The collect for Advent III continues the theme of reflecting on things that prepare us for the return of Christ. Advent I’s emphasis on the call to repentance provides the continual background hum of the season. Advent II turns our attention to the role Scripture plays in giving us perseverance and comfort through which we have hope. This week points us to the role the ordained ministry plays in preparing us for the last day.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

I must confess that when I first started using the collects, I was initially a little uncomfortable with this emphasis on the clergy. Like a good Evangelical, my instinct is not to focus on ministers, but on the Scriptures they teach.

But the more I’ve reflected on this, the more I see it there in the Bible. That language of ‘ministers and stewards’ is an allusion to 1 Cor 4:1-5, the appointed reading for the day. And while church leaders should be equipping us to live faithful lives in this age, they do so in the light of the day of Christ. If you are a part of a well ordered church, there are people in your life who will have to answer questions about you on the day of judgement (Heb 13:17).

In the end, none of us are as independent in our thinking as we like to imagine. Even when it’s just us and our Bibles, the kind of readings which seem intuitive to us, the themes that stand out to us, and the framework into which we fit what we’re reading are all significantly shaped by the church leaders who have taught us, and the traditions that influenced them.

Our outlook is also significantly distorted by sin. Even when we are ostensibly concentrating on repentance, we can be remarkably adept at not noticing areas of sin we would rather leave unchallenged. There is huge value in having outside voices who are specially entrusted with the task of watching over the health of our souls.

Nevertheless, there is no blind clericalism here. The set reading emphasises that ‘it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy’. This is not a given. It’s important, therefore, to notice that in the collect the emphasis is on praying that clergy would fulfil their ministries faithfully, rather than emphasising our response. If you’ve never done this before, it might be a good idea to think specifically about the church leaders in your life (whatever your tradition may call them) and to pray for them in their ministries.

This year we haven’t quite got round to it yet, but most years, my wife and I also take a moment to say thank you to the clergy who pastor us and tend to get them a small gift. We will be eternally grateful for them all.

Having got ordained in the summer, this collect hits a bit differently this year. It’s served as a helpful reminder that preparing people for the return of Christ is a crucial aspect of my ministry. It’s challenged me to dwell less on the tasks on my to do list and more on the individuals I am called to serve. Once more, I find myself called to repentance.