The Fourth Sunday in Advent

This is the final week in Advent for this year. It features a second look at John the Baptist, but it focuses on his humility and moderation, his state of mind even as the Lord is near. The Collect calls on God to come, to bring an end to the season of waiting, while the Epistle tells us that the Lord is at hand. Philippians 4 tells us not to be anxious or burdened with "care" but to take our requests to God. If we do this, we can rejoice at the coming of the Lord. The Gospel from John 1 shows John's confession of who he is and who he isn't, stating that Christ is to be preferred. The two Old Testament lessons come from Isaiah 30 and 32 and continue God's covenant lawsuit against Israel but show a picture of the future restoration.