As we enter the 2nd week of Advent, today’s word comes from the Collect of the Day for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Give us grace to HEED their warnings and forsake our sins.

The entire Collect on this Sunday when we hear from John the Baptist in the gospel, says: Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation; Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

There is a definite cause-and-affect in this prayer. We need the grace of God to be able to heed the warnings of the prophets, admit our sins and ask forgiveness for them, and repent – turn around, back to God. And we do this over and over again as humans and as Christians. As I said Sunday in my sermon – rinse and repeat as needed. We want to greet Jesus with joy? Then we pray for God’s grace and heed the prophets warnings. And the next day, we do it again. Thank you God for the grace of Christ in whom our redemption lives!