Sunday 17th December - Pause in Advent 3 - Joy

 

First candle - Hope, second candle - Peace, today's candle - Joy

The collect for the third Sunday in Advent is very austere - like all the others. I think that religion in the time of the 1662 prayer book (originally written in 1549) was a pretty serious matter and mostly concerned with living a 'sober and godly life' in order to avoid the torments of hell.

I've seen enough medieval wall paintings of The Last Judgement when visiting ancient churches to give me nightmares were I to be faced with them at every weekly service back in pre-reformation days. 

Did the Christians of this time go in for joy? It seems a comparatively recent idea to me that we need not worry about being 'good enough' to be a Christian. The Law, summarised by Jesus, is this;

'“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself”' (Mt 22.37-39)

God is fully aware of how frail our attempts are to manage to 'love the Lord your God' in this way. Which is not to say we need not try to do so, but we needn't be completely fearful of the consequences of missing the mark.    

The Joy of Christmas, in my view, is that we can be forgiven our faults, and instead of being punished by God. He will forgive us and give us another chance - and another and another - if we are sincerely repentant and genuine in wanting to try. 

How shall we prepare and make ready for the coming of Christ? Like this? with joy and excitement?

Like this? With solemn awe and expectation?

Both!