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Gospel Lesson for the
Week
December 9, 2007
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2nd Sunday
in Advent
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In those days John
the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven has come near."
This is the one of
whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in
the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"
Now John wore
clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food
was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were
going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were
baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw
many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood
of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit worthy
of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our
ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up
children to Abraham. Even now
the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"I baptize you with
water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after
me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit and fire. His
winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and
will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with
unquenchable fire."
--- Matthew 3:1-12
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Spirit and Fire
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John was no diplomat.
He said what was on his mind;
he told it straight.
And when the “holy people”
turned up for baptism,
he told them in no uncertain
terms
just what he thought.
“You brood of viper!”
He warned them
not to rely on ancient
pedigree
but, living in the now,
to exhibit repentance
by the way they lived.
Then he told them how to get
there
He pointed beyond himself
to One who would come after
him
bringing a different baptism:
“Holy Spirit and fire,”
cleansing and power.
The candle we light this day,
eight days into Advent,
is our reminder of the fire
within
that brings its light and
warmth
into our hearts
and blazes like a beacon
of welcome to all.
Lord, let your fire penetrate to my heart
with cleansing and power.
Baptize me anew with your
lifegiving Spirit,
manifest in the Babe of Bethlehem
and the Man of
Galilee,
so that I may, by your
grace
and through your presence,
bring light and energy and hope and healing
to someone I touch this day.
AMEN.
---
rvc
*** D I S C L A I M E R ***
The Weekly Lessons are based on the lectionary
texts for the week – usually the Gospel lesson. They are not designed as a
formal commentary. Rather, they are the personal reflections and original
compositions of The Relay Online editor, Rev. Robin Van
Cleef, and offer a jumping off point, using the scriptures as triggers to
thought, imagination, and (we hope) empowerment. As you read them, let your own
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