A Righteous Branch
Today is the first Sunday in Advent. Address for week 16 up to Christmas time to prepare our hearts and Minds for the Christmas season, which begins when? Christmas Day and then last for 12 days
First Sunday of Advent we focus on hold. The green shoot coming up out of a dead stump. Hope is knowing that God is with us no matter what. Is knowing that God loves us no matter what.
Lead us to rejoice when things are going well. We need hope. Jeremiah says in a righteous Branch will spring up for Jesse Sun King David my imagination. Route 30 Brown branches on his route Laurel Hollow Road are blooming from tenderstem s from Jesse's lineage coming by Facebook profit song. 3/8 minutes for us or Nikon paintings for centuries
thousands of years. I've been called Windows into heaven. Luke the author of the third gospel as well as the book editions today as the original iconography.
Leaves are painted the face of Mary the mother of Jesus as well as the images of Peter and Paul. Holy symbols, where the symbol of the fish? And even the cross itself and it means when she emerged in many forms. About 600 years before the birth of Jesus a prophet Jeremiah spoke of the restoration of Jerusalem in its leaders says the Lord when I will fulfill the promise I'll just bring up for David.
And he selected good Justice and righteousness in the land in those days to double be saved in Jerusalem a live in safety. And this will be called the Lord is our rights. News versus Providence talking about the leadership of the future. That's the meaning of righteous branch. emerge out of family tree of King David a man after God's Own Heart What is focused on Justice and righteousness its leader will truly restore the fortunes of the people? Bible scholar scholar Patrick Miller says it's his Focus will not be simply on abundance productivity and partying and leave them in their worship of the Lord. This new leader is of course, Jesus Christ and family of David is the one who teaches us right to a word which is best defined as right relationship. righteousness in a relationship with each other and in our relationship with God Jesus is our righteous Branch. Jesus Is Our Hope How can we apply this message of righteousness to our own lives to be followed Jesus into the future? For starters we need to get in righteousness is not the same thing as self-righteousness. The Pharisees were self-righteous people in Jesus was not particularly a big fan of the Pharisees. Carry out of Pharisees that work in the church today and he offers us a list of some of the things a day tend to say on the top of that list of the Bible as well. As I did his life would be better. What is self righteousness rolled up into a neat little package? Morgan Superior about knowing the Bible Next up on his list.
Following the rules in a good thing but it is not what gets us into the Christian faith we get in because Christ forgives us. Replacement seats we do our best to follow the rules. The third thing on his list is God listens to my prayers. Where is amazing says Iowa but prayer is not a button to be pushed nearly as much as it is a relationship to be pursued. self-righteous versus Christian when we show Christian righteousness
We try to follow the rules because we are thankful request for and we pray because we have a deep desire for a relationship.
This is all about right relationship. Recreation ship with the people around us we search for the image of God and each and every first black white rich or poor young or old immigrant tornadoes form we act as though Jesus is hidden inside the least of our brothers and sisters because we remember that Jesus said that we are really serving him when we give food to the hungry drinks welcome to the stranger and clothing for the Nexus. Maybe one of the pages of Jesus came into the world is a weak and vulnerable baby remind us of the importance of caring with the least of our brothers and sisters. What relationship is treating others as you would like be treated as Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount in everything do to others as you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. In the single verse Jesus offers an image of what it means to execute Justice and righteousness in the land. Also has a Divine judgment relationship with God is not going to worship worship and giving offering with the self-righteous Pharisees were very good at paying attention to what Jesus called the weightier matters of the law Justice and mercy and safe. Any kind of religions that James says in his letter your and undefiled before God a religion that challenges people to care for Orphans and widows in there. And to keep oneself on stained by the world.
Will my name of Margaret Higgins during the Korean conflict? One better winner Stacy began interviewing the muddy Marine who had just returned from a grueling battle as he open the tin can of C rations and began eating.
Do anything in the world you want it?
ring thought for a moment and then said give me tomorrow.
That is hope that is what the prophets promised us.
Another fold, it was titled the hidden image Rabbi David wolpe story about angels and the Divine image of angels heard that God intended create human beings and God don't like this. human beings run worth it to hide damage one proposed The Mountaintop Another Angel pointed out that human beings climbing would eventually Discover it. suggested at the bottom of the ocean
find image even at the ocean floor. shrewdness, Angel proposed fix damaged be hidden within human beings themselves because it is the last place they would be likely to look and so it was Play continue saying we must we must look the Divine image within ourselves and within others. There are mysteries on the Mountaintop and secrets in the ocean what the greatest treasure is found inside the human heart.
Beach at the Royal Wedding last spring, but he surprised a message on civil rights and social justice in the name of our loving liberating and self giving God. Jesse talks about love also about executing Justice and righteousness in the land.
image of a righteous branch When Love is the Wayside Bishop Carrie will go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When Love is the way we will let Justice roll.
When Love is the way the Earth will be a sanctuary will lay down or swords and shields Down by the Riverside to study war no more When Love Was the way there's plenty good room when he good room for all of God's children. Challenging us to follow Jesus. Our new leader from God is essential symbol for our lives. We discovered. Right with each other and also with God. This is the hope that we celebrate on this first Sunday of Advent. This is the whole exhaust ones for each of us the image of God in each and every person that we meet or then we will find the hole that God is offering to us. Thanks be to God.