Second Sunday of Advent

On the Holy Scriptures

The Second Sunday in Advent has been appropriated by the modern church as “Bible Sunday.” If this is necessary, it should not be: isn’t every Sunday “Bible Sunday?” Advent in the Western Church, at least, is already short enough a penitential season that it seems a time ill-chosen to set our spiritual sights elsewhere only one week in. The rationale for this rather banal innovation is the very fine 1662 BCP Collect for this week, one of the few which Cranmer wrote himself, rather than translating from ancient sources. The Collect was composed, however, to match the readings of the ancient lectionary, rather than to impart some new intent unrelated to the Advent season. These readings, and the Gospel in particular, highlight yet another “coming” of Our Lord. He who was born in Bethlehem, who cleansed the Temple, who will come again to judge, has also come and still is come in Holy Scripture. The Word made flesh is the same Word who speaks through the Torah and the prophets. He speaks to us now in the Scriptures of Old Testament and New, and we can meet Him there. There is nothing exclusively “Protestant” about this emphasis: note the patristic allusions of the authorised Homily on the Reading and Knowledge of Scripture, most likely by Bishop John Jewel (1559-1571). Due rumination on Holy Writ is the duty and, when approached with curiosity, the joy of every Christian. Let us prepare to feast on the Sacramental Body of Our Lord, then, by frequent digestion of the “heavenly meat of our souls:” not just in the second week of Advent, but all year round. —T.P.

THE COLLECT.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Rom. 15. 4

WHATSOEVER things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we, through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say, that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy Name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a Root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 21. 25

JESUS said unto his disciples, There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.

A Fruitful Exhortation to the Reading and Knowledge of Holy Scripture

From the Second Book of Homilies

If it shall require to teach any truth, or reprove false doctrine, to rebuke any vice, to commend any virtue, to give good counsel, to comfort, or to exhort, or to do any other thing requisite for our salvation; all those things, saith Saint Chrysostom, we may learn plentifully of the Scripture. There is, saith Fulgentius, abundantly enough, both for men to eat, and children to suck. There is whatsoever is meet for all ages, and for all degrees and sorts of men.

These books, therefore, ought to be much in our hands, in our eyes, in our ears, in our mouths, but most of all in our hearts. For the Scripture of God is the heavenly meat of our souls: the hearing and keeping of it maketh us blessed, sanctifieth us, and maketh us holy; it turneth our souls; it is a light lantern to our feet; it is a sure, steadfast, and everlasting instrument of salvation; it giveth wisdom to the humble and lowly hearts; it comforteth, maketh glad, cheereth, and cherisheth our conscience; it is a more excellent jewel, or treasure, than any gold or precious stone; it is more sweet than honey or honey-comb; it is called the best part, which Mary did choose; for it hath in it everlasting comfort.

The words of Holy scripture be called words of everlasting life: for they be God's instrument, ordained for the same purpose. They have power to turn, through God's promise; and they be effectual through God's assistance; and being received in a faithful heart, they have ever an heavenly spiritual working in them. They are lively, quick, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and enter through, even unto the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, or the joints and the marrow.

Christ calleth him a wise builder, that buildeth upon his word, upon his sure and substantial foundation. By this word of God we shall be judged: for the word that I speak, saith Christ, is it that shall judge in the last day. He that keepeth the word of Christ, is promised the love and favour of God, and that he shall be the dwelling-place or temple of the blessed Trinity.