Consider the Word, December 10, 2020

Consider the Word, December 10, 2020
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Readings for December 13 – Advent III

• Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
• Psalm 126 Or Canticle 18 (Luke 1:47-55)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
• John 1:6-8, 19-28

 
Collect

God of power and mercy,

you call us once again

to celebrate the coming of your Son.

Remove those things which hinder love of you,

that when he comes,

he may find us waiting in awe and wonder

for him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

 
Reflection Questions

1. Where is our anchor and security, which will lead us to find comfort and strength and peace and joy?
2. Can we expand our understanding of God’s mission, to light up the whole world in every corner?

 
Closing Prayer

Incline your ear, O God, to our pleading, and by the grace of your coming to us and enlighten the darkness of these times, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
The Message:

^6-8 There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

Thunder in the Desert

^19-20 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: “I am not the Messiah.”

²¹ They pressed him, “Who, then? Elijah?”

“I am not.”

“The Prophet?”

“No.”

²² Exasperated, they said, “Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself.”

²³ “I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.”

^24-25 Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. Now they had a question of their own: “If you’re neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?”

^26-27 John answered, “I only baptize using water. A person you don’t recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I’m not even worthy to hold his coat for him.”

²⁸ These conversations took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at the time.

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson