A Poem a Sunday
Advent II – A
December 4, 2016
Matthew 3:1-12 –NRSV
The Proclamation of
John the Baptist
3 In
those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[a] 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah
spoke when he said,
“The
voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now
John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and
his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and
all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and
they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But
when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them,
“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear
fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We
have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to
raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of
the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and
thrown into the fire.
11 “I
baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He
will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing
fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his
wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Footnotes:
Matthew 3:2 Or is at hand
Matthew 3:11 Or in
Matthew 3:11 Or in
A Poem a Sunday
Advent II – A
December 4, 2016
J. B. – 1.0
A
voice awakens in our heads
but
oftentimes we dread
our
own internal wilderness.
The
desert is a place to grow
dependent
upon the Divine, you know,
that
it is essential to let go.
Listen
and hear! Look and see!
The
ax is at the Forbidden Tree
as
Eden draws ever near.
Don’t
fear! Repent!
Offer
sincere lament
for
God has sent the voice.
It
shouts through doubt:
“The
Kingdom is near!”
And
God’s good grace will come to bear.
Copyright @ A Poem
a Sunday
May be used with
permission.
A Poem a Sunday
Advent III – A
December 11, 2016
Matthew 11:2-11 –
NRSV
Messengers from
John the Baptist
2 When
John heard in prison what the Messiah[a] was doing, he sent word by his[b] disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the
one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4 Jesus answered them,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight,
the lame walk, the lepers[c] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who
takes no offense at me.”
Jesus
Praises John the Baptist
7 As
they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go
out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then
did you go out to see? Someone[d] dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft
robes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[e] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This
is the one about whom it is written,
‘See,
I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly
I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the
Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Footnotes:
Matthew 11:2 Or the Christ
Matthew 11:2 Other ancient authorities read two
of his
Matthew 11:5 The terms leper and leprosy can
refer to several diseases
Matthew 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see
someone
Matthew 11:9 Other ancient authorities read Why
then did you go out? To see a prophet?
A Poem a Sunday
Advent III – A
December 11, 2016
J. B. – 2.0
(May be sung to the
Hymn Tune
WEBB: Meter 76.76 D
“Stand Up! Stand Up! For Jesus”)
1.
Stand up! Stand up for justice
O
Prophet of the Cross.
You
know in following the Christ
there
always is a cost.
Be
bold! Be Brave! O Prophet!
Your
voice is needed now.
Speak
out from the grey desert
begin
to show us how
2.
to heed the call for penance
in
waters clear and deep,
and
join the throngs of those
who
walk Jordan in bare feet.
Stand
up! Stand up O Prophet.
despite
the silent Church.
Awaken
all those sleeping.
Proclaim
Messiah’s birth.
3. Awaken Advent people,.
share dreams of the Shalom
where
all voices are honored
and
strangers find a home.
Stand
up! Stand up for justice,
O
Prophet of the Cross.
You
know in following the Christ
there
always is a cost.
Copyright @ A Poem
a Sunday
May be used with
permission.
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