2nd Sunday of Advent - Love

Isaiah 40:1-11

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Mark 1:1-8

In one of the most familiar passages of scripture we are told why God sent Jesus to this earth.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It was because of love.  The word “love” in our society today does not have the same power or meaning it used to.  We love our car, we love TV show, we love the new video game, and we love our family.  If one was not paying careful attention we may see our family put on the same level as the car, TV, video game or something else.

However, this does not seem like the kind of love that would cause God to send His Son to die on a cross for the salvation of humanity.    Even Jesus commanded us to “love one another”.  But what does this really mean?

Jesus tells us that “greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  This is what love is.  This is what we should mean when we use the word love.

The scriptures above are from the Revised Common Lectionary copyright ©1992 Consultation on Common Texts for Year B, the Second Sunday in Advent.