Are You Ready for the Purple Reign of Christ?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is the First Sunday in Advent. And some will be celebrating by lighting Advent candles. Typically the color first candle is purple. And it is interesting that it is the liturgical color ….for both Advent ….and Lent. Are You Ready for the Purple Reign of Christ?
Scripture: ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’
Luke 21: 25-36 (NRSV)
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’
Luke 22:17-19 (NRSV)
And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Mark 15:17-20 (NRSV)
Message: During Advent, we are called to look forward to the day of our King’s promised return. We are to look forward to a Reality that Everything will be Influenced by God’s Nearness… A Royal Engagement Incarnate with Grace in the Nativity. That the Return will be an Experience Incorporating God’s Nourishment. We are to believe that through faith in Jesus Christ we are able to eat and drink, to live and love, to remember and embrace without fear. And with this Eucharist…this Thanksgiving of Holy Communion is a promise that the Second Advent is coming closer with the labor pains of a deliverance. Our human frailty, our human sinfulness, our world’s sin reflects how badly we need God’s Kingdom to come and will to be done.
And so today the purple of Advent reminds us that the baby born in the manger was born a King. And the purple of Lent reminds us that the child born a King had a divinely-human destiny. Friends, Jesus had a destiny upon the throne of the Cross. And so the color purple is both joyful and melancholy. It is to remind us that our security rests with the King of kings and that the REIGN is to cover us. Perhaps the blues and reds will combine to help us to make up our mind on what kind of leader we want. Christ is coming again.
Pray that the purple rain of Christ’s life pours into our lives. Pray we bathe in its cleansing reality. Pray that we have the faith, hope and love to weather the storms of life. Pray we realize that the times are changing and it is time we all reached out for Christ. Pray we are able to sense the nearness of the Kingdom in Christ Jesus. Pray we realize we are never alone. Pray we follow Jesus one day at a time. Pray we perform what we promise and practice what we profess. Pray we realize that God is with us in the tribulations of life and gathers us together in his name to work and act through history and our lives for the redemption of the world. Pray we realize that Christ is coming very soon.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 