Advent
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Friday, December 16th, 2011Friday – December 16th : “The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David”
Readings: Genesis 49:2,8-10 Psalm 72:3-8, 17 Matthew 1:1-17
Reflection: Do you know who your ancestors were, where they came from, and what they passed on from their generation to the next? Genealogies are very important. They give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus traces his lineage from Abraham, the father of God’s chosen people, through the line of David, King of Israel. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descent of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David’s throne. God in his mercy fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Saviour and a King to rule over the house of Israel and to deliver them from their enemies.
When Jacob blessed his sons he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled in David (Genesis 49:10). We can also see in this blessing a foreshadowing of God’s fulfillment in raising up his anointed King, Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises to the people of Israel He is the hope not only for the Jewish people but for all nations as well. He is the Saviour of the world who redeems us from slavery to sin and Satan and makes us citizens of the kingdom of God. In him we receive adoption into a royal priesthood and holy nation as sons and daughters of the living God (see 1 Peter 1:9). Do we acknowledge our spiritual genealogy and heritage from our ancestors in the faith? Do we allow God to be our loving Father and Jesus to be our Saviour, Lord and Friend?
“Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Messiah and Saviour of the world, the hope of Israel and the hope of the nations. Be the ruler of my heart and the king of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your wise rule and care.”
Advent Week Three- Thursday
Thursday, December 15th, 2011Thursday - December 15th: “The blind receive their sight and the poor have good news preached to them”
Scripture: Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-25 Psalm 85:8-13 Luke 7:18-23
Reflection: How do we know that Jesus is who he claims to be, the Son of God, Messiah, and Saviour of the world? Is our faith a blind leap we must take without certainty or proof? John the Baptist sends his disciples to question Jesus about his claim to be God’s anointed Messiah perhaps because he wanted them to hear and see firsthand for themselves the signs and proof that the Messiah had indeed come in the person of Jesus Christ.
The miracles which Jesus performed and his message about the kingdom or reign of God directly fulfilled what the prophets had foretold (see Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1). Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would come in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and evil (see Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus came to set people free from the worst tyranny possible – the tyranny of slavery to sin and the fear of death, and the destruction of both body and soul. God’s power alone can save us from hopelessness, from confusion, and from the fear of death and grace us with lives of ultimate meaning and purpose. The gospel of salvation is “good news” for us today. Do we know the joy and freedom of the gospel?
“Lord Jesus, you are the fulfillment of all our hopes and desires. Your Spirit brings us grace, truth, life, and freedom. Fill me with the joy of the gospel and inflame my heart with love and zeal for you and for your will”.
Advent Week Three - Wednesday
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011Wednesday - December 14th: “The tax collectors and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you”
Readings: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 22 Matthew 21:28-32
Reflection: Jesus asks us a simple question: What do you think? Who will inherit the kingdom of heaven?
Jesus upsets self-righteous people with his declaration that the tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom of God before them. Jesus illustrated his point with a story of two imperfect sons. The father provided his sons with everything they needed. He thought they would be grateful to work for him in exchange for his care for them. He expected them to show their gratitude and respect through their diligence in tending his vineyard.
Although the “rebellious” son told his father to his face that he would not work for him, he afterwards changed his mind and did what his father commanded him to do. The “good” son said he would work for his father, but didn’t carry through. He did his own will contrary to his father’s will.
Both sons disobeyed their father; but one repented and then did what the father told him.
Jesus makes his point clear: Good intentions are not enough. And promises don’t count unless they are made good.
God wants us to show by our actions that we respect the will of God. God offers each of us the greatest treasure possible – unending peace, joy, happiness, and life with him in his kingdom. In Advent, Jesus encourages us to think – to think about the consequences of our choices, especially the choices and decisions that will count not just for now but for eternity as well.
The choices we make today affect and shape our future, both our future on earth as well as in the life of the age to come. Are we ready to choose to work for God’s kingdom of righteousness and peace and to do what we say we will do?
“Lord Jesus, change my heart that I may desire to do whatever is pleasing to you. Help me to respect your will and give me the strength, joy, and perseverance to carry it out wholeheartedly.”
Advent Week Three - Tuesday
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011Tuesday - December 13th : “The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?”
Readings: Numbers 24:2-7,15-17 Psalm 25:5-9 Matthew 21:23-27
Reflection:
When John the Baptist began to preach a message of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah, the religious leaders resisted his message.
Jesus the Messiah also met resistance, opposition, and hostility from the religious leaders who opposed Jesus and rejected his claim to divine authority because their view of God did not correspond with the God’ revealed in Jesus. They questioned Jesus to discredit his claim to be the Messiah. If Jesus says his authority is divine they will charge him with blasphemy. If he has done this on his own authority they could arrest him as a dangerous zealot.
Jesus, seeing through their trap, poses a question to them and makes their answer a condition for his answer. Did they accept the work of John the Baptist as divine or human? If they accepted John’s work as divine, they would be compelled to accept Jesus as the Messiah. They dodged the question because they were unwilling to face the truth. They did not accept the John and they would not accept Jesus as their Messiah.
The coming of God’s kingdom or reign on the earth inevitably leads to conflict – a conflict of allegiance to God’s values expressed in Jesus or allegiance to cultural values…a conflict between God’s truth revealed in Jesus or to a “truth” relative to what we want to believe is useful for us for the time being.
How do we respond to Jesus’ claim to be not only the Messiah, but the source of eternal life and truth as well? Do we stake our life on the coming of his kingdom? Jesus promises that those who try to live according to his values will find true joy, freedom, and happiness.
Advent Week Three - Monday
Monday, December 12th, 2011Monday - December 12th: “Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things”
Scripture: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11 (Apocrypha) Psalm 80:2-3, 15-19 Matthew 17:10-13
Reflection: God gives signs to show what he is about to do. John the Baptist is one such sign. John pointed to Jesus and prepared the way for his coming. John fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets: to point out the need to repent and to proclaim what God was about to accomplish. John is the last and greatest prophet of the Old Testament and he links the Old Covenant with the New by identifying Jesus as the messiah. The Jewish people expected that when the Messiah would come, Elijah would appear to announce his presence. John fills the role of Elijah and prepares the way for the coming of Christ by preaching a baptism of repentance and renewal. As watchful servants, we too must prepare for the Lord’s coming again by turning away from sin and from everything that would keep us from pursuing his will. Are we eager to do God’s will and are we prepared to meet the Lord Jesus when he returns in glory?
“Lord Jesus, stir my zeal for your righteousness and for your kingdom. Free me from complacency and from compromising with the ways of sin and worldliness that I may be wholeheartedly devoted to you and to your kingdom.”
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