December 1, 2019

Breaking Open the Scripture Scriptures for December 1st: Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44: Theme: First Sunday of Advent Isaiah: Throughout the advent season, we look at what the book of Isaiah says about the coming messiah. What will he do for the world, what difference will he make in our lives. In chapter 1 of Isaiah, he talks about the destruction and pain that the people are feeling in exile. So in chapter 2 he talks about peace. Not just peace for his family, not just for his country, but for the whole world. Everyone will come to his country to learn the ways of peace. But the word of comfort comes after experiencing the problems of war. At the beginning of this chapter, the prophet encourages people to see the word – to picture the sense of peace that the messiah will bring. Matthew: This is the first lesson of the new Christian year, where we start with the end of the gospel of Matthew. This is the Sunday where the world is turned upside down, and we wait for Jesus to make it right side up again. As we prepare for the first coming of Christ, we hear about the second coming of Christ. We are reminded that we don’t know when the second coming, but our task is to stay alert and prepared at all times. Before cell phones, (BC), when a relative would come to visit, they would call before the trip, but you had no idea of when they would actually reach your house. Jesus is old school – he has no plans to announce his coming, but we have already received the call to be prepared. Questions: What would peace look like in our world? How are we called by God to be peacemakers? Are you good at waiting for things? What are you doing to prepare for the coming of Christ in your life?