Can I Begin Again?

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, December 18, 2024

The week of the Third Sunday of Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from this reading:

9:1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.   2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;  3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,"'

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

You will find the full text of this Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)

AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]

Isa. 9:8-17; 2 Pet. 2:1-10a; Mark 1:1-8

Ember Day

David's Reflections

The Christian rap group, D. C. Talk, (which began in Lynchburg, VA in 1987 and continued performing together until 2000) sings about God's newness in these lyrics:

Chorus:  Ya know he's doin it, God is doin a nu thang (4 repeats)

Verse 1:

My God is doin' a nu thang, but since time began he remains the same.

Faithful forever to his word, and solid, a cornerstone unstirred.

But look down through the ages and you will find,

God doesn't change but he knows the time.

Today’s Gospel presents God doing a nu thang in John the Baptist.  His ministry created quite a stir.  Israel had not seen a prophet since Joel (400-350 BCE), four centuries before.  Joel had promised that the time of salvation would be signaled by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a rebirth of prophecy.  So, John's sudden appearance, dressed in the same manner as Elijah and preaching with power, generated excitement that God's salvation was near, the time of the fulfillment of the hope of the prophets. As DC Talk sang, God knows the time.

At some point in the First Century, Judaism began baptizing Gentiles who converted to Judaism.  If that practice pre-dated John, he may have been influenced by it and by the ritual washings of the Qumran Community (commonly assumed to be the source of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the 1940’s).  John's practice of baptism would have been a signal that God was creating a new people, a people prepared to receive God’s messianic savior, and that baptism was the rite of entrance into that community of anticipation.

This Gospel begins with the words, "the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ."  The word "gospel" could refer to Mark’s Gospel itself or to the total event of Jesus' coming.  I prefer the latter.  John the Baptist's appearance was the beginning of the story of Jesus' coming.  That phrase remains one of my favorites in Scripture.

A new beginning, a new beginning made possible by God's coming to us,

that's what Advent means to me.  What would be the best possible news you could receive during Advent?  Would it be the renewing of a marriage or of a relationship with a relative or friend?  Would it be the healing of a disease or of an emotional or spiritual wound?  Would it be the breaking of the power of an addiction?  Would it be a deeper sense of God's saving and accepting love?  Would it mean the clarifying of your sense of vocation, a deeper awareness of why you are here and how your life makes sense?

Do you believe that a new beginning is possible, no matter how dark the moment, how formidable the obstacles?  Can you imagine what that new beginning might be like?  What would your life be like from that point forward?  What event would initiate that new beginning? What first step might you take to welcome that new beginning? The Spirit rising up within us, “being baptized with the Spirit,” will energize our new beginning.

Eli Wiesel wrote:

"According to Jewish tradition, creation did not end with man, it began with (God) him.  When (God) he created man God gave him a secret--and that secret was not how to begin but how to begin again."

     "In other words, it is not given to man to begin;  that is God's alone.  But it is given to man to begin again--and he does so every time he chooses to defy death and side with the living.”*

*Eli Wiesel, Messengers of God, (New York:  Random House, 1976)p. 31. (I would add “woman” after “man” each time.)

Collect of the Day, The Third Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 212)

Ember Day Prayer for Those to be Ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)

Daily Office Gospel, Mark 1:1-8

9:1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.   2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way;  3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,"'

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  6Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, 'The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.'

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer