Mothers’ Union Devotion Sunday 5th December 2021 the Second of Advent.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Luke 3. 3-4

Advent is a time when change is taking place in secret. Babies are growing in the wombs of their mothers. The message of the prophets change direction. A wild young man is proclaiming a new way of receiving forgiveness.

And we? We decorate our houses. Change our diets. Increase our budgets. Wrap our presents. Feel a profound sense of anticipation for Christmas Day and all that it might bring. Hoping that the good changes we experience in this season, will last well into the New Year.

Too often our world is disappointed come the New Year. Hope is packed away with the tinsel. Suppressed with the pain of family disagreements. Forgotten in the gloom of January’s bad weather.

Maybe the short-lived joy of Christmas is a result of forgetting to prepare our inner selves beforehand. We have a season of Advent for a purpose. A time to prepare our hearts and souls to greet the New-born King. A time to reflect on just exactly who this coming child is. A time to repent of the things we know we have been doing wrong over the past year or so. A time to prepare the way for the Lord to re-enter our lives in all his fullness.

Taking the time to truly recognise the light that is about to enter our world, helps that light continue to shine in our lives. We can take deep into our hearts the memories of what this miraculous child achieves. When he dies on the cross in order that we might receive forgiveness of our sins. That, because of his sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, the light can never be extinguished. The hope can never be shut back up into a box. The joy of this world can never be suppressed completely.

This Advent as we anticipate a better Christmas than last year, we take the time to prepare for the coming of the one who ensures that all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

With all my love and prayers for a reflective season of Advent

Revd Sandra