THERE IS AN OLD SONG TITLED, "THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE." ELIJAH DISCOVERS THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN A TINY WHISPERING SOUND. BEFORE A TORNADO, OR THE FINAL PASSING OF THE EYE OF A HURRICANE, THERE ARE MOMENTS OF SILENCE WHEN ONLY A WHISPER OF SOUND IS HEARD BEFORE THE INVADING FURY ARRIVES TO CHANGE THE WORLD AS IT PRESENTLY EXISTS.

TODAY’S GOSPEL IS THE WHISPER BEFORE THE WORLD IS FOREVER CHANGED. TODAY’S GOSPEL IS THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE STREAM OF HUMAN HISTORY IS ABOUT TO BE INVADED BY GOD HIMSELF. ETERNITY INVADED TIME AND GOD’S EMERGENCE ON THE EARTH WOULD SO CHANGE THE WORLD THAT MEN WOULD FOREVER DATE TIME IN TERMS OF BEFORE AND AFTER JESUS’ BIRTH. WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE WILL BE AS IF LIFE AND THE WORLD BEGAN ALL OVER AGAIN.

WE HAVE BEEN WAITING AND LISTENING TO THE PROPHETS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF A SAVIOR. WE HAVE LONGED, WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, FOR ONE WHO WOULD LIFT US UP OUT OF THIS VALLEY OF TEARS. TODAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS COME, THE WHISPER OF WHAT IS TO BE.

HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO A PARTY, HAVING HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET READY, AND WORN THE WRONG CLOTHES? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GIVEN A WARNING AND IGNORED IT ONLY TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES? HAVE YOU EVER HAD SOMEONE DIE AND LOOKED BACK WITH REGRET? IF I HAD ONLY GONE TO THE HOSPITAL AND VISITED THEM AND TOLD THEM HOW MUCH I LOVED THEM OR HOW MUCH THEY MEANT TO ME?

TODAY ON THE CUSP OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTMAS THAT WILL BEGIN THE GREAT YEAR OF JUBILEE AND THE NEXT MILLENNIUM, WE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE TIME, WARNING AND NOTICE THAT THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. WE HAVE A FINAL WEEK TO PREPARE, TO REVIEW, TO BEGIN AGAIN. WE HAVE A WEEK TO DETERMINE WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO TAKE WITH US INTO THE YEAR OF JUBILEE AND THE NEXT MILLENNIUM. WHAT CAN I LEAVE BEHIND IN THE 20TH CENTURY? HOW CAN I CHANGE?

ONLY ONE IN FIFTY GENERATIONS EXPERIENCE THE CHANGE OF A CENTURY. WILL IT BE A GRACED MOMENT FOR YOU? WILL IT BE A YEAR OF FAVOR FROM THE LORD? WHAT CAN I LEAVE IN THE 20TH CENTURY AND NOT TAKE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY? WHERE DO I NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AND HOW CAN I MAKE THOSE CHANGES?

FOUR SUGGESTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT LEVITICUS 25:10 FOR JUBILEE YEARS:

THERE IS LITTLE TIME LEFT... ONE WEEK. WILL YOU TAKE ONE HOUR EACH DAY THIS WEEK TO PREPARE TO REFLECT AND MEDITATE ON THIS SPACE AND TIME EVENT THAT IS ABOUT TO OCCUR... AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE, IN YOUR SPACE WITH YOUR GOD? HERE IS A SUGGESTION FOR YOUR HOUR OF PREPARATION FOR YOUR JUBILEE YEAR.

IN THE HOUR, SET ASIDE FIFTEEN MINUTES TO JUST BE QUIET AND LISTEN TO GOD. THE CREATIVE ACT OF THE HOLY SPRIT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE SALVATION HISTORY. LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TELL YOU HOW YOUR PERSONAL SALVATION HISTORY MIGHT BE CHANGED.

IN THE NEXT FIFTEEN MINUTES FORGIVE DEBTS. MARY HEARD THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST STEPS TO THE FORGIVENESS OF THE GREATEST DEBT OF ALL. IN THE POWER OF YOUR GOD CHANGE YOUR OWN SALVATION HISTORY BY FORGIVING DEBTS. YOU KNOW WHOM YOU NEED TO FORGIVE. HOW WILL YOU LET GO?

IN THE THIRD FIFTEEN MINUTES RECALL HOW THE JEWISH PEOPLE HAD WAITED TO BE FREE. THINK ABOUT THE REVELATION THAT IS BEING MADE TO MARY AND HOW IT FREES YOU. FREE CAPTIVES--FREE YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM ADDICTIONS OF EVERY KIND. FREE THOSE BOUND BY YOUR GOSSIP AND CRITICISM. FREE THOSE CHILDREN SMOTHERED BY YOUR LOVE. FREE THE OLDER FOLKS HELD HOSTAGE IN THEIR HOMES BY THE LACK OF ABILITY TO WALK OR DRIVE. FREE YOURSELF FROM THE NEED FOR MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

IN THE LAST FIFTEEN MINUTES DWELL ON THE FACT THAT HUMANKIND IS ABOUT TO BE GIVEN THEIR INHERITANCE, ABOUT TO BE JUSTIFIED BY THE BIRTH, DEATH, AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. IF YOU WANT PEACE, WORK FOR JUSTICE. RETURN DIGNITY TO OTHERS. GIVE TO EVERY PERSON OF EVERY RACE, COLOR, CREED WHAT THEY DESERVE IN THE EYES OF GOD. AS HIS CHILDREN, HIS CREATION, THEY ARE YOUR NEIGHBOR.