Today’s word comes from the book of Isaiah chapter 11 verse 2, which was the first lesson of the 2nd Sunday of Advent: The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Earlier in Isaiah we are given a list of titles for the coming Messiah, from chapter 9: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” So Counselor is an important part of our understanding of the Messiah, whom we believe is Jesus. One definition of “counsel” is to give advice and guidance. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit will be our “advocate” (Parakletos in the Greek, meaning advocate or helper or comforter). Seems this aspect of the godhead is important, one who comes alongside us as our helper, comforter, advocate and counselor. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Come Lord Jesus!

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!

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Romans 13

Day in the context of the 2nd lesson for the 1st Sunday of Advent, is a prophetic word. The Bible often compares darkness and light, where light represents the presence of Christ. See the 1st chapter of John: “in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it,” and Isaiah 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

Paul tags on, saying the “night is FAR gone” and then the good news, “the day is near”. The day of salvation through Christ, the day of the new heaven and new earth, the day of God breaking through and reshaping our world, our lives, God’s creation, the day we look forward to always, particularly during Advent. The day is near. Meanwhile let us live the light, shine the light, witness to the light for the night is far gone. Welcome the DAY.

Our word for today comes from the 2nd lesson for the 1st Sunday of Advent. Romans 13:11-14 includes this: Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I had to consult the dictionary before reflecting on this word choice for today. I found Gratify has 3 meanings:

To please or satisfy: synonym: please. “My good grades gratify my parents.” Similar: please

To give in to (a desire); indulge. “He gratified his curiosity by going to the exhibit.”

To reward.

Paul’s use in the Roman’s passage most likely matches the 2nd meaning. To indulge a desire is what Paul is cautioning us against. “Make no provision for the flesh”, in other words, don’t make room in your life for indulging in the wrong things. Instead Paul implores us to live honorably, and we do that by putting on Jesus and leaving no room for temptations of the flesh. Way easier said than done, but we should strive to not to “given in, indulge” as the definition says. But gratify certainly can have a positive connotation – to please. Let our walk with Christ be gratifying to our Lord. Walk in love, y’all! As Christ loves us.

From Sunday’s 2nd Lesson: Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I assume St. Paul’s point is putting on Jesus means NOT being a drunkard, no quarreling either, NO PROVISION for the flesh. I am sure many reading this add, in their own minds, “You mean NO FUN, right?”.

But this is the same Paul who writes in Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!”. So let us not think this admonition from Romans means No Fun, but rather a better way, wearing the armor of light, putting on Jesus like skin gives us every reason to rejoice and even revel in the grace of Christ, instead of reveling which leads to the type of behavior St. Paul describes in Romans, which does not allow others to see Christ in and on us. Revel in the Lord and our blessing, revel all you want while wearing Christ, just don’t forget to put Jesus on first!