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Rector’s Reflections
Friday 6th December 2024
Keeping Advent with the Prophet Isaiah
We have now reached the end of the current series of reflections. We have seen how Isaiah encourages us to look to the future, and to prepare ourselves to receive God’s gift of blessing. However, such waiting on God. is not always easy for us to do. It requires much patience, and a willingness to trust God. It involves an openness to accept the possibility of change in our own lives, and in the life of the world around us. It involves the possibility that we may need to change our minds about things, or see a person or a situation in a different light.
In short, Isaiah is about welcoming the “new things” which God wishes to bring about in our own lives, and in the life of the world around us. We cannot tell for certain what form these “new things” will take. But we can trust God that they will bring a blessing, for ourselves and others as well.
For Christians, the ultimate gift of a new beginning is the birth of Jesus Christ. In and through Jesus, we can participate in God’s gift of new life- the gift of life in all its fulness. In Jesus, we see God at work, “making all things new” (Revelation chapter 21, verse 5).
But we need humility and courage if we are to accept God’s gift of a new beginning. God will not force His gift upon us. He will wait patiently for us, until we have made ourselves ready to receive the gift He wishes to give.
Advent is a time specially set aside in the Church’s year to help us to prepare ourselves to receive the gift of Jesus into our lives. Or course, this work or preparation is ongoing, and happens throughout the year. Indeed, it is the work of a life time. But our lives are busy, and we are easily distracted, so it is helpful to have particular times of year set aside for preparing ourselves to welcome Jesus into our lives.
Jesus can come into our lives in so many different ways. He can come when we expect Him, but he can also come when least expected. And when He does indeed come- and come, He will- will we be prepared to welcome Him into our lives? That’s the question.
Let me finish with the words of one the less known Advent hymns, written back in the 19th Century by Joseph Anstice, an Oxford Classicist. Anstice graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, and became Professor of Classical Literature at King’s College London at the remarkably early age of 22. The hymn was published posthumously in 1836.
When came in flesh the Incarnate Word,
The heedless world slept on,
And only simple shepherds heard,
That God had sent his Son.
When comes the Saviour at the last,
From east to west shall shine
The judgment light, and earth aghast
Shall tremble at the sign.
Then shall the pure of heart be blest,
As mild he comes to them,
As when upon the Virgin’s breast
He lay at Bethlehem.
As mild to meek-eyed love and faith,
Only more strong to save;
Strengthened by having bowed to death,
By having burst the grave.
Lord, who could dare see thee descend
In state , unless he knew
Thou art the sorrowing sinner’s friend,
The gracious and the true?
Dwell in our hearts, O Saviour blest;
So shall thine advent’s dawn
‘Twixt us and thee, our bosom-guest,
Be but the veil withdrawn.
Our world is often heedless of the issues and matters with which it should be concerned. The same is so often true of ourselves. Advent is a time for us to wake from sleep. It is a time to see the “new things” which God is about to bring forth. It is the time for hope.