Thursday Holy Communion in Advent Week

Reading Isaiah 26

¹ In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

   We have a strong city;
   God makes salvation
   its walls and ramparts.
² Open the gates
   that the righteous nation may enter,
   the nation that keeps faith.
³ You will keep in perfect peace
   those whose minds are steadfast,
   because they trust in you.
⁴ Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
⁵ He humbles those who dwell on high,
   he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
   and casts it down to the dust.
⁶ Feet trample it down—
   the feet of the oppressed,
   the footsteps of the poor.

Gospel Matthew 7

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Sermon

Juxtaposition of readings.

Isaiah – song of praise to God. Like a psalm. Song sung in Judah. City of Jerusalem – matter of pride. New Jerusalem. Purified. Only righteous allowed to enter. They enter through gates to holy place beyond.

Enter into God’s holy presence beyond. People have faith and trust in holy God, who keeps them safe and overcomes enemies.

⁴ Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

This same rock is faith of wise man, who founded his life on the Rock of Ages.

First Advent reading from Matthew. Salvation. Entry into Kingdom.

Comes from end of Sermon on Mount. Winds down with many warnings. Not everyone who professes faith in Jesus will enter his Kingdom. Only those who do will of Father.

Many will preach in Jesus’ name, prophesy and perform wonders but still their works are evil. By your fruits you shall know them. Not what we say but what we do that counts.

Man who built house on rock is the one who hears the Word and puts it into practice in his life. Not someone who listens but his faith is academic. Understands but does not act accordingly. This is the man whose house looks good – he professes his faith, but does not carry it into action. His roots are not firm, and it does not take much strife for the whole structure to be lost.

As we continue through Advent and read from Matthew, notice there are few shades of grey in this gospel. No half way house – either firmly fixed or utterly washed away.

Sobering thought for all of us – we can use right words, profess the faith, act in a certain way – but when called upon to sacrifice, get hands dirty, walk the narrow way, abandon our cosy existence – yet still not really put into practice what we have been taught.

Advent – a season of expectant waiting – time of self-examination – parallel adventure as we anticipate first coming at Christmas and long for the second coming of our Lord – this is just the time to ask ourselves these hard questions.

Amen