SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

This Sunday's first reading is one of comfort and encouragement to God's chosen people who had strayed, lost their way, and been scattered and enslaved. The ever faithful God sends Isaiah to speak words of comfort and hope to a people in despair. "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." (Isaish 40:1) Isaiah, go tell the people that their time of suffering is coming to an end, and that God will feed his flock like a shepherd. Don't loose hope for God will fill every valley of despair, and remove every mountain - obstacle to hope.

In a simlar fashion the opening chapter of Mark's Gospel speaks of God's faithfulness and compassion. John the Baptist announces the coming of the Messiah: "Prepare the way of the Lord ....repent....for one more powerful than I is coming....he will baptize you with the Holy spirit.

Advent is a time to remember that we are people who wait in joyful hope for the Lord to come again in glory. Yet, as our Christian communities in the western world shrink in size and people seem to loose faith, we are tempted to discouragement and despair. All research indicates that all Christian denominations are experiencing similar difficulties. In a recent study (Link) recently presented to the Anglican Bishops of Canada, it was estimated that the crisis of decline was so severe that only one person would be Anglican in Canada by the year 2061.

Easy to get discouraged when one reads such reports, especially, when one also experiences a greying church membership and vacant pews Sunday after Sunday. Definitely a cause for concern, but not discouragement, if one believes Jesus' promise to be with us until the end of time. "Comfort, O comfort my people, are words we definitely need and want to hear this advent, as we pray for the courage and confidence that comes from our trust and faith in God.

John the Baptist reminds us this weekend to get on with the job of being Christian, and to live in joyful expectation of the Lord's coming, as we prepare the way of the Lord. We are also called to renew our energies and to repent of our sinfulness and our lack of trust. If we are doing God's will then we must live in courage, not discouragement. We must also do our best to strengthen the faith lives of those around us by words and deeds of encouragement.

The 'Ottawa Citizen' in reporting on the recent study for the Anglican Church states: Mr. Mc Kerracher (the author of the study) says even though his report shocked some of the bishops, he doubts the Anglican church, as currently organized, can find the will power to take action. He says Canada's Anglican hierarchy is woefully bureaucratic, and that most decision making is bound up in inefficient committees. "The Chruch should do some marketing research to find out why people are fleeing," he says, "But I don't think the Anglicans will do anything. They talk things to death. And my impression is that the bishops are not going to go around telling priests to shape up."

I quote this statement, for if indeed Mr. McKerracher did make this statement and it is not out of context, it is not an example of encouragement to the Anglican bishops, priests, and laity, but of blaming and discouragement. We must take seriously the problems, but we must be careful not to beat up, and demoralize one another during these difficult times. Yes, we must renew our efforts, search for new and innovative ways to reach out, and do our best to correct problems, errors, sinfulness, and deficiencies. But maybe, just maybe, even if we could figure out how to do everything right and we did it, we would still find people drifting away. After all Jesus himself appeared to be a miserable failure when He died on the Cross.