Return to the Homepage Home
 Worship Schedules, Education, Fellowship, Outreach Worship & Service
 Sermon Archive Sermons
 A copy of the Sunday Prayers of Intercession Prayers
 Pastor Lynne's monthly newsletter Pastor's Page
 Articles and tidbits from the monthly newsletter Newsletter
 This month's events as well as the monthly calendar Current Events
 Read the Sunday School News Letter! Sunday School News
 Events for grades 7 to 12 Youth
 Other websites of interest Links
  
 Login to Administer this site Admin Login

St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church
2903 McPhillips Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
CANADA R2P 0H3
http://www.stlukeszion.ca

Phone: (204) 339-0412
Fax: (204) 339-0412
E-mail: stlukeszionchurch@gmail.com
site design by clayton rumley

 

Second Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 4th, 2005

click here for past entries

Loving God, today you remind us once again to prepare the way for your coming. Grant us open hearts and holy lives by the power of your Spirit, that we might joyfully greet Jesus at his coming; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In our readings today, there is all this mention of preparing, and it always seems to take place in the wilderness. How come? I was pondering this question the other day when I found myself suddenly in the wilderness, talking to God....

"God?... Is that you?.... How did I end up here in the wilderness?.... Oh. I see. You brought me here. Will I be here for long, because I'm really kind of busy right now. ... Busy with what? - Preparing for Christmas, of course! There are cards to be sent and gifts to be bought and wrapped, and there's cooking to be done and decorating and parties and concerts and stuff to go to. -- So you see, I really can't get going on those things if I'm out here in the wilderness for very long. ... What's that? What do you mean there are more important things to prepare for? What could be more important than the birth of your Son? ... Well, yes, I guess some of those things don't have much to do with the birth of your Son. - So what am I supposed to be preparing for, and why am I out here in the wilderness? .... Let me get this right. I'm supposed to be preparing for the coming of Christ. I'm a little confused here, Lord. Isn't that what we celebrate at Christmas? .... Oh. Jesus' birth was his first coming. So now I'm supposed to prepare for when he comes again? ... I see. And how am I supposed to do that if I don't even know when he's coming? ... Hmm. Prepared at all times. That sounds like a lot of work! ... Yes, Lord. I guess that Jesus did do the really hard work. ... Yes, I suppose it's not that hard when it's done out of love. ... Yes, it is worth it when eternal life is at stake. So how am I supposed to prepare for his coming?...

Hmm. Live a holy life. You do realize how hard that is for me, don't you God?... Yes, of course you would know that.... Yes, I do know that you created me.... Oh. Your Holy Spirit.... Yes, I do believe that your Spirit could give me the ability to live a holy life. But what exactly is a holy life? Does that mean becoming a hermit in the desert or something? ... Whew! That's a relief! ... Okay. I think I understand. I need to turn away from all sin - from anything that is offensive to you or harmful to myself or other people. ... I need to stop being turned in on myself and open myself up to your love. ... I need to live out of love for you and for the people around me. ... And your Spirit will give me the power to do this? ... I see. Only if I put my trust in you. ... Okay. And then I'm prepared for the coming of Christ? ...

What do you mean, it's a good start? Isn't that quite a bit already? ... Yes, Lord. I know that you said that your Spirit would give me the power to do this. ... I'm sorry, Lord. Please continue. ... Hmm. I need to believe the good news and share it. Wasn't this already covered in living a holy life? ... Oh. I get the picture. The holy life is a result of believing in Jesus. Okay. Well, believing in Jesus isn't much of a problem for me, but sharing the good news is a whole other story. ... Yes, Lord. I can see where you would want all people to know about Jesus. ... Yes. I believe that Jesus was given for all people. ... Yes, it is important for people to know that there is salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection. ... Yes, I know that these things are important, Lord, but you've got to know that there are people who are much better evangelists than I am! ... You want everybody to share the good news? Are you sure? ... Sorry, Lord. I didn't mean to question you. I just know that so many people are better at it than I am. ... Oh yes. Your Holy Spirit. I forgot there for a moment. .... Ah! I think I understand. This is part of preparing for Jesus' coming, right? You want all people to hear about Jesus before he comes again. ... Well, at least I got one thing right!

Now, what about this business of being in the wilderness? Why did you bring me here? ... And how, exactly, does being here put everything into perspective? ... Yes. I guess "all flesh is grass" does make more sense out here. It's easy to see how short and fragile human life can be. ... Yes. I guess it does teach people to rely on you for help. There aren't a lot of options when you're out of food and water! ... Yes. I can see how there are less distractions out here. It's easier to focus on the things that are really important. ...

Yes. I think I've learned what things are most important. ... You want me to be prepared for Jesus' coming. ... Okay. You want everybody to be prepared for Jesus' coming. ... But first, you want everybody to hear about Jesus and put their faith in him. ... This is important because Jesus came in order to save all people from the power of sin and death. ... You want everybody to come back to you and to live in the way that you first intended them to live. ... You want to heal people, if they would only allow you into their hearts. ... Me? Oh. As for me, you want to work through me by the power of your Holy Spirit. You want me to live in faith and love, and to live a holy life. You want me to tell others about the victory that is ours through Jesus. ... The precious gift? ... Oh yes. You want me always to remember what a precious gift you have given me through Jesus. You want me to be filled with joy as I live in love. You want me to live in thankfulness for the love that you have first shown to me.

Thank you, God! ... For bringing me out here and reminding me of these things. ... Well, yes, I was a little upset at first. I guess I was just too distracted by all of the things that I have to do right now. ... Yes. I will still work on some of them, but not so much that I forget what's most important! .... I do need your help, though, Lord. ... Yes, of course. - Your Holy Spirit. Please send your Spirit, Lord! Amen.

Advent 2(B) Mark 1:1-8

December 4, 2005 Isaiah 40:1-11

St. Luke's Zion Lutheran Church 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore

? 2005 Lynne Hutchison Moore All Rights Reserved


Previous Sermons
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
January 2003
March 0201