The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, December 11, 2022 — Third Sunday of Advent

The Sunday Lectionary Readings

Sunday, December 11, 2022 — Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday

Isaiah35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

BEHOLD AND BELIEVE!

Opening Statement

We are so caught up in the rush to Christmas festivities that we fail to notice the wondrous ways in which God is present in our lives. We often believe that God’s blessings are reserved for the holy and righteous—and never number ourselves among them. Yet, in the story of Mary, we learn that God works through God’s people—God’s regular, ordinary people—we just have to say “yes!” to God’s loving presence. Today is a day to behold the wonders that are wrought in the name of God.

These Advent readings proclaim a world turned upside down. For those who are currently poor, hungry, or oppressed, this is great news. But for those who enjoy the comforts of food in abundance, warm places to live, steady jobs, and a voice in the political system, well, this means acknowledging our role in the world’s injustices. Somehow the good news doesn’t seem quite so good. But the scriptures call us to work side by side with Jesus in bringing about God’s vision of abundance for all. When we claim our calling as partners in the dance, we can truly rejoice in the coming of Christ!

Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

Loving God, we open ourselves to you,

trusting that this is how you made us:

you created us for joy-filled hearts and lives.
Show us the creative power of hope.

Teach us the peace that comes from justice.

Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.

Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,

That we may walk in the light of Christ. Amen.

Opening Prayer (Isaiah 35)

God of Glory, we rejoice in the good news of your promises. Come into our parched world and shower us with your gushing, abundant water of life. Enter into our brokenness, and renew us with the strength of your love. Be born anew in our hearts and in our world. Come, Jesus; come. We are ready! Amen.

The Collect (Book of Common Prayers)

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

Prayer of Confession (Isaiah 35, Luke 1, Matthew 11)

Upside-down God, you announce your coming with exciting news: the hungry will eat their fill, the oppressed will dance in newfound freedom; you proclaim your mission with hard news: the well fed will go hungry, the powerful will lose their status. We find ourselves squirming as we acknowledge our participation in structures that oppress and marginalize. Help us accept and proclaim the coming of your Son as truly good news. Give us the courage to set aside our privilege, and help bring about this upside-down world, where everyone can sing together for joy.

Words of Assurance (Isaiah 35)

The desert shall rejoice and blossom. Waters shall break forth in the wilderness. The burning sand shall become a pool. The God who can transform the dry lands can also transform the desert of our lives. Abundant forgiveness is ours from the God who turns sorrow and sighing into joy and gladness.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up the wills of all who look to you, Lord God, and strengthen our faith in your coming, that, transformed by grace, we may walk in your way; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading

Isaiah 35:1-10

(The desert blooms)

The Return of the Redeemed to Zion
1  The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
     the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
   like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly,
     and rejoice with joy and singing.
   The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
     the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
   They shall see the glory of the Lord,
     the majesty of our God.

3  Strengthen the weak hands,
     and make firm the feeble knees.
4  Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
     “Be strong, do not fear!
   Here is your God.
     He will come with vengeance,
   with terrible recompense.
     He will come and save you.”

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
     and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6  then the lame shall leap like a deer,
     and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
   For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
     and streams in the desert;
7  the burning sand shall become a pool,
     and the thirsty ground springs of water;
   the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
     the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8  A highway shall be there,
     and it shall be called the Holy Way;
   the unclean shall not travel on it,
     but it shall be for God’s people;
     no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9  No lion shall be there,
     nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
   they shall not be found there,
     but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
     and come to Zion with singing;
   everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
     they shall obtain joy and gladness,
     and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions

Psalm 146:5-10
(God lifts up those bowed down)

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.

Who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

Heavenly Father, today we gather to praise Your name together, as Your people. With one heart and mind in undivided loyalty to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we seek to serve You. O Lord, we trust in You and rejoice that You hold our lives in Your hands. Help us to be faithful and righteous in all of our dealings with You and others as we trust and pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

Second Reading

James 5:7-10

(Patience until the Lord’s coming)

Patience in Suffering
5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. I am sending my messenger before you,who will prepare your way before you. Alleluia. (Matt. 11:10)

The Gospel

Matthew 11:2-11

(The forerunner of Christ)

Messengers from John the Baptist
11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written,

   ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
     who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Here ends the Lessons

Click HERE to read today’s Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank you that we are a family in Christ. Help us to share his love and legacy with everyone that we encounter this week. May we lavish Christ’s abounding goodness upon our families, friends and colleagues. Holy Spirit, come and equip us in our workplace, guide us in our school life, and inspire us in our neighbourhood. May we be your hands and feet to the needy, your words of affirmation to the oppressed and your arms of comfort to the lonely.

Thank you for choosing to use us to bring your kingdom here on earth.

Amen.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Sunday Lectionary and Prayers for Sunday, December 11, 2022
BEHOLD AND BELIEVE!
Isaiah35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

“What Child is this?” The Gospel Message for Sunday, December 11, 2022 — Third Sunday of Advent

Our Gospel message comes to us today from the 11th chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 2nd verse.

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

—Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)

All mighty God, we thank you for your Word and the way that You in it revealed to us who You are and what You've done for us in Christ. Now, as we open that Word, we pray that your Spirit may be present, that all thoughts of worry or distraction may be removed and that the Spirit will allow us to hear your voice. And so, oh God, fill us with your spirit through the reading and proclamation of your word this day. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

"What Child is this?"

Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our gospel lesson this morning saw John the Baptist in prison, and he was wondering if Jesus was indeed the Messiah. So he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the one.

Jesus does not say yes or no, to that question but tells the disciples of John to tell John what they have seen and heard. And what did they see and hear? The lame can walk, the blind have received their sight, the leper has been healed and the dead have been raised up.

Jesus told John's disciples to go back and tell John what has been happening, and then John could figure out for himself that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

John probably had a difficult time understanding who Jesus was.

He might be thinking, "Lord, where did I go wrong? I did what I thought you wanted. I said what I thought you wanted me to say. You told me that Messiah was coming. But where is he? Where's the fire, the ax, the judgment he's supposed to bring? And why, if he's here, would he let me stay in this place? I've heard rumors about this one called Jesus. I thought I knew my cousin pretty well. I remember that day in the Jordan when I baptized him. What a glorious day. I knew it was all beginning then. God's whole plan was being put into play. But where is he now? Why isn't he doing what I said he would do? Is he really the one, or should I look for another?"

John wanted to know why Jesus did not come with a fire instead of love. He wanted Jesus to bring judgment upon the people, but instead, he brought love and forgiveness. This was not what John thought the one would do. He thought the one would come with fire and brimstone. But Jesus came with love and understanding. Jesus came with forgiveness.

Jesus then pays his respects to John by saying, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

He tells the crowd that John indeed is someone who should be respected for the message that he brought. John's message was right for that time, but Jesus' message of love and forgiveness is the main message that God wanted to come to this earth.

And today, which message do we listen to when we see the child come at Christmas? Do we see judgment, or do we see love?

What child do we see on Mary's lap sleeping, as that song says? What child, the child of judgment or the child of love? The child who can answer all our questions of faith, or the child that leaves some of those questions unanswered.

Wondering, having doubts, is that okay? Do we shy away from these questions of doubt? As Christians, do we say doubts and questions of faith are wrong?

American theologian and philosopher Paul Tillich point out that God does not stand aloof, apart from our questioning; instead, God is in the struggle of doubt, making himself known through it. Doubt, therefore, is a vital part and element of the faith which justifies.

In the book, A sign in the straw, Pastor Richard Hoefler asks, "Who of us have not cried out with John, 'Are you the Christ, or shall we look for another?' When life gets tough, and we see innocent people suffer. The bad so often succeed, while the good fail. When we face a world locked in the death grip of one meaningless war after another; when we witness the destruction of nature as greed and desire for comforts drain the earth of her natural resources; when we choke on pollution and stumble over wrecked lives of people struck down by drugs and alcoholism; who can help but cry out, 'If you are the Messiah, why this? Must we, shall we, look for another?'"

He asks again, "when will we learn that faith does not have all the answers? Faith is a risk. Faith is a life of trust, not of certainty and security. God never promised answers to all our questions. God never promised a life without stress. He promises and gives only himself, with all the dangers and risks of personal encounters."

He states further, "Our hope? Not faith without doubt, but faith within doubts. Not the answers we possess but who possesses us. We may doubt God, but God never doubts us. We may not know God, but He, with absolute certainty, knows us. This is the gospel. This is our life. This is the love that will never let us go."

We need to have faith with all our doubts and questions. The child comes with love and allows us to face our doubts and questions about life and faith.

The child comes and changes everything about life for us. He makes the weak strong, the strong weak, the dirty clean, the sinful sinless, and the unforgiven forgiven. In a word, he changes everything.

He is like the baby in the following: The story goes that Roaring Camp was supposed to be the meanest, toughest mining town in all of the West. It was reported that there were more murders and thefts than in any other place around. It was a terrible place inhabited entirely by men, except for one woman who made her living in the only way she knew how. Her name was Cherokee Sal.

She became pregnant by who knows whom and died while giving birth to a baby. The men took the baby and put her in a box with some old rags under her. Somehow that just didn't seem right, so one of the men rode eighty miles to buy a rosewood cradle. He brought it back, and they put the rags and the baby in the beautiful new rosewood cradle. But the rags didn't look very nice in the beautiful new cradle, so they had another man ride to Sacramento, where he bought some beautiful silk and lace blankets. Now they put the baby in the cradle lined with silk and put the new blanket over her. It looked fine until someone happened to notice that the floor was so filthy.

So these hardened, tough men got down on their hands and knees and scrubbed the floor with their calloused hands until it was spotless. Of course, now the walls and the ceiling and the dirty windows without curtains looked absolutely terrible. So they washed down the walls and ceiling and put curtains at the windows. Things were beginning to look a lot better. But of course, they had to give up a lot of their fighting because the baby slept a lot, and babies couldn't sleep during a brawl. So the whole temperature of Roaring Camp seemed to go down.

They would take the baby out and set her by the entrance to the mine in her rosewood cradle, with one of the men staying next to her, so the others could see her when they came out of the mine. Then somebody noticed what a dirty place the mine entrance was, so they planted flowers and they made a garden there. It really looked quite beautiful. The men would bring her shiny little stones that they would find in the mine. But their hands looked so dirty when they would put their hands down next to hers. Pretty soon, the general store was all sold out of soap and shaving gear. The baby was changing everything.

That's also how it is for those who have placed their faith in the babe of Bethlehem. The baby enters into their lives, and he slips into every crevice of their experience.

The one who John was wondering about, Jesus the Christ child born in a manger, came and changed everything about life. He came into every part of life and changed it.

It is this child of change that we await for during this advent season. The child in the manger, the child on Mary's lap sleeping that comes now in our lives and changes us from the inside out. He comes with love to forgive, to love, to change us.

Will you let that child of change enter your life this Advent and Christmas season? Will you be changed from the inside out?

A pastor writes: One rainy afternoon, I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.

Suddenly, my daughter spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

"What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain," she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms, I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked, "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us as the way for us to see this child born in a manger.

What child is this, the child who comes into every aspect of our lives, changes us, forgives us, and cleanses us from our sins? Will you allow that child into your life this Advent and Christmas season? Will you allow him to change you from the inside out? Will you allow him to clean up every aspect of your life?

Let us pray: Eternal and Almighty God, we give you most hearty thanks that in your great love, you graciously pitied us, who were doomed to eternal death for our sins, and ordained your only begotten Son before the foundation of the world was laid, to be our Mediator, Atonement, and Savior; that he was promised unto our first parents in paradise, after their deplorable fall, and at the appointed time was sent into the world, that he assumed our flesh and blood, became our Brother, and in all things like unto, sin excepted. We praise You that by his death he destroyed him who had the power of death, the Devil, and delivered us, who must otherwise have spent our whole life in bondage to the fear of death, from the kingdom of Satan and darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of light and eternal happiness.

We heartily beseech you to fill us with your grace, that we may rightly know this your love and mercy, and Jesus Christ your Son, whom you have made unto us for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and so love and honor him, as wholly to surrender ourselves up unto him, to confide in him, and esteem everything in the world as dross and dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. And may we cling unto this Savior with true faith, who forgives all our sins, and heals all our diseases, that we may rejoice in all the tribulations of this life, and sing with the heavenly host: "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good-will towards men," and finally attain unto the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.

We entreat you also for all the governments of the world. Grant unto our rulers grace and peace, that they govern those placed under them in your fear, and with your approbation, that righteousness may be promoted, and iniquity be checked and punished, that we may fulfill our days in quietness and peace, as becomes Christians.

Confirm all weak and disconsolate spirits, and send down upon us your peace through Jesus Christ our Lord, who has taught us to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

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Scripture taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)® Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Sermon contributed by Rev. Tim Zingale.
What child is this, the child who comes into every aspect of our lives and changes us, forgives us and cleanses us from our sins.

The Morning Prayer for Sunday, December 11, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Sunday, December 11, 2022

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.

— Psalm 16:1–2 (NIV)

Dear Father in heaven, look on us as your children, and grant that we may feel in you the highest good for time and eternity. Even if we have to deny ourselves and make great sacrifices, you remain our treasure, our riches, our love, and our joy. Give us strength as a gathered people ready to serve you. Grant us your Spirit whenever we do not understand what we should do. Shelter us always in your hands, and allow us to see your miracles in souls and in bodies. For you are our God, the Almighty, and you find the way to help in everything. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, December 11, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Sunday, December 11, 2022

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

It may seem like an insignificant detail, but the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is central to our salvation. It emphasizes the fact that the Lamb of God had to be absolutely perfect (Lev. 22:17–21; Mal. 1:6–14). Because of the virgin birth, Jesus does not have the same sin nature as we do (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 5:12), which is why He was able to take all of our iniquities and forgive us of them on the Cross. “Immanuel” means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The Lord Himself came to dwell among us and save us from our sins (Phil. 2:5, 6; Col. 1:15, 19; 2:9).

Read all of Isaiah Chapter 7

Listen to Isaiah Chapter 7

Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Travel the World from Home — The Epic Battle at Gideon's Spring

 

The Holy Land:
Connecting the Land with Its Stories
The Epic Battle at Gideon's Spring
Episode 7 — Season 1

In episode 7, join a water fight at Gideon's Spring where local families enjoy the refreshing water. It was here that Gideon and his army prepared for battles of their own and struggled with believing that God would provide the victory against a fierce opponent. From the calm of the spring, the army moved up into the hills where they obeyed God’s command to prepare for battle in an unexpected way. Take in the sunset over the field where Gideon’s army shouted, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” and watched as God delivered them from the enemy.

Episode 7 — Season 1 | The Epic Battle at Gideon's Spring