ADVENT 3BADVENT 3BDECEMBER 14, 2014DECEMBER 14, 2014

Isaiah 61:1-11Isaiah 61:1-111 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians

5:16-245:16-24John 1:6-8, 19-28John 1:6-8, 19-28

San Juan de la San Juan de la CruzCruz

Spanish MysticSpanish Mystic1542 – 15911542 – 1591

Collect for Advent 3BCollect for Advent 3BStir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; & because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace & mercy speedily help & deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you & the Holy Spirit, be honor & glory, now & forever. Amen.

 

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

Prayer for Advent 3B [San Juan de la Cruz]Prayer for Advent 3B [San Juan de la Cruz]Judge eternal, enthroned in splendor, you gave Juan de la Cruz strength of purpose & mystical faith to sustain him through darkest nights of the soul: Shed your light on all who love you, in unity with Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you & the Holy Spirit lives & reigns, one God, forever. Amen.

ADVENT 3B: VISION & SALVATION [ISAIAH 61:1-11]ADVENT 3B: VISION & SALVATION [ISAIAH 61:1-11]

Time Stamp: c. 706 BCIsaiah’s vision: People will rejoice because God is renewing creation with righteousness & a promise of salvation.

Roles of Prophets [Vv 1-3]•Prophets have God’s spirit moving in them at all times – don’t discount them•--Preacher•--Healer•--Deliverer•--Comforter•--Planter

Office of the Promised Messiah•Promises to Jews returned from captivity, extend to all of us who, through grace, are delivered out of spiritual servitude. •An unholy soul is like a city in decline, like a house in ruins; but power of Christ's gospel & grace rebuilds it as a habitation of God, through the Spirit.•Not just Triumph, but Salvation•--Triumph is for the moment & fades•--Salvation endures for eternity

10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, & release to the prisoners;2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

ADVENT 3B: LIVING RIGHT [ADVENT 3B: LIVING RIGHT [ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24]

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24]

Time Stamp: 51 ADPaul’s message: Rejoice in the Holy Spirit, avoid evil and live holy lives.

Exhortations

•Rejoice

•Pray

•Give thanks

•Keep flame of Faith burning

•Don’t discount prophesy –a gift of God

•Validate all things; retain what is good

•Abstain from any appearance of evil

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.25Beloved, pray for us.26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.27I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

16Rejoice always,17pray without ceasing,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19Do not quench the Spirit.20Do not despise the words of prophets,21but test everything; hold fast to what is good;22abstain from every form of evil.

Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit."up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit."

ADVENT 3B: PREPARE YE THE WAY! [JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28]

ADVENT 3B: PREPARE YE THE WAY! [JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28]

SynopsisJohn the Baptist makes his role clear: prepare the way for Christ’s coming.

John’s Testimony [Vv 6-8]•Man of God [authoritative source]•Witness to The Light of Christ

Priests Query John [Vv 19-28]•John was of the Priestly class—descendant of Aaron•Priest and Levits sent to query him•Pharisees felt themselves above the mission•Want to know on what authority he Baptizes•John professes to be none other than who he is—a messenger•--Emphasizes he is NOT the Messiah•--Here to fulfill scripture•--Humble—merely a voice•Note the venue: Bethabara•--vicinity of where Joshua led the Israelites across to their Promise

St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014

23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said.24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know,27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”