Advent 4 - Elizabeth's Words

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!...As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Luke 1:42,44

On the fourth Sunday in Advent we read from Luke’s gospel these beautiful words from one expectant mother to another - cousins: From Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist to Mary, mother of Jesus of Nazareth.

Elizabeth’s words were incorporated into prayer early in Christian practice – the Angelus Prayer – which was accompanied by the ringing of a church bell in a set pattern. This was done for many centuries three times a day – morning, noon, and evening. For many workers, the evening Angelus marked the end of the day’s work. And maybe sparked a moment of thanks for work and a restful evening. Such a prayerful attitude beautifully immortalised in the painting by Jean-François Millet (1857-1859).

We also, at Milton Anglican, ring the Angelus at the start of our Sunday worship. If you live in the immediate vicinity, you may hear it sometimes. And while it may not make us leap with joy, it is a call for us as Christ followers to give thanks and a reminder of who we are – people of God and blessed through figures such as Elizabeth and Mary.

Lord Jesus, light of the world,

blessed is Gabriel, who brought good news;

blessed is Mary, your mother and ours.

Bless your Church preparing for Christmas;

and bless us your children, who long for your coming. Amen

Advent 3 - What should we do then?

“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…”What should we do then?’ the crowd asked.” Luke 3:7, 8a, 10

On the 3rd Sunday in Advent we typically light a candle symbolizing joy.

Which can appear to be rather a hollow gesture when we read this week of the pontiff visiting the Mavrovouni camp on the island of Lesbos, where over 2000 asylum-seekers live. Upon listening to the stories of those who live in these camps, Pope Francis discarded his prepared speech to rebuke the European countries who are contemplating building large walls to stop refugees entering their countries.

In an echo of John the Baptist scathing comment to the crowds that gather around him, the pontiff described the neglect of refugees as ‘the shipwreck of civilisation’ and that Europe is entering ‘the era of walls and barbed wire.’

And of course we have walls and barbed wire aplenty in Australia too, and many impediments to people seeking asylum in our country.

So, like the crowd in Luke’s gospel, confronted by John the Baptist, we may well ask:

What should we do then? On a day when we dare to speak of joy?

The joy we dare to speak of is not a joy that ignores the plight of all that are vulnerable, of the misery that engulfs so many who are victims of political powermongering.

It is a joy in the return of Christ, the light of the world, who calls us and empowers us “to overcome the paralysis of fear, the indifference that kills, the cynical disregard that nonchalantly condemns to death those on the fringes,’ in the words of Pope Francis.

So we light the candle of joy this Sunday, reminded of our call in particular to welcome those who come to this beautiful land seeking refuge.

For those who would like to help locally, visit Romero Mercy Community and Baroona Farm Milton.

Blessings

Ceri