1. A DVENT 3B D ECEMBER 14, 2014 Isaiah 61:1-11 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28 San Juan de la Cruz Spanish Mystic 1542 – 1591

2. Collect for Advent 3B Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; & because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace & mercy speedily help & deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you & the Holy Spirit, be honor & glory, now & forever. Amen. Collect for Advent 3B Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; & because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace & mercy speedily help & deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you & the Holy Spirit, be honor & glory, now & forever. Amen. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA -- Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 Prayer for Advent 3B [San Juan de la Cruz] Judge eternal, enthroned in splendor, you gave Juan de la Cruz strength of purpose & mystical faith to sustain him through darkest nights of the soul: Shed your light on all who love you, in unity with Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you & the Holy Spirit lives & reigns, one God, forever. Amen. Prayer for Advent 3B [San Juan de la Cruz] Judge eternal, enthroned in splendor, you gave Juan de la Cruz strength of purpose & mystical faith to sustain him through darkest nights of the soul: Shed your light on all who love you, in unity with Jesus Christ our Savior; who with you & the Holy Spirit lives & reigns, one God, forever. Amen.

3. A DVENT 3B: V ISION & S ALVATION [I SAIAH 61:1-11] Time Stamp: c. 706 BC Isaiah’s vision: People will rejoice because God is renewing creation with righteousness & a promise of salvation. Roles of Prophets [Vv 1-3] Prophets have God’s spirit moving in them at all times – don’t discount them --Preacher --Healer --Deliverer --Comforter --Planter Office of the Promised Messiah Promises to Jews returned from captivity, extend to all of us who, through grace, are delivered out of spiritual servitude. An unholy soul is like a city in decline, like a house in ruins; but power of Christ's gospel & grace rebuilds it as a habitation of God, through the Spirit. Not just Triumph, but Salvation --Triumph is for the moment & fades --Salvation endures for eternity 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, & release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

4. A DVENT 3B: L IVING R IGHT [1 T HESSALONIANS 5:16-24] Time Stamp: 51 AD Paul’s message: Rejoice in the Holy Spirit, avoid evil and live holy lives. Exhortations Rejoice Pray Give thanks Keep flame of Faith burning Don’t discount prophesy –a gift of God Validate all things; retain what is good Abstain from any appearance of evil St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 25 Beloved, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit."

5. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light… 19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” A DVENT 3B: P REPARE Y E THE W AY ! [J OHN 1:6-8, 19-28] Synopsis John the Baptist makes his role clear: prepare the way for Christ’s coming. John’s Testimony [Vv 6-8] Man of God [authoritative source] Witness to The Light of Christ Priests Query John [Vv 19-28] John was of the Priestly class— descendant of Aaron Priest and Levits sent to query him Pharisees felt themselves above the mission Want to know on what authority he Baptizes John professes to be none other than who he is—a messenger --Emphasizes he is NOT the Messiah --Here to fulfill scripture --Humble—merely a voice Note the venue: Bethabara --vicinity of where Joshua led the Israelites across to their Promise St. John’s Episcopal Church, Centreville VA Adult Lectionary Forum 2014 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”