The Collect Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Collect The collect starts with an observation that God “sent … messengers the prophets..” The petition is that we be given “grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins…” The collect theme is the time and our preparation for the time when Jesus will return. The theme is reflected in the OT selections for this Sunday over the three year cycle. In RCL A the reading is Isaiah 11:1-10, “A rod out of Jesse’s tree.” The Collect In RCL B the reading is Isaiah 40:1-11 titled “A voice crying out in the wilderness. In RCL C there are track 1 and track 2 selections the first is Baruch who asks that Jerusalem lookout from its heights. In the 2 track the Malachi reading is entitled the coming Messenger. The theme concerns the prophets and messengers sent to prepare our way to salvation, a marvelous theme as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and Advent His return in glory. The Collect While most of our collects were translated into English with a protestant twist this collect is one of two collects originated by Bishop Cranmer for 1549 BCP. This ‘new’ for Advent 2 and last weeks for Advent 1. New in the sense that it is only 400 years old. Baruch 5:1-9 Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem, and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you evermore the name, "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory.” Baruch 5:1-9 Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. Baruch 5:1-9 For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him. Introduction to Baruch The book of Baruch was probably written sometime between 200 and 60 B.C.; It is set, however, during the Babylonian exile of the early sixth-century B.C., and attributed to Jeremiah’s friend and secretary, Baruch son of Neriah. A tradition developed later, which is reflected in these works, that Baruch went to Babylonia and not Egypt. Baruch Outline Baruch falls into two main sections. The first section, in prose, includes an introduction and a corporate confession of sin for Jews in Jerusalem to recite at the altar there, along with appropriate sacrifices, on various festival days and seasons. The second section is made up of two poems. The first praises Wisdom in the form of Torah. The lectionary selection is the last half of the second poem which comprises an address by Jerusalem to the people and their response. Baruch Poem of comfort and restoration. In today's reading is entitled: 5.1—9: “Glorification of Jerusalem and return of the exiles.” In the first part of the poem, Jerusalem speaks to the people. Today’s reading is the response of the people. Baruch in the Bible The Book of Baruch. According to the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, this book, which purports to be the work of Baruch, Jeremiah’s friend and secretary, is canonical scripture. Protestants include it among the Apocrypha. For Jews it is no more important than any other pseudepigraphal writing from antiquity. Baruch in Relation to Other Literature The Oxford Dictionary of Christianity places Baruch as one of two appendices to the Book of Jeremiah, together with the Book of Lamentations. Page 139 Jeremiah contains the prophesy of the coming ruin of Judah and Jerusalem. The Original of the prophesies was written and read to the then King, who had it burned and those that we have were re-written later. Page 730. Baruch 5:1-9 There may have been as many as four different authors contributing to what is now called Baruch. Different names for God are used in the confession and in the poems. The theologies of the confession and of the second poem are quite compatible but are both so clearly drawn from biblical passages paraphrased or rewritten that it is difficult to discern the particular thinking of the authors. As an example from Isiah. The Message To Christians in Advent the message is in the image presented in the text. It is a time when God will call his people to himself. Mountains will be flattened, and valleys filled and the way entirely shaded with fragrant trees. God will rescue his people then in style! English Miniaturist, Winchester Bible, 1160-75
Illumination on parchment, Winchester Cathedral The great Winchester Bible was written and illuminated by a team of artists at Winchester Cathedral between about 1160 and about 1175. The paintings of the Winchester Bible must rank among the greatest works of art ever produced in England. This page of the Winchester Bible shows the characteristic combination of illumination and text, of figurative and scenic ornamentation of initial letters with two-column calligraphy of the highest quality. The page with the end of the books of Jeremiah and the beginning of Baruch has two large illuminated initials. On the left is the prayer of Jeremiah, following Lamentations. It shows Jeremiah with a scroll, praying to God. Across on the right, at the start of Baruch, is an even larger initial showing the prophet reading from a manuscript before the King Jechonias and all the people in the city of Babylon. The Song of Zechariah
Benedictus Dominus Deus Luke 1: 68-79 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; * he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old, that he would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember his holy covenant. The Song of Zechariah
Benedictus Dominus Deus Luke 1: 68-79 This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship him without fear, * holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, * for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, The Song of Zechariah
Benedictus Dominus Deus Luke 1: 68-79 To give people knowledge of salvation * by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Zechariah There are more than 30 people with this name in the Bible. [See Art for additional ties] Today, it is the father of John the Baptist with Elizabeth in old age – like other miraculous births. An Angel announces the birth of John the Baptist to him and then he is struck dumb when he asks for a sign. At the Birth of John once the child is named, Zechariah speaks. Michelangelo, Zechariah, 1509
Fresco, 360 x 390 cm
Cappella Sistina, Vatican The Prophet Zechariah is enthroned above the east door of the Sistine Chapel. In ecclesiastical tradition Zechariah is young, but Michelangelo painted him as a man hoary with age, with a long beard and an ample green cloak, perhaps indicative of the unfathomable depth of his prophecies. The old man is reading from his book, perhaps reciting the passages on the reconstruction of the temple, which he advocated. Some scholars thought that Julius II and his counselors took it as a reference to the rebuilding of Saint Peter's. Zechariah prophesied the coming of a king riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, that is, Palm Sunday; and the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the Pentecost - both of which played a prominent part in the Church ritual of the Vatican. The Nativity of John the Baptist Dr. Witsell: “The Nativity of John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus; the main figures are those of Zacharias, writing the baby's name John—on a tablet, the baby, and his mother, Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, the Mother of Christ.” Malachi 3:1-4 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the Malachi 3:1-4 descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Introduction to Malachi We do not know anything about the person of Malachi. The period is thought to be 500-450 BC. The name simply means “My messenger” The author was devoted to the temple and held a high view of the priesthood and its responsibilities. One theme is the messenger who “prepares the way” which Matthew and Luke developed into a connection with the coming of the Messiah. The text The messenger may be an angel who will prepare for the day ofGod’s coming. The first activity will be purifying the priesthood through a refiner’s fire. The textual theme was of course adopted by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, for their struggle with their contemporary religious authorities. The rest of Chapter 3 The Coming Messenger Verse 5 however adds some context for its meaning to the original audience. “5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. The text seems in this light to target the corruption prevalent prior to the exile and the need for reform as pointed by other authors of the time. Philippians 1:1-11 BCP [Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.] RCL - I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:1-11 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. For Context the Next Verse Paul’s Present Circumstances I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Introduction to Philippians Except that Paul was in prison at the time of writing and awaiting trial, it is impossible to speak confidently of the time and place of the writing of this letter. Because of references to the imperial guard or praetorium and to the emperor’s household and also because the situation reflected in the letter bears some resemblance to that described at the very end of the book of Acts, many scholars put its composition during the period of Paul’s imprisonment at Rome (about A.D. 61 - 63). Other scholars find that it is more probable that the letter was written from Caesarea or Ephesus at an earlier stage in Paul’s career. Note that the letter is addressed to: “Bishops and deacons” Main Themes of Philippians One theme of this letter is persistence in faith in the face of opposition and even the threat of death. Paul offers himself as an example of steadfast courage and of joy in the midst of harsh circumstances and possible death; he turns attention away from preoccupation with one’s own fate toward the proclamation of the gospel. The Oxford Dictionary of Christianity indicates that the main item of importance in the letter is a statement of great doctrinal importance concerning the pre-existence of Christ in the form of God, then transformed into and humbled into man. This is latter in the letter. Page 1082. Seasonal Context Today’s reading relates to preparation for the second coming of the Lord. In the dual theme of Advent, we celebrate the Birth of Jesus and prepare for His next appearance. Luke3:1-6 The Proclamation of John the Baptist In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler t of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of lturaea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 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, Luke 3:1-6 The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Luke Luke Recap Although the Gospel is anonymous and the evidence pertaining to its author is inconclusive, many considerations support the early Christian tradition that the author was the physician Luke, a Gentile convert and friend of the apostle Paul. The Gospel appears to have been written, perhaps at Antioch, during the last third of the first century, though the precise date is unknown. Luke, who was not an eyewitness of the life of Jesus, tells us that he used great care in collecting information for his book. He dedicated the book, along with the Acts of the Apostles, to a certain Theophilus, who was probably a Roman of high rank. Luke a Gentile Luke Context The Lessons Related The three lessons are related in that each looks to the future, The first to the first appearance of Jesus. Luke to the preparation for the ministry on earth of Jesus by John the Baptist and Finally in Philippians to the return of Jesus. These are chosen to be joyful, emphasized by the fact the next statement after Luke is the reference to the world as a brood of vipers. The Lessons Related Baruch “For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.” Luke without saying so paraphrases Baruch’s paraphrase of Isaiah “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Philippians “so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Geertgen tot Sint Jans, John the Baptist in the Wilderness,
1490-95
Panel, 42 x 28 cm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516), St. John the Baptist
Oil on panel, Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid Francesco di Giorgio Martini,
St John the Baptist, 1464
Polychromed wood, height 181 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, John the Baptist Preaching, 1732-33
Fresco, 350 x 300 cm, Cappella Colleoni, Bergamo
