November 29, 2021 - Advent Week 1

 

Francisco de Zurbaran, St. Francis (1659)


2 Peter 1:1-11

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

As we begin a second Covid season of Advent, we remember that the first week of Advent is considered a time of hope and expectation. We begin to celebrate the anticipation of the coming of Jesus and reflect on the meaning of His birth.

Peter says emphatically that Jesus has given us everything we need for a Godly life. Such a gift would seem to be enough in and of itself, but he goes on to exhort us to add additional qualities to our faith, all of which require effort. Effort of course leads to fatigue, and fatigue can cause negligence, complacency and hopelessness. This is no less true today than in Peter’s time.

In 2021 goodness is becoming a relative measure, knowledge is increasingly derided and self control and perseverance seem to be vanishing before our eyes. Godliness, mutual affection and love are left wanting because it is all too easy to focus exclusively on oneself and those like minded.

Peter alerts us to these pitfalls. He reminds us that without these qualities we risk forgetting that we have been cleansed of our past sins. Instead, he advises that possessing the qualities requiring effort will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems that the work would be its own reward. All endeavours to help the world become a calmer, more peaceful and loving place are worth the effort. Peter, however, says those who are diligent in the work will “receive a rich welcome to the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  Such a gift is very worth working for.

And so, we commence contemplating the richness and wonder that Christ’s birth has provided us. Our sins have been forgiven, and by making a small effort to follow some good advice we may be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. Even if tired and discouraged, we can help bring peace and tranquility to our contemporary world as we remember our Saviour’s birth and await his glorious return. Hope lives, and Christ lives in all of us. 

 

Brad Gilespie

 


 

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