Advent 2: Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15; Mark 1:1-8

December 4, 2011

There are times for all of us when we wonder: "Is God for us or against us?" When our fortunes are down, there's pain, sorrow, depression and we don't know whether we will ever make it through we wonder – where is God? Does God care?

The scriptures give many examples of this. During the days of captivity in Babylon Israel wondered if God cared. It didn't seem as if he did. Everything they had learned and believed about being God's chosen ones had been destroyed. And there were no signs that their plight could ever be better.

But then the prophet cried out: "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins."

Despite all they had been through Isaiah encouraged captive Israel to believe again in God's goodness that God hadn't given up on them. God would lead them home. They would again be God's people and God would be their God.

And so it was. The prophet's words proved true. The captives returned. The reconstruction of Israel began. But the work was slow. New enemies came one after the other over several centuries inflicting pain and hardship upon Israel. By the time of John the Baptist they were again stuck in depression and wondered: "Will God save us? Is God for us or against us?"

Like Isaiah before him, John the Baptist cried out "to prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight." John called people to believe in God again and get ready for someone greater than himself who was coming to restore Israel. God would forgive the sins of his people and make a new beginning.

And so Jesus came. True to John's hope Jesus raised hopes again demonstrating the signs of God's Kingdom, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, feeding the hungry, forgiving sins, casting out demons and proclaiming peace to all. He ended up being crucified, but was raised on the third day. The hope was born that soon God would complete the Kingdom for which Jesus had lived and died. It wouldn't be long until the suffering of God's people would end and their fortunes restored.

But again years passed by and the followers of Jesus also suffered oppression and persecution. They were forced to endure great pain because of their faith. And so hope began to wane and people wondered: "Is God for us or against us? Does God care?"

Like Isaiah, like John, so now Peter speaks up and says that God is not slow about his promises as we think of slowness, but is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.' "Remember," he says, "that a day to the Lord is like a thousand years."

Again Peter speaks of hope that the heavens and the old earth along with everything that is done on it will certainly all be dissolved. But while God's people wait for a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness is at home, they should strive to be found by Jesus at peace, without spot or blemish. And regard the ongoing patience of the Lord as salvation.

Whenever God's people are stuck in circumstances completely contrary to what God has promised God's Word challenges them not to give in to despair and not give up on God. The future always seems limited by the darkness of the present. But God is not limited. When everything looks hopeless and we can't imagine being in a worse situation God does something new. Don't let any darkness stifle the light of faith and hope within.

Mark begins his gospel with these words: "The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ." The beginning of something suggests that there is more to come. And that is way of God. There is always more to come. When we see dead ends, God sees new possibilities. When we say nothing more can be done, God says wait in hope and your faith will pick you up.

Later the Lord speaks to Israel and by extension he speaks to all of us now:

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. – Is 40:27-31

If you are tempted to wonder if God cares for you today, God's Word challenges us not to despair, but to believe in God's goodness and in his promises. Darkness is temporary, but God is forever. The sun will shine again.

As we wait upon the Lord let us strive to be found at peace when Jesus comes. Let us prepare ourselves for the changes that he brings. Because Jesus has already come once and we have a record of what he said and did while he was here, he has shown the life we are to live. As wait for the new heaven and a new earth, let us make room for Jesus in our hearts. Let us clean out the old habits and attitudes that don't fit with God so that the new namely God's love, mercy and caring for everyone will have space to grow. Believe in the good news because in God's time it has only just begun. Thanks be to God.

All are invited to renew their faith today through the sacrament of his body broken and his blood shed for the salvation of the world. Let us pray.

Confession and Pardon

Almighty and merciful God,

We confess that we have not acknowledged you as the source

    of our successes, our substance, our selves.

We are far more ready to complain when things go wrong

    than to give praise when all is well.

We feed our bodies a rich diet while neglecting to feed our souls.

Power and wealth assume greater importance to us than being loyal to you.

We allow religious words and forms to be a substitute

    For the persons you have called us to love.

Forgive us, O compassionate Redeemer.

As we receive the signs of the life, death and resurrection of Christ,

    grant us the opportunity to start over again.

Keep us from repeating the mistakes of the past and

    help us avoid new evils that mislead and destroy.

In the name of Christ we offer our earnest prayers

    for pardon and deliverance. Amen.

Words of assurance

L: This is the message we have heard from God and proclaim to all, that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus the Son cleanses us from all sin.

ALL: In the name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.