The Second Sunday of Advent (OT)

Amos 5:18-27
18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why would you have the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, and not light,
19 as if a man fled from a lion,
and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
and a serpent bit him.
20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?
21 “I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Am 5:18-27). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

This is one of my favorite texts, because I desire the Day of the Lord. I am reminded that this Day is not a Day of celebration for everyone. Most people will find this the Day of their eternal destruction. The Day of the Lord is the Day of Judgment.

Amos reminds the people of Israel and even the Church that this is not something to desire. God does not desire for people to die. God desires all people to have life. This is the reason he sent his only Son into the flesh. God so loved the world so that he would give them life. You have life in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the only true way to everlasting life. You are not delivered from the Day of Judgment by sacrifices nor by worshipping stars not even Meditation. Jesus is the only sacrifice which can give us life. He is the only way to salvation and life everlasting. He has called you out of Darkness into God's Light.