Advent Reading for Sunday, Week 4 (December 18, 2022)

 

The Season of Advent prepares us for Christ's coming--both on Christmas Day and when we comes again in glory.  This year, we will spend each week exploring a different way we can prepare ourselves.  The post for each day will include a scripture, a song, a few brief questions to reflect upon, and a prayer. 

 

Week 4 Introduction

The time has come to proclaim that our Savior is about to arrive.   The concept of proclamation has some interesting nuances. The Hebrew word קָרָא means to read, utter with a loud voice, cry out, call to someone, or invite.  Meanwhile the Greek word καταγγέλλω means to announce, herald, or celebrate, or declare openly in a decisive and binding way.  It can also mean to preach in both languages.

Put together, the Hebrew and Greek worlds give us a variety of ways that we can proclaim the Good News.  We proclaim it to ourselves each time we read God's word.  We share it when we call out to others to draw them into the faith, announce that our Savior is about to make big changes, declare who he truly is, celebrate all that he does, and preach to others about his ways.

As we approach Christmas Day, we will hear the prophets and the psalmist cry out that God will send someone  special into our everyday existence.  We will see the Apostle John declare who he really is. Angels will herald his coming and invite us to see the Savior for ourselves.  And when we finally meet the Christ Child, we will join others who loudly celebrate they have seen and heard.

Scripture

Isaiah 9:1-7

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

² 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.
³ You have multiplied exultation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.
⁴ For the yoke of their burden
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵ For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Great will be his authority,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

 (NRSVUE)

 

Hymn

Questions

Isaiah proclaims that the one who is coming to save us will be called by many names--all of which are based on the things he is coming to do and to be.

• Which of the names that Isaiah lists (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace) brings you the most joy?  
• Why is that particular name so meaningful to you?
• How would you explain the importance of that name to someone else?
  

Prayer

Emmanuel (God-With-Us), help us prepare for your arrival by proclaiming the Good News of everything that you came to be and to do.  Amen.