ADVENT III
December 17, 2023
“All Stirred Up”
“Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.”
“Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son.”
“Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears . . .”
“Stir up your power Lord Christ, and come.”
The Sundays of Advent are such a unique time in our church year, as the lessons, prayers, and hymns follow a specific, purposeful theme. We are being educated and inspired to celebrate and appreciate once again the arrival in human form of God’s own Son, the long-promised Savior of his people. We read and hear the prophecies and promises from ancient times, learning how God’s people trusted they would be fulfilled.
The prayers for these four Sundays begin quite differently from the more typical forms, as we pray for our Lord to “stir up” his power, our hearts, and the wills of his people. It sounds as though we’re praying for action or even some kind of trouble, and in a rather demanding tone. After all, most of the time, prayers begin with wording comparable to the salutation of a formal letter, addressing God respectfully, acknowledging his power and majesty. I looked at the prayers for several upcoming Sundays, and found familiar beginnings such as “O Lord God,” “Almighty God,” “Everlasting God.” Throughout the church calendar, the content of our worship services is selected to focus on specific messages, continuing to educate us in our faith, and to lead us on the right path as we seek to do the will of our heavenly Father. These weeks of Advent carry an urgency and intensity, which is entirely logical, when you realize what they’re leading up to. This is not a story of the warm, fuzzy coziness of a sweet, newborn baby — these accounts are the beginning of events that changed the world!
One of the best-known descriptions of John the Baptist, is the way he referred to himself as “a voice crying in the wilderness,” and stated that he was the messenger foretold in the prophecies of Isaiah. He boldly spoke of the sinful nature of his listeners, of how they were in need of a Savior, and that he was preparing the way for the one who was coming soon. It’s remarkable to see the combination of confidence and humility in John’s messages, as he spoke repeatedly of his role as the one baptizing with water for repentance, but that the one who was coming soon would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
All four Gospels include short but significant accounts of John’s ministry, and as we put them together, we see a picture of a man whose purpose we may not have understood very well. Consider taking a little time and read the third chapters of Matthew and Luke, and the first chapters of Mark and John. You’ll almost hear that voice calling out, “Prepare the way of the Lord!”
These ancient, yet timeless prayers of Advent are calls for God to come into the world once again, to create a stir that will bring us into relationship with Christ our Lord, and to share this message with all humanity. As God’s power is stirred up, so too, our hearts and wills are called to respond to the Good News.
Watching, waiting, listening, preparing!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers