Adv1B23.   This Sunday’s theme continues the subject of looking forward to Jesus’ coming the second time, even though this is the season of Advent.  After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, the early Christian community was taken with their looking forward to Jesus’ coming the second time soon.  Only when they realized that Jesus was not about to return soon did the Christian community reflect on the happenings of Jesus’ first coming, his birth.  For this reason the Scriptures written regarding his birth and life prior to his public ministry are relatively short and concise.  They are more of an afterthought.   Luke 1-2.  Matthew 1-2.

Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7.  “O Lord, you are our father; we are the clay and you the potter: we are the work of your hands.” The potter works the wet clay until he gets it to what he wants it to be.  Our job is to be good clay, always ready and available to be shaped to the will of our loving Father.

Mark 13:33-37.  “Be watchful!  Be alert!  You do not know when the time will come.”  Jesus was calling upon is followers to live their lives ready to be called to make an accounting to their heavenly Father.   We must live our ‘now’ as a way of constructing our ‘forever’.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9.  Paul wrote, “I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way.”  God is like the potter who pours into us his goodness all through our lifetime so we are formed daily more and more into his image and likeness.