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Amen. ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ [Isaiah 40.3] Collect Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Reading: Luke 21.25-36 A reading from the Gospel of St Luke. Jesus said, ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ Reflection Advent pulls us in three different directions; to the past, the future and the present. During the next four weeks we will look back to some of the great Biblical figures who helped to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ. The season is also where we traditionally think of the ‘end days’, when the kingdom of God will be fulfilled. Advent also calls us to reflect on how our Lord comes to us in the present, in our daily lives. St Luke the evangelist would have known that many of the great Greek philosophers of his time saw history as cyclical. They thought that the earth and humanity went forward and developed until some great catastrophe happened and everything had to start all over again. It’s what the popular song celebrates as ‘The circle of life.’ There is an element of truth in this, born out of our human experience; the cycle of birth, life and death; in the daily round of each new day. For many of the great stoics of the past history was going nowhere because it was forever going round and round in circles. But Luke, like other early Christian writers, saw history from a very different perspective. Today’s Gospel reminds us that it journeys forward to the culmination of all things; to the coming of the ‘Son of Man’. It’s what sometimes has been called ’Judgement day’. Those of us of a certain age will remember those brave souls who used to carry billboards on their back in the centre of Swansea warning that ‘the end is nigh!’ Today’s Gospel reading is set in the last week of our Lord’s ministry. He had been proclaiming the kingdom, healing the sick and casting out evil for three years. Two days earlier he had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as its ‘Servant King’. He had taught in the Temple precincts during the day and had slept on the Mount of Olives at night. So, as our Lord approached his own end it was perhaps natural for him to speak about the end times. His words were chilling, ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.’ If the recent COP26 meeting in Glasgow achieved anything it has warned of the calamity that could be visited on us if humankind fails to heed the warning signs of global warming and environmental catastrophe. The signs are there for all to see; more violent storms, severe droughts, devastating floods and crippling heat waves. We are beginning to wake up to the reality that we might well bring ‘the end’ upon ourselves! Sir David Attenborough is no longer a lone voice in the wilderness calling us to repent of our ways! There are two things we can reflect on as we think about the challenging imagery in today’s Gospel reading. First, Jesus tells us that his followers do not need to fear the ‘end days.’ Instead he encourages the faithful to ‘stand up and raise their heads because redemption is drawing near.’ Whatever we call that day, the ‘second coming’, ‘judgement day or the ‘parousia’, it will be the goal and culmination of salvation history. Second, our Lord doesn’t tell us when that day will come. Some of the first Christians thought that it would happen in their own lifetime, and the earlier books of the New Testament reflect that hope. For two thousand years others have tried unsuccessfully to predict its coming. It’s clear that Jesus didn’t want us to be preoccupied by when, where and how it will happen. All he asks is that we remain watchful and active in his service. Today’s reading reminds us that, as followers of Christ, we are always living in the end times. As the post Communion prayer we use during this season says, ‘Kindle us with the fire of your Spirit, that when the Lord Jesus comes again we may shine as lights before him.’ We begin this season of preparation for Christmas by looking to the future in hope. Prayers Lord, on this Advent Sunday we pray for your church here and throughout the world. As we look to the fulfilment of your kingdom give us strength to be active in your service and ever watchful for your coming in glory. Bless John our Bishop elect and his family, and all who minister in word, sacrament and in social outreach. Lord, give us a sense of expectation as we gather in your name and inspiration as we go out to serve you in the world. Lord, hear us... Lord, we pray for the world you came to save. Guide and direct all who are in authority in the ways of justice and peace. We remember before you those who live under persecution, tyranny or war and pray for those who are working for peace in the Middle East and in the world’s conflict zones. Lord, hear us... Lord, we bring before you those who have left their homes and who now live as refugees in foreign lands; remembering especially the migrants who lost their lives in the English Channel last week. Lord, bless all who minister to those who turn towards us for asylum, as we pray for the work of the Swansea City of Sanctuary support group. Lord, hear us... Lord, we pray for the community of Mumbles and for our families, neighbours and friends. We bring before you our Lifeboat crew; our schools and colleges; our local surgeries and nursing homes; and those who work in our local shops during the run up to Christmas. Lord, in the busyness of this time of year help us to show our love for you in our love of others. Lord, hear us... Lord, we commend to your healing love those known to us who are ill in mind, body or spirit at this time. Lord, may they know the light of your healing presence . Lord, hear us... Lord, we pray for those who have been called from this world, that they may be numbered with your saints. We pray for our departed loved ones and for those whose years mind falls at this time. Lord, keep us mindful that we await the same call and make us ready for the time when we will stand in your presence. Lord, hear us... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer for those who are unable to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. [after the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester] [Keep a moment of silence for spiritual communion with the Lord and with our brothers and sisters] O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel From the Advent ‘O’ Antiphons Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us, scatter the darkness from before our path, and make us ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. Bible Readings: New Revised Standard Version [1989] - Word of the Lord: Church in Wales - CCL Parish Copyright Licence: 753662 business website design