We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 11, 2015.
Prayer Stir up the will of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen Reflection You brood of vipers. Those are John the Baptizer’s we pray that we may hear. They come from this Sunday’s gospel reading on which Pastor Horn reflected in these devotions on Monday. What do you think about being called a snake? More importantly, how open are you to hearing God’s judgment and being called to repentance? And what are the fruits of repentance, anyhow? One commentary suggests these: merciful justice, radical generosity and vocational integrity. Not too bad, huh? Let’s take this Sunday’s prayer of the day this way. We are reminded that we fall short of doing God’s work. But we are thankful that we can be refocused on what is God’s work. And though that work is perhaps intimidating and overwhelming, let’s give it a go. Pastor Erin Bovendam taught me a wonderful response to the intercessions. I share it with you in closing these devotions. When you speak, O Lord, help me to listen. --Jim Bricker Our devotions are based on this Sunday’s Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The RCL is a three-year cycle of readings telling the story of our Christian faith and corresponding to the season church calendar. On any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. In our current Year C, the Old Testament readings progress through the Prophets and have the theme of the day that it is connected to the Gospel reading. The Psalm, a song the congregation sings in response to the Old Testament reading, most often corresponds to the theme of the Hebrew Lessons and/or that of the Gospel Lesson. The lesson from the Epistles or from Acts typifies the church’s focus on the meaning of Christ for today. The Gospel lesson is connected to the season of the Church Year. This year, our gospel readings are from Luke, who writes that Jesus is the universal Savior and the perfect Son of Man. In the current season of Advent, we long for Christ’s coming: Christ coming as a baby; Christ coming again; Christ in our lives today.
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