The First Sunday of Advent

The First Sunday of Advent

This shout of acclamation has been given a place in the liturgy of our service of Holy Communion.  There, we know it as the “Sanctus.”  There, it is the song of the people as they anticipate the Words of Institution… an anticipation full of joy and of an eager hopefulness that their reception of the body and blood of their Lord will indeed be blessed—that is, fruitful… fruitful unto their salvation.  To bless something is to commend it to fruitfulness.  To bless is a prayer for the productivity of whatever is being blessed.  To interpret the people’s shout under this rubric is to hear the “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” as a cry of confidence that the one bearing the name of the Lord is indeed fruitful and productive.  This Lord’s fruitfulness delivers abundant salvation.  His profligate productivity establishes the people in the forgiveness of their sins.  For now, all this abundance and fruitfulness is a matter of faith; the experience of its glory awaits us.  The very voices who shouted “Hosanna!” as welcome to their king, days later turned to shouting, “Crucify him!” when their king disappointed them by suffering humiliation without any visible or tangible evidence of glory.

Prayers from those frustrated by having to live in humility rather than glory as they await the coming of their king…

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, grant that I remain in humility as I await the appearance of my glory when He comes again in glory.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, hold me in a confident faith, enduring and humble, during these days of my baptism.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, as I endure the humility of this sin-broken world, and the persistence of my sinful self, keep me from taking pride in my piety and trusting in my righteous deeds.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, deliver me into the hands of my neighbors that I would be of some use to them in the acquisition of their daily bread.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, as I would lack for my daily bread provide me with neighbors who will deliver that bread to me.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, keep the Institute of Lutheran Theology in the humility of knowing Jesus and Jesus only.  Father, hear my prayer.

Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son so has your Son sent us, during these days of my baptism place your Word on my lips so that I would deliver the Bread of Life come down from heaven to my neighbors.  Father, hear my prayer.