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Second Sunday in Advent

We have several familiar strains of Advent melodies that run through this Sunday’s lessons. Much of the lessons are forward-looking to the reign of God that in our Christian theology, is fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Psalm 72 is a prayer for that everlasting reign; Isaiah 11 envisions just what such a reign of God might look like; Paul draws heavily on Hebrew Scripture to stress how magnificently all-inclusive Gods’ reign will be while the gospel gets us ready to enter it!

PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19—GIVE JUSTICE THROUGH YOUR SOVEREIGN

We have a psalm purportedly penned by Solomon which at least provides a potential context for interpreting this prayer for the king’s son. In Christian faith, of course, we see something larger than the Davidic dynasty than David or Solomon. The prayer asks for God to grant special qualities to an incoming leader of the people—justice and the defense of the poor, long life, prosperity, a reign that refreshes and waters the land as a springtime rain that causes flora to flourish. The last two verses in our lesson invites everyone to extol God who alone can accomplish such a prosperous reign.

ISAIAH 11:1-10—NEW REIGN, NEW WORLD

What a powerful pre-resurrection image of death and life again. From a stump—a dead, sawn-off trunk—will sprout a tender green shoot that will bear fruit. Again, Christian faith sees the messianic fingerprints of Jesus Christ in the description which follows; the "shoot" from the old stump will embody the virtues of wisdom and understanding and counsel and power and knowledge, and reverential fear. This leader will have vision beyond human sight and discernment beyond human judgment. The second half of the passage (vv. 6-10) portrays the complete alteration of the world as we know it, where even the nature of beasts changes.

ROMANS 15:4-13—ALL AND EVERYONE

This lesson opens the door to the all-inclusiveness of God; all humanity is invited to praise God. This doxology draws heavily on Psalms—69:9, 18:49, 117:1 as well as Deuteronomy 32:43 to demonstrate the far-reaching purpose of God to include gentiles as well as Jewish people as accepted and valued people who are invited into the community of God.

MATTHEW 3:1-12—THE COMING ONE

This lesson presents the gospel of repentance—John the Baptist comes on the stage with his wild-eyed look and even more radically wild message: You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee from God’s coming judgment? To those stinging, withering words, John opens the door to change that begins with action—produce good fruit. The gospel lesson ends with John pointing ahead to one of whom he says, is far greater than I . . . who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. From this beginning introduction, Jesus will be the coming one who will seek justice and pronounce judgment on those who resist the repentance that will open the door to God’s reign.