Please leave a message… In this day of technology we are bombarded with messages. Our phones and computers are beeping and pinging with reminders that we have messages waiting for us. Sometimes those messages are actually good news… The collect for the 2nd Sunday of Advent reminds us that God has sent not only messengers to help us get ready for the coming of his anointed King. And while many of their messages are challenging, with calls to repent, they often come with the promise of the coming of God’s gracious kingdom. One of those messengers is Isaiah who tells us that one day a shoot will grow up out of the stump (the house) of Jesse. And that: The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2) Isaiah promises a day when God’s justice will set things right and the natural order will be renewed in ways that are hard for us to even imagine. All “Good News!” At St. John’s, our mission is: “Bringing Jesus Christ to the heart of our community.” Sounds like the work of a messenger. During the season of Advent, we share the message of Jesus, the “Shoot” from Jesse’s stump, who came to initiate God’s Kingdom on earth. And we also are encouraged to carry the message that this same Jesus will come again to bring God’s kingdom in all its fullness. Who do you know that needs to hear this message? Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP pg.211) Blessings, Matthew+ | 
