The Saturday after Populus Sion Sunday, The Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 14, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 13:5-13 (NKJV)
13:5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Devotion
There are many who believe they can scope out the end times by their unique interpretation of the Scriptures, … or of the newspapers. There are some who would believe all hype and sensationalism about the end of the world and yet completely miss the grand narrative which the plain meaning of the Scriptures would give us.
Our Lord Jesus warns of such people that would come saying they are the Christ, and yet are deceivers. They sensationalize and do not recognize the unfolding of history as the manifestation of God’s fatherly will. They silence the truth, just as they persecuted the prophets, the apostles, and the martyrs before us.
Though we are getting close to the celebration of the first coming of our Lord at Christmas, let us not forget the second Advent of our Lord, as we learn throughout the Advent season. Let us not be taken by false prophets, nor by sensationalism. Let us turn always to the Word of God as we see history unfold, and wait with anticipation for the Lord’s return. Let us not turn our eyes away from Christ and the surety of His Word, but rely on God alone so that all those who are claimed by Christ will endure to the end.
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
