The Second Sunday Of Advent (2008)

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Last Sunday, on the first Sunday in Advent,

       We lit the first Candle

       That represents our hope

       For the coming of God’s Reign in Jesus Christ.

Advent calls us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

All around us people prepare for parties, dinners and presents.

These events could distract us from the real reason for our anticipation.

On the other hand, they also could prepare us;

they could be the voice crying in a wilderness of materialism:

“Prepare the way for the coming

of what is really important.”

Rather than get lost in the wilderness of distractions,

we will let this time make us sensitive

to the voice that is even now calling our name.

We will listen for the Word in the words and even in the noise.

In Isaiah 40 the Prophet says,

1 Comfort, comfort my people,
       says your God.

 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
       and proclaim to her
       that her hard service has been completed,
       that her sin has been paid for,
       that she has received from the LORD's hand
       double for all her sins.

 3 A voice of one calling:
       "In the desert prepare
       the way for the LORD;
       make straight in the wilderness
       a highway for our God.

 4 Every valley shall be raised up,
       every mountain and hill made low;
       the rough ground shall become level,
       the rugged places a plain.

 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
       and all mankind together will see it.
       For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

On this second Sunday of Advent

we choose to prepare our hearts to be a peaceful presence

in this midst of a frantic season.

So, today, we light the second candle

as an act of preparation and call it Peace.