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!

Forward Movement, the excellent resource for many things Episcopal, including the Forward Day by Day booklets many of you are familiar with, has once again challenged people to reflect on one word each day of Advent. Each word is taken from the Sunday liturgy – the prayers and readings for the Sunday in Advent for each of the 4 weeks of the Advent season. I am going to attempt (pray for me) to add a short reflection on each word each day of Advent. To subscribe to the Advent Word series from Forward Movement, click HERE.

Advent Word for December 3rd is “quietness”

In Psalm 122, our Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent, verse 7 says: “Peace be within your walls, and quietness within your towers.

Quietness is something I yearn for often. It’s so hard to hear God’s voice when the noise of the world is at high screech level! I think mayhap I need another silent retreat and I need it NOW! Oops, sorry to shout! However, I don’t think the word Quietness from Psalm 122 is about that kind of silence. The first half of the sentence from verse 7 says, “Peace be within your walls”. The quietness, it seems to me, is asking for the cessation of fighting or war, no need to be noisy in the guard towers, clanging weapons and barking orders. Instead the Psalmist, I think, is praying for peace and the end to conflict, so the walls and towers are quiet instead of filled with the sounds of battle. Quietness signals peace. So let us pray for peace, both from conflicts between nations and neighbors as well as the peace of Christ, which St. Paul says, surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). This kind of inner peace comes only from God and it heralds (quietly of course) the presence of the Holy Spirit, guarding our hearts and minds, filling us with the grace of Christ, comforting us in our struggles, and, yes, quieting our souls so we can hear God even in the midst of the hard stuff. SHHH do you hear the quiet?? God is present, may God’s peace which passes all understanding, guard your heart and soul in the knowledge of God, and of God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.