The Second Sunday of Advent

This Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent, we will be listening in yet again on the call from the strange man from the wilderness who was called the Baptizer. We will hear his call of repentance, in order to prepare for the one coming not to baptize with water but with Spirit and with Fire.

John was no doubt a prophet, and as a prophet, he was “spoken through” by the Spirit—the self same Spirit that spoke through all the prophets—just as the Creed confesses.

There is one prophet who stands above the rest in the formation of the Christian understanding of the life of Jesus of Nazareth—especially his birth. This prophet lived in Jerusalem in the 8th century BC. His name was Isaiah, son of Amoz.

We will encounter this prophet each Sunday of Advent as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. He is the prophet through which the earliest followers of Jesus heard the Spirit testifying to his birth as the arrival of the long awaited King who would bring about a reign of peace throughout all creation. This is what I would like to consider this Sunday—I hope you make plans to join us!