9. Second Sunday in Advent. I.
Lord, let thy word rouse us
and keep us awake. Amen.
Gospel Lesson, Luke 21, 25-36. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
❦
Many forget entirely that a judgment day is coming, and none remembers it with such vividness of thought and feeling as the gravity of the subject demands. Time flies, and every second brings us nearer to the judgment. Beware lest you forget this. Even though the many who are of the earth forget it, do not you forget it, Christian believer! Indeed, in your innermost heart you long for the second coming of the Lord. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The children of the world refuse to believe this, but the event will put their wisdom to shame. They dream that there is no day of doom, the while they sail straight toward the judgment seat of the Lord and stand in the midst of death, the entrance gate to the place of judgment. Yes, the Lord has said that he will come again, and he will keep his promise. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but his word shall not pass away. Rejoice, ye Christians, for soon shall the Son of Man be revealed, the Glorious One, who loves you and whom ye love. Begin now to lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh. No terrible judge is he who cites you to appear before him; he is the Son of Man with the stripes and scars in his transfigured body. When you see the sign of the cross you shall know him and be of good cheer, while the proud and valiant men of the world shake with fear, and their hearts fail them in despair. Himself has said that whosoever believes in him shall not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life.
Watch, however; watch! It is but a little while. Away with the cares of the world; away with the lusts of the flesh; away with all sleepiness and sloth! Watch, stand steadfast in the Lord, be manly, be strong. Do not let the mists of unbelief confuse you. Do not let the countless lusts of the flesh master you. Stand with loins girt about and with lights burning. Watch, for Jesus’ sake; watch! Lord Jesus, do thou help us always to watch and pray. Faithful Savior, preserve my soul and man me with firm resolve to abide in thee, in order that I may be found watching when thou comest, and that with the elect I may be a guest at thy wedding feast. Amen.*
That day of wrath, that dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
What power shall be the sinner’s stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
When, shriveling like a parched scroll,
The flaming heavens together roll,
When louder yet, and yet more dread,
Resounds the trump that wakes the dead:
Oh! on that day, that wrathful day,
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be thou, O Christ, the sinner’s stay,
Though heaven and earth shall pass away.
10. Second Sunday in Advent. II.
Lord, give us devout hearts. Amen.
Epistle Lesson, Romans 15, 4-9. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
❦
The human family has been torn asunder, hearts have been divided, and the world is full of strife. From Babel the peoples go their several ways; and since the time of the patriarchs the people of Israel have kept their independent course like a current through the sea, without assimilating with the others. But that which sin separated and which the wisdom of God long kept asunder, his mercy has again united. Jesus is become the Savior of all peoples. He has fulfilled the law, and he became the suffering servant whom the scriptures promise to the Jews as a redeemer. But he died for us gentiles also, so that the prophecies of the prophets concerning salvation by the mercy of God are fulfilled in him. Satan, the spirit of discord, the prince of death, shall rule no more. As yet we see, to be sure, only the beginning of the union of Jews and gentiles in one fold; there is yet much division in the Christian church; we still suffer sorely by reason of the cunning and power of the enemy. O, if Israel would but know its Savior, how much of added life and power would not be given to the Lord’s people! How strong would the church be, were there not, alas, so many parties among the believing children of God! It would capture the world and would soon attain to the perfect estate of glory. Nevertheless, we shall surely conquer through patience and comfort of the scriptures. The Lord, who bears Jews and gentiles in one heart and has redeemed both with one blood, will continue to unite the believing Jews and gentiles into one people. Or, shall not the prophecies be fulfilled which, from the beginning to the end of the Bible, promise a blessed unity of all who are saved? If the promise concerning the service to be rendered by the Son of God for both Jew and gentile has been fulfilled, shall not the promise concerning their union as one blessed people be fulfilled also? The word of God must come true. Our own hearts, also, tell us that we have communion with all the saints of all peoples; even now we live the life of love together in spite of all that divides us; we pray together before the throne; we sing the same song of praise; we labor in the same spirit; we are joined together by one life; — all of which points to the same glorious end as do the words of the Lord wherein he promises to gather all his own where there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
Lord Jesus, bless this church year; unite thy believers; give the Jews repentance; gather unto thyself the fullness of the gentiles; let thy love constrain us, that we receive one another, even as thou hast received us to the glory of God. Amen.*
Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul he fills,
And every pain and sorrow stills:
To God all praise and glory!
The angel host, O King of kings,
Thy praise forever telling,
In earth and sky all living things
Beneath thy shadow dwelling,
Adore the wisdom which could span,
And power which formed creation’s plan:
To God all praise and glory!
[TLH 19, LSB 819, ELH 435; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.