Second Sunday of Advent

Summary

Christmas is coming! The light is coming! Jesus is coming!

Today’s Gospel reading, from Matthew 3, verses 1 through 12, tells about John the Baptist’s preaching. John calls people to repentance, as he calls them to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance!”

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire!”

Christmas is giving! The light is giving! Jesus is coming!

It is a good time to repent of our sin. We have not been the people that God wants us to be. When we recognize that we are sinners, we also recognize that we need a Savior. We are preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus.

Martin Luther wrote a small book called the Small Catechism, which was intended as a guide for parents to teach their children about the Christian faith. One section of the Small Catechism talks about the Ten Commandments.

In today’s sermon, we are going through the words of the Small Catechism. This gives us an opportunity to examine our lives and to think about where we need to repent – where we need forgiveness and where we should work to change.

Here are the Ten Commandments, given to Moses and the People of Israel on Mount Sinai, as explained by Martin Luther in the Small Catechism:

The First Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

We are to fear, love, and trust God above all things.

The Second Commandment

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice magic, lie, or deceive using God’s name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, praise, and give thanks to God.

The Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not despise preaching or God’s word, but instead keep that word holy and gladly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love, so that we neither despise nor anger our parents and others in authority, but instead honor, serve, obey, love, and respect them.

The Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we neither endanger nor harm the lives of our neighbors, but instead help and support them in all of life’s needs.

The Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we lead pure and decent lives in word and deed, and each of us loves and honors his or her spouse.

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal

What does mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we neither take our neighbors’ money or property nor acquire them by using shoddy merchandise or crooked deals, but instead help them to improve and protect their property and income.

The Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.

The Ninth Commandment

You shall not covert your neighbor’s house.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not try to trick our neighbors out of their inheritance or property or try to get it for ourselves by claiming to have a legal right to it and the like, but instead be of help and service to them in keeping what is theirs.

The Tenth Commandment

You shall not covert your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not entice, force, or steal away from our neighbors their spouses, household workers, or livestock, but instead urge them to stay and fulfill their responsibilities to our neighbors.

What then does God say about all these commandments?

God says the following: ”I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

What does this mean?

God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore we are to fear his wrath and not disobey these commandments. However, God promises grace and every good thing to all those who keep these commandments. Therefore we also are to love and trust him and gladly act according to his commands.

That is our examination and our opportunity for repentance for the Second Sunday of Advent.

We all need to know our sinfulness – where we have fallen short.

We need to know our sin so that we can repent and change. God is not done with us yet. God is still working on each of us to make us the people he intended us to be.

We all need to know our sin so that we can know that we need Jesus. Jesus came to bring light into a dark world – he came to bring light to the dark places of our hearts and lives. May you know your sinfulness – and may you know even more the joy of Jesus who brings forgiveness and New Life.

Christmas is coming! The light is coming! Jesus is coming!

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