Advent 2

Readings and Basic Resources

Book of Concord Reading

CHRIST’S SECOND ADVENT – Today we usually associate the season of Advent with our Lord’s coming in the flesh at Bethlehem. However, we also look forward to His Second Advent. From the Augsburg Confession, Article 17:

Article XVII: Of Christ's Return to Judgment.

1] Also they teach that at the Consummation of the World Christ will appear for judgment, and 2] will raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, 3] but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be tormented without end.

4] They condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils.

5] They condemn also others who are now spreading certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere suppressed.

From the Church Fathers

Heaven and earth shall pass away, etc., as though He were to say: everything that seems to you enduring, shall not endure for eternity; and everything that with Me seems to pass away, will remain immovable and without change. For my speech, which passes away, utters that which sahll abide without change. Gregory the Great. From The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, volume 1, p. 8.

Our Redeemer desires us to be prepared when He comes. So He warns us of the evils that are to accompany the end of the world so that He may keep us from the love of worldly things. But His warning is also an encouragement. When the evils of this world mount, "lift up your heads," He says. Because the world (which is not your friend) is drawing to its end; but more so, the redemption you have been seeking is arriving. So we who love God are urged to be glad as the end of the age comes. For soon you will meet Him whom you is your true love and desire. (St. Gregory)

Our Blessed Lord has kept those things hidden so that we may keep watch, each of us thinking that He will come in our own day. He promised that He would come but did not say when He would come, and so all generations and ages await Him eagerly. Though the Lord has established the signs of this coming, the time of their fulfillment has not been plainly revealed. These signs have come and gone with a multiplicity of change; more than that, they are still present. His final coming is like His first. As holy persons and prophets waited for him, thinking that He would reveal himself in their own day, so today each of the faithful longs to welcome Him in our own day, because Christ has not made plain the day of His coming. (St. Ephem)

In this Gospel, the Lord is preaching about the coming Final Judgment. He warns and teaches His own how they are to conduct themselves. This teaching is meant not for the ungodly and non-Christians, but solely for His own disciples and Christians. The sermon itself consists of two parts. The first part is a prophecy in which He foretells how things will be when the Last Day is near at hand. The second part is an admonition that men should pray and always be watchful, so that they will be found worthy to escape everything that's going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Blessed Martin Luther)

Selected Sermons

1521 Church Postil Sermon, By Dr. Martin Luther

Sermon on Luke 21, by Pastor Aaron Koch

"The Sure Hope of Christ's Advent," By Pastor Todd Peperkorn

"Lift Up Your Heads," By Prof. John Pless

Advent 2 - 2002

The second Sunday of Advent

Advent 2 - 2000

The second Sunday of Advent

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This page was created on 01/08/2007 and last edited on: 01/08/2007


Main Menu Sitemap Recent Home Beliefs Liturgy and Preaching Parish Education Articles History Links Contact Pastor * Pastor's Blog Calendar Directions Photobook This Section Advent1 Advent2 Advent3 Advent4	Advent 2 Readings and Basic Resources Lectionary Central on Advent II Book of Concord Reading CHRIST’S SECOND ADVENT – Today we usually associate the season of Advent with our Lord’s coming in the flesh at Bethlehem. However, we also look forward to His Second Advent. From the Augsburg Confession, Article 17: Article XVII: Of Christ's Return to Judgment. 1] Also they teach that at the Consummation of the World Christ will appear for judgment, and 2] will raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, 3] but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be tormented without end. 4] They condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils. 5] They condemn also others who are now spreading certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere suppressed. All Book of Concord quotations are taken from the Triglotta, copyright 1921 by CPH. It is in public domain. From the Church Fathers Heaven and earth shall pass away, etc., as though He were to say: everything that seems to you enduring, shall not endure for eternity; and everything that with Me seems to pass away, will remain immovable and without change. For my speech, which passes away, utters that which sahll abide without change. Gregory the Great. From The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, volume 1, p. 8. Our Redeemer desires us to be prepared when He comes. So He warns us of the evils that are to accompany the end of the world so that He may keep us from the love of worldly things. But His warning is also an encouragement. When the evils of this world mount, "lift up your heads," He says. Because the world (which is not your friend) is drawing to its end; but more so, the redemption you have been seeking is arriving. So we who love God are urged to be glad as the end of the age comes. For soon you will meet Him whom you is your true love and desire. (St. Gregory) Our Blessed Lord has kept those things hidden so that we may keep watch, each of us thinking that He will come in our own day. He promised that He would come but did not say when He would come, and so all generations and ages await Him eagerly. Though the Lord has established the signs of this coming, the time of their fulfillment has not been plainly revealed. These signs have come and gone with a multiplicity of change; more than that, they are still present. His final coming is like His first. As holy persons and prophets waited for him, thinking that He would reveal himself in their own day, so today each of the faithful longs to welcome Him in our own day, because Christ has not made plain the day of His coming. (St. Ephem) In this Gospel, the Lord is preaching about the coming Final Judgment. He warns and teaches His own how they are to conduct themselves. This teaching is meant not for the ungodly and non-Christians, but solely for His own disciples and Christians. The sermon itself consists of two parts. The first part is a prophecy in which He foretells how things will be when the Last Day is near at hand. The second part is an admonition that men should pray and always be watchful, so that they will be found worthy to escape everything that's going to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Blessed Martin Luther) Selected Sermons 1521 Church Postil Sermon, By Dr. Martin Luther Sermon on Luke 21, by Pastor Aaron Koch "The Sure Hope of Christ's Advent," By Pastor Todd Peperkorn "Lift Up Your Heads," By Prof. John Pless Advent 2 - 2002 The second Sunday of Advent Advent 2 - 2000 The second Sunday of Advent
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