Advent calendar 2020

Advent 7 - Saturday 5th December 2020

‘Ye brood of Vipers!’

Introduction

One of the characters that we associate with the Season of Advent is John Baptist. John is sometimes the called the ‘forerunner’ – who stands in the tradition of the great Old Testament Prophets. His purpose was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah through a baptism of repentance.

Bible Reading

Luke 3:1-9
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Reflection
At Cruden Parish Church we strive to be a warm, welcoming, inclusive congregation. We yearn for people to find the ‘true’ hope, peace, joy and love that flows from an ‘authentic’ encounter with God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This reflects a belief that faith should be life affirming, enriching and a source of positive encouragement and joy. So far so good. But occasionally God will send round a prophet, whose purpose is not to affirm but to disturb. Not to sooth but to startle. Not to offer easy words, but to cauterise with uncomfortable truth. This too is an important part of our faith. There are times when we all need a kick up the backside and shaken out of complacency, especially in matters relating to our salvation. Of course, there is a need for balance here. There is a world of difference between Christians who make negativity and judgmentalism a lifestyle choice and Christians motivated with compassion and love.
There is a challenge here too in our preparation and celebration of Christmas. Our modern secular Christmas is all about Santa, elves, tinsel, and parties. Nothing wrong with these things if they are in their correct place. But what about the baby in the manger? What about God breaking into the world of human experience? What the incoming of God’s Kingdom which contradicts the values of the world? What about the confrontation of ‘self’ by the irrepressible love of God? What about the hurt, pain and poverty of the people that surround us?
If John the Baptist were to pay us a visit, I wonder what would he have to say to us?

(Rev Sean Swindells)

Prayers

Lord Jesus,
You came and come to all
You came and come especially to the poorest
And the most vulnerable
Come to us here, Lord Jesus
To help and to heal the poverty of our souls
To refresh and inspire us Even through the weakness of our faith...
Come - to love and to hold us –
To give us the courage
Always to point to You
For Your names’ sake.
Amen

Blessing

Comfort, joy and peace be yours.
Know how blessed You are
and go to be that blessing to all around you.
May God Almighty hold you and all whom you love
in the palm of His hand this day and always.
Amen

Other days in the Advent Calendar