The season of Advent begins tomorrow. Because we follow the Jewish reckoning of days in the Church the day begins at sunset so it is already the first Sunday of Advent. I am to supply at the Church of the Good Shepherd tomorrow.
For those not familiar with “clerical speak,” the word supply means that I will be in charge of the services tomorrow. Being in charge means that I will preside at the altar for the Eucharist and will preach. I’ve supplied at Good Shepherd many times over the past years. For a year I was the regular supply priest while they searched for a new rector. It is a place where I’m comfortable. The people know me and seem glad to see me when I appear. When I know I will be supplying at some church, the week is usually spent thinking about the readings and what the topic of the homily should be.
Again, for those not familiar with clerical speak a homily is based on the readings for the day, whereas a sermon can be on any topic of the preacher’s choosing. For the most part I just preach homilies. The readings chosen for each Sunday provide the people and me with a good number of ideas upon which to speak and listen. The readings for this Sunday from Isaiah, Romans and Matthew all speak about the second coming of Jesus. It is a topic not normally preached about in the Episcopal Church.
The prayer for the First Sunday of Advent from the Book of Common Prayer is one of my favorites. It echoes some of the second reading from Romans. To me it is a masterpiece of English composition. So you’ll know about that which I write I will quote it for you.
“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your 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 living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal.”
Often when I meditate on this prayer I see myself standing before the wall behind the altar in the Sistine Chapel looking at Michelangelo’s interpretation of Jesus’s coming again in his glorious majesty.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Judgment_(Michelangelo) It’s a beautiful work but also a bit scary as you see people being cast into hell. Personally I don’t profess a religion which scares people. I realize that when the painting was done, it was a common thing to preach repentance with a sub-theme of scaring people into that repentance.
I think that this Advent and this prayer has a particular meaning for me this year. One never knows how one will react to the news that one has a couple of months to live until one receives the news. The oncologist told me that if I didn’t receive chemotherapy I would be dead in three to five months. After hearing the horror stories of others who have suffered so many awful side effects of chemotherapy my choice was made with some fear and trepidation. I made that choice to live longer. Now Advent comes and I have another choice with God’s grace to cast away the works of darkness which I earnestly strive to do every day. I can’t do it alone, but I have so many holding me up with their prayers for which I am eternally grateful.
I had my second infusion of immunotherapy this week. My bloodwork looked good. My hair is growing back, rather slowly however. I continue to have virtually no side effects from the infusions.
As I look outside winter has arrived with its usual mix of snow, sleet, rain, drizzle and whatever else can befall us before it just gets cold and stays cold. A major storm bypassed us once again. Tonight we are supposed to receive more snow. Only tomorrow will we know what actually happens.
Wednesday was a “snow day.” We had those once in while when I was teaching. They were really gifts because they were a totally unplanned day off. Without any plans one could just do what one wanted to, but mostly confined to one’s home. If the school buses couldn’t make headway through the streets it was unlikely that any automobile could! I still enjoy those snow days.
My good friend invited me over for Thanksgiving dinner which was delicious and traditional. Last Sunday evening another friend had some former educators for dinner. That was a pleasant evening renewing some old acquaintances.
It was a good week and there were many things for which to be thankful. I am blessed in so many ways.
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