration of John Sentamu as the archbishop of York? In his sermon he recalled England back to her ‘christian’ roots!
That is what John the Baptist did. He recalled people to their senses and pointed to Jesus. Jesus must again become ‘absolute’ and ‘central’ in our lives and in our country.
Conclusion:
We must all return to our ‘Christian’ roots. The clarion call of John the Baptist is a reminder to us.
- God has done so much for us. Do we witness Jesus in our lives?
- Do we give testimony by our lives that we have repented of our sins and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Master of our lives?
- Do we manifest to others that we are ‘redeemed’?
It is never too late to repent, to turn away from sinful or unhealthy ways, to turn to Jesus Christ and make a fresh start in life. The season of Advent is a very good time to do just that! May God bless you and restore your hearts!
[Revd Dr ST Mattapally, 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.