The Sundays of Advent speak to us of Christ’s coming. The First Sunday of Advent recalled the Lord’s humble coming two thousand years ago. The Second Sunday of Advent focused on his return as almighty King at the end of the age. The Third Sunday of Advent reminds us that today he desires to enter your life to save and sanctify you.
Thus, in today’s Gospel, St John the Baptist calls us to recognise in Jesus of Nazareth our Saviour, the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and frees from eternal destruction those who are united with him through faith and Baptism. Will the Lord find a way into your life?
The fourth-century Church Father St Gregory the Theologian wrote: “The Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep, came to seek the lost sheep upon the mountains and hills where you were accustomed to offer sacrifice. When he found it, he placed it upon his shoulders—the same shoulders that bore the wood of the cross—and brought it back to the life of heaven.
Christ, the Light of all lights, comes after John, the lamp that goes before him. The Word of God follows the voice crying in the wilderness; the Bridegroom follows the friend of the bridegroom, who prepares a people worthy of the Lord by cleansing them with water for the coming of the Spirit.
We needed God to take our flesh and die so that we might live. We have died with him so that we may be cleansed. We have risen with him because we have died with him. We have been glorified with him because we have risen with him.”
See you at church! The Revd Emeritus Leevi Reinaru will be our guest preacher at the Mass beginning at 10:00. Also serving are the Revd Toomas Nigola, the Revd Joel Pulk, the Revd Emeritus Tõnu Taremaa, theology student Märtin Muhu and Osvald Nigola. Aaro Tetsmann will play the organ and Marie Nigola the violin. Mulled juice and coffee will follow.
