Second Sunday in Advent

Prayer is a Privilege

God has a habit of approaching difficult conversations by starting with questions. When the first humans sinned, he asked, “Where are you?” When Cain killed Abel, God asked Cain, “Where is your brother?” And throughout the Book of Malachi, God confronts Israel. Notice the questions he asks:

 A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? (1: 6).

For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?’ asks the Lord who rules over all (v. 8).

‘With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?’ asks the Lord who rules over all (v. 9). 

1You bring these things [what is stolen, lame, sick] for an offering! Should I accept this from you?’ asks the Lord (v. 13).

Following this list of grievances, in a touch of sad irony God declares that someday the Gentiles will worship him as Jacob's descendants do not. (v. 1). The “nations” (goyim) are those outside of Israel; presumably they do not know the Lord. God’s people, who know him, are neglecting proper worship and are acting like unbelievers. Yet one day those “outside” nations will offer pure offerings and revere God’s name.

 Because of the sacrifice of Christ who came to earth more than 2,000 years ago, those of us who are not part of the nation of Israel have the privilege of making offerings to God. But he no longer wants animal fat and firstfruits from the harvest. The apostle Paul tells us that God wants us—our lives—as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2). More than anything, the Father wants the love and devotion of each human’s whole and undivided heart.

 That is what he has always wanted. God said this to the people through the prophet Malachi: “For from the east to the west my name will be great among the nations. Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord who rules over all. “But you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offerings despicable. You also say, ‘How tiresome it is.’ You turn up your nose at it,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and instead bring what is stolen, lame, or sick. You bring these things for an offering! Should I accept this from you?” asks the Lord. “There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and my name is awesome among the nations” (vv. 11–14).

 As you pray, ask the Spirit to help you not to “count it tiresome,” but a privilege to talk to the Lord who rules over all, a privilege bestowed on those who descended from Jacob and those adopted into the family. —Sandra Glahn

A Prayer for the First Week in Advent from the Book of Common Prayer: 

Almighty God, grant us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead

And his kingdom will have no end.

If you are doing an Advent wreath, the oldest minor present now lights the purple candle from the first week and then lights a second purple candle.  

Photo credit: Cherry Laithang on Unsplash