The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
A Meditation
"He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end."
For many Episcopalians the Advent Season has great appeal, partly as an oasis from the Christmas shopping season, but mostly as a clear reminder to prepare spiritually for Jesus' second advent as the Sovereign Lord, Judge, and Redeemer of all, as well as for the yearly remembrance of his first advent as the Holy Child of Bethlehem.
In the seasonal preface included in the Eucharistic Prayer in Advent, the priest prays to God the Father, "... you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing."
The Lord Jesus has redeemed us from sin and death. In baptism, we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ's own forever. Yet the grip of shame and fear is still felt in our lives and found in the life of the Church and the world Jesus has redeemed. Advent calls us to renew our trust in God alone. The prophets proclaimed that only in God do we find the holy courage and will to radically and permanently change the landscape God has placed us in:
"They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more."
A noble dream but it seems so impossible. Not so! says Isaiah. It is completely possible, House of Jacob, when we "walk in the light of the LORD!"
The dramatically hopeful collect for this first week of Advent practically shouts to us: Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light!
Beloved, God's peace and justice and mercy that we crave in the world and in our neighborhoods, the lifting up of the poor across the world and across this Commonwealth, and the shalom - the wholeness of God we seek for ourselves and for all--becomes possible as we empty ourselves as Jesus emptied himself. By being utterly faithful to the New Commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved us, the everlasting reign of Christ is built here and now.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, in each of us, and in your Church! 
