This week we encounter the third week of Advent. The rose candle which we light this week refers to “Guadete” or “Rose Rejoicing” Sunday. This comes from the epistle to the Philippians which speaks of “rejoicing in the Lord always”. Rose Rejoicing Sunday reminds us of how anticipated joy over our Savior’s coming breaks through all our serious Advent preparations. Those of us who have grown up in the Anglican Church know that Advent is a somber season. There were no alleluias and no flowers until Christmas. Some churches even omitted the “Gloria Patri” at the end of the Psalm during Advent. There was to be no celebrating until Christmas. So Rose Rejoicing Sunday gives us an opportunity to rejoice as we await the coming of our King at Christmas. Isaiah speaks of the joy of the redeemed in the coming of their Messiah, or deliverer. Isaiah 35: 1-2 "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 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." This is similar to what happens when someone becomes a believer. The dry desert in which they have existed springs into bloom and they greatly rejoice and shout for joy at what the Lord has done for them. Continuing in Isaiah verse 8 we are told of a highway that will be called the Way of Holiness that only the redeemed will be allowed to access. Then verse 10, “They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” As we continue in our preparations for Christ's Mass: Have we been obedient in our preparations for our coming King? Will we be among those walking the Way of Holiness? Will we be able to say with John in Rev.19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” Lord, let us be prepared for Your coming. Our desire is to be the most radiant bride who waits for her groom with great joy in her eyes.

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 This Thursday we give thanks to our Creator for all the blessings and provisions in our life and celebrate with family and friends. And on Friday, the Christmas Shopping Season begins with all of it’s pressures. But this Sunday is also the beginning of Advent and the beginning of a new Church year (Last week’s five baptisms was a great New Year’s Eve party!). Advent is a time to quiet our souls, to deepen our faith, and to follow Jesus more nearly as we anticipate both His birth and glorious return. We look forward to celebrating the Incarnation at Christmas, but our readings also look forward to the second coming of Christ which will come at an unexpected hour. How do we hold on to Advent in the midst of Christmas preparations? How do we hold on to a vision of eternity in the midst of the distractions and pressures of our time-bound lives?

Our readings this week take a different turn as Jesus moves away from his controversies with the Jewish Leaders and returns to the teaching of his disciples. Jesus knows that the time is short and his disciples must be prepared for what is ahead. Our reading from the Gospel of Luke (21:5-19) is a portion of what is known as "The Olivet Discourse," because Jesus delivered it on the Mt. of Olives. Jesus' words are a stern warning to the disciples and to us of what lies ahead. “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives." The last line is worth repeating, "By your endurance you will gain your lives." The NIV Bible says, "by standing firm you will gain life." If we compare this to Paul's letter (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13), we have a more complete picture of how we are to live as Christians. Paul urges the Thessalonians, "do not grow weary in doing good" So our message for this week seems to be: Do not grow weary in doing good and stand firm- because in doing so we will gain life. A good reminder to us all to, “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eps. 6:10-12) And all the more as we see the Day approaching. Blessings to you, Deacon Carole

From the time we are children, we are taught the difference between right and wrong, between acceptable and unacceptable behavior, between good guys and bad guys. We have expectations on how teachers and leaders behave and who they hang out with. This week, in our Gospel, Jesus once again turns everything upside down, breaks the accepted conventions and honors a rich tax collector by inviting himself to Zaccheasus’ house. In our Old Testament reading, God also turns things upside down by saying that He is tired of the sacrifices and offerings of Israel and tired of their various purifying fasts and rituals. Instead He says: Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:16-18 Ultimately, it is not our efforts but the redemptive work of God that forgives our sins, makes us acceptable and washes us white as snow. This Sunday at the second service we will share in the joy of the angels as we baptize a new member into the family of God.

This week’s Gospel is the parable of the persistent widow who receives justice from an unjust judge and our Old Testament reading is the story of Jacob wrestling with God all night and receiving an out of joint hip, a blessing and a new identity. Our epistle is Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to “continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.” It is a powerful dose of the value of persistence, but what do unjust judges, wrestling blessings from God and working quickly before it is too late have to do with our relationship with a holy, loving and generous God