The Wednesday of Ember Week in Advent
Posted on December 18, 2024 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 2:2-5 (NKJV)
2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
5 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Devotion
Advent teaches us to focus on preparations for the coming glory of our Lord’s wonderful Nativity. The historic observance of the quarterly Ember Days encourages us to sharpen our focus even more. In humble thanksgiving and repentance we remember that God provides good gifts for all, the wicked and the faithful, but His greatest gifts are revealed in the kingdom of our only Savior, Jesus Christ.
As all mankind fell into sin with Adam’s transgression, we have been at war with God and each other ever since. In spite of Adam’s sin, the Lord still provided for man to tend the fields and receive the fruits of the earth. Cain chose murder over faithful thanksgiving to the Lord, but still, nations multiplied over the earth and God continued to provide good things. His prophets were sent with messages to call people to repent, walk in the righteousness of God, and seek the peace of His holy house.
The message of Advent is that the Lord truly fulfills His promises given through the prophets of the Old Testament and that the birth of the incarnate Lord establishes His kingdom of peace for us. In Christ Jesus the house of His holy Church is exalted and all nations are called to repent, turn from murderous rebellion, and receive the fruits of His labors from the cross. He still provides blessings to all, but the promises of everlasting peace are only for those who repent and believe according to the light of the Lord.
Collect: Grant, we beseech Thee Almighty God, that with the coming solemnity of our Lord’s birth to accomplish our redemption, through Thy holy Word and Sacraments, Thou would strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for Gaudete Sunday
Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father 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.
