Monday after the Third Sunday of Advent, 12/18/00

Acts 2: 36-39 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call." --NIV

In the name of the One in Whom we have forgiveness of sins, amen.

Notice that in this advent message there are no words like, "You'd better not shout; you'd better not pout; you'd better not cry; I'm telling you why…" There are no such words because in reality none of us measures up to the standards of God. Instead the message is, "You'd better 'fess up, and get baptized; better repent Cause Jesus 's been sent. Jesus Christ is coming to earth."

While Santa Clause as we know him today is nothing but a children's tale, Jesus Christ really does know if we've been naughty or nice, and the fact is we have been very naughty. We are filled with greed, always wanting what we don't have. As we rush to buy presents we get furiously angry with the person who is slow in getting out of "our parking space." We invite people over and underneath it all we resent their coming. We are poor stewards and spend more than we have. But Christ is coming with the gift of paradise, and we don't qualify. But rather than pass us over because we are so bad, he provided Baptism as an answer. Rather than losing out, all people are eligible to receive the promise because of repentance rooted in holy Baptism. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we are guilty of countless sins. By our sins we have lost the promise of paradise. But You in Your glorious mercy restored the promise to us in Baptism. Help us to confess our sins and trust in the forgiveness that You pour out on us in Baptism. Bless not only us, but also our children, and our children's children in this way, amen.

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