Advent – A Week of Sundays – Second Sunday: Forgiveness

Greetings Dear Reader,

Every single day I do something I should not.  Most of the time the offences are “minor” but sometimes they are not.  Sometimes I am fortunate and my choices to do wrong do not impact anyone but me.  It is often my own selfishness or fear that motivates me to choose to do wrong.  Neither is an excuse and it is always a choice.  No matter the motive or impact I am left daily in need of forgiveness.  There is no day when I do not need the grace and mercy of God to intervene in my fallen state.

The second candle of Advent signifies our wait for forgiveness.  In one aspect we already have forgiveness

but in another we still “mourn in lonely exile” whilst waiting for the Son to make all things right.  The ills of the world are the scars of our failures at seeking and giving forgiveness.  I cannot prepare my heart for the Advent without acknowledging my deep need for God’s forgiveness and my need to forgive others.

I must seek and give forgiveness as freely as I breathe.  Everything about this is wrapped up in the Advent of Christ.  He came to provide the way for God’s forgiveness.  He assured that we could find a way back to God through the redemption of our sin.  One of my favorite Christmas hymns reminds me so clearly of my need and the hope in the meeting of that need.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Performed by Annie Lennox

God rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father

A blessed angel came,

And unto certain shepherds

Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway,

This blessed Babe to find:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereat this Infant lay,

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay;

His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."