The readings for Sunday, December 14, the third Sunday of Advent, focus on John the Baptizer and his role in preparing the way for Jesus, God’s son and chosen servant. In the Gospels John is understood as a type of Elijah who prepares the way for the Messiah. These readings follow up on the Sunday texts and give us a glimpse into the life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. Elijah spent much of his time as a prophet in conflict with Ahab and Jezebel, king and queen of Israel. How do these Old Testament texts help us understand what the ministry of a prophet is? How does John resemble Elijah, and how does Elijah shape how we understand John and Jesus? How is being prophetic both a spiritual and social/political calling? How do we in the church share in this prophetic calling?
The readings from the New Testament describe how God’s people contend against worldly powers. As those who stand in the tradition of prophets such as Elijah and John, what worldly powers do we contend against? How can we “take on Elijah’s mantle?”
Monday 12/15
I Kings 18:1-18
Ephesians 6:10-17
Tuesday 12/16
II Kings 2:9-22
Acts 3:17-4:4
Wednesday 12/17
Malachi 3:16-4:6
Mark 9:9-13
Read Psalm 125 each of these three days
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