Give us grace to heed their warnings... Warning! Nobody really likes a warning…except when you have been pulled over for speeding. Growing up, warnings were usually a precursor to my getting in trouble. And often I would blow off the warnings until the threat of punishment was imminent. I wasn't very good at “heeding” the warnings. This was particularly the case if the warning came down from my mom or dad through one of my siblings: Mom says you're gonna be in trouble unless you stop…(fill in the blank)! In fact, I resented my siblings for delivering the message more than the warning, even if it was for my own good. In the Old Testament, starting with Moses, there's a long line of prophets who are called on to pass on “warnings” from their heavenly father. Often God's people resented them as well. Sometimes the prophet would simply be reminding people of the law. At other times they might be expressing God's displeasure or disappointment in his people's behavior especially the attitudes of their hearts. This really shouldn't come as a surprise. Just like today God's people were surrounded by cultures and practices that had little regard for the commandments of God. Sometimes the leaders of the people would go astray and take the people with them. (There's a reason why Israel’s kings were referred to as shepherds.) And so, the prophets would be called upon to speak God's truth to his people in the hopes that they would turn back to him in faithfulness and obedience. But the prophets were also called on to deliver a message of hope and salvation, even if it was couched in warnings. The collect for the second Sunday of Advent asks God to give us grace to heed those same warnings... to forsake our sins... Not so that we will avoid getting in trouble! No. God has already provided the remedy for our sins, Jesus our Redeemer! We are urged to heed the warnings and the cast off our sins precisely because of this good news. To no longer walk in the old ways, but rather to turn and walk in faithful obedience. And that requires grace. And, as we receive that grace, to be ready at all times to greet with joy the coming of our Redeemer when he returns! Blessings,
Matthew+ Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 211) | 
