Come Jesus Come

It is the second Sunday of Advent.  We light the “Peace Candle”

Yet this week, there were two more mass shootings in Texas and another at the University of Las Vegas.

Come Jesus Come – Stephen McWhirter

Sometimes I fall – to my knees and pray

Come Jesus come – Let today be the day.

Sometimes I feel – like I’m gonna break

But I’m holding on – to a hope that won’t fade.

Come Jesus come – we’ve been waiting so long

For the day you’ll return – to heal every hurt – and right every wrong.

We need you right now – Come and turn this around.

Deep down I know – this world isn’t home.

Come Jesus Come – Come Jesus Come.

Come Jesus Come

We know that Jesus came into the world – 2025 years ago – historical fact.

St. Luke, (a companion of St. Paul) the only evangelist to write about the birth of Jesus is believed to have personally interviewed eyewitnesses who knew firsthand about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

In his book, The Case for Christmas, Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ) interviewed John McRay, PhD about the accuracy of St. Luke’s writing. 

McRay, who wrote Archeology and the New Testament, said, “The general consensus of both liberal and conservative scholars is that Luke is very accurate as a historian…he writes as an educated man and archaeological discoveries are showing over and over again that Luke is accurate in what he has to say.”[1]

Jesus came in history – in the past.  

Scripture tells us – this same scripture that is backed up by research, some of  which is scientific – this scripture tells us that Jesus will come again – at the end of time. 

They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way…” (Acts 1:11, also written by St. Luke.)

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angles with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. (Matthew 25:31) Judgement Day!

He will come in majesty – in the future. 

But there is another way that Jesus comes to us. St. Bernard writes about this.

He wrote:

• In his first coming he was seen on earth, dwelling among men.
• In his final coming, all flesh will see the salvation of our God and they will look upon him whom they pierced.
• But the intermediate coming of Jesus came between the first and he final.

The intermediate coming is a hidden one.  It is a mystery – but somehow Jesus comes to us – each one of us.  He comes into our heart with spirit and power. 

Because this middle coming lies between the other two, it is a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last.  It takes us from the manger to the throne. 

On this journey – the journey of our lifetime – we are like the Israelites to whom Issaiah speaks in the first reading.  After many years of exile – they are headed back to Jerusalem.  They are headed to a new era – the war is over, the exile has ended.  They are prisoners no more. 

We are on that journey today.  Jesus has redeemed us and we can be free from the fear and anxiety that is some pervasive in our world. 

The mountains of our pride are leveled.  The valleys of our anxiety and fear are filled in.  The road is made straight – paved with truth, justice and kindness. The journey can be one of peace – for we know that the end of our journey is eternal life with our Lord and Savior – Jesus the Christ. He is our peace. 

Sometimes, on our journey, the days go by slowly, but the years go fast.  Ask any of our elders.  And what helps us through the difficult times is the peace and comfort that comes , only with being in right relationship with God and our brothers and sisters.  Once we have encountered Jesus, embraced him, dropped our nets and have begun to follow him, like John the Baptist, we are called to prepare the way of the Lord. Preparing the way of the Lord is the journey of discipleship.  It is a call to action.  To live with the love of Jesus in our heart – we need to:

• Repent – rid our lives of that which prevents us from fully embracing the love of Jesus – unconfessed sin, unforgiveness, consumerism, being overly busy…
• Proclaim the Good News with our lives – let our life shout from the mountaintop the goodness of God.
• Always point to Jesus – What we do that is good, true, and beautiful – give all the praise and glory to God
• And comfort those who have been waiting so long

For the day you’ll return – to heal every hurt – and right every wrong.

Who need you right now – to come and turn this around.

Deep down I know – this world isn’t home.

Come Jesus Come – Come Jesus Come

Come Jesus Come! Come into my heart.

As we receive you today – let this be the start.

Let hostilities cease – bring us your peace.

Come Jesus Come!

[1] Strobel, Lee, The Case for Christmas. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005) 45.