Weekly Reflection

 

November 30th to December 6th 2025

First Week of Advent

Hope of the coming of the Messiah

 

Reading: Isaiah 9 (selected verses)

 

2 The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this

 

 

The Church’s Year begins in Advent, so Happy New Year everyone!  Advent simply means coming and it has a dual purpose; it seems natural to think of Advent as being the lead-in to Christmas; actually its liturgical colour is purple, the same as Lent.  This colour tells us that it is in fact a season of penitence and reflection as we prepare for Christ’s coming.  Purple also signifies royalty, focusing on the Kingship of Jesus, both in our lives today and at the End of Time when He comes back in Glory to judge the world.

 

The First Advent (Jesus coming to earth as a baby) was widely predicted by the Old Testament prophets, so with the benefit of hindsight we can see how these prophecies have all been fulfilled; the Second Advent (Jesus coming back to earth as Judge of the world) is also widely predicted but the details are not yet clear to us; indeed some of them are the source of much theological debate.

 

Today in the Church of England we light our first of four Advent Candles; our reading today refers to Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12) and is symbolised by this candle.  He is also called the Prince of Peace, although sadly His own people have largely rejected Him (John 1:9-11).

 

Judaic worship was centred on the Temple in Jerusalem.  Today brings the Hope of Emmanuel, God with us, as we join together in our local church; we also need to be aware that we can worship Him anywhere: we have the Holy Spirit living within us; our bodies are referred to as Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) so we are instructed to live accordingly.  The whole of the New Testament is designed to show us how to do this and what it means to become a disciple of Jesus.

 

Jesus, Lord of all and Lord of my heart, I pray that you would live in me this week.  Remind me Lord who you are and increase my trust in you day by day.  Amen.

 

 

Peter Sebborn

 

Please send any feedback to Christian.Footsoldier@gmail.com