Sermon Advent 2

Sermon: Sunday, December 10, 2006, Year C Advent 2
By Father Aidan Jerry Hix, M.Min., Vicar+
St. Aidan’s Charismatic Episcopal Church Mission
Tradition Care Funeral Chapel, Antioch, CA

Advent 2- Preparing for the Coming of Christ

Readings: Baruch 5.1-9; Ps 126; Phil 1.1-11; Luke 3.1-6

v Advent-
§ The Coming or Arrival of something important;
§ The Advent of the Coming of Christ;
§ The Preparation for Christmas. Get Ready
v Presupposes an Anticipation, Expectation and Preparation.
v Preparation: Getting Ready for the Big Event
Ø John preaches a message of Repentance and Baptism in Preparation for the Coming of Christ; and Announces the Advent of the Messiah!
Ø The people expected, anticipated, and yearned for the Messiah who would come, overthrow Rome, and Restore the Kingdom of Israel.
Ø We should also have a strong sense and desire, an expectation and anticipation for the Coming of Christ.
Ø In His Second Coming; but also in
Ø His Sacramental Presence in our Celebration and Worship of God through the Sacraments, the Liturgy, the Church Year, and especially now, in our celebration our Advent Preparation for the Coming of Christ in Christmass
Ø Ex: The Christ Mass
v How can we Prepare our Hearts for the Coming of Christ in Christmas this Advent Season?
Ø Celebrate the Church Year- meditations on the Life of Christ. Rather than basing our lives on the Secular Year, we Sanctify Time and our Lives in our daily, seasonal, and yearly celebrations and remembrances of Christ.
Ø Meditation on the Life of Christ, especially this season of the Advent of Christ, the Annunciation of Mary, the Nativity, etc.
Ø Repentance- (metanoia), to change directions, to turn away from one thing to another.
Ø John Preached “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Ø Realization of our own mortality and the Coming Judgment and the establishment of the Kingdom of Christ.
Barnes Notes: As that kingdom was one of purity, it was proper that the people should prepare themselves for it by turning from their sins, and by bringing their hearts into a state suitable to his reign.
Ø
v Conclusion.