Second Sunday of Advent (2014 Year B)

This Week's Readings 

I found 2 Peter 3:10-15 particularly important. The first few verses are more context but notice that we are told to wait for God to act and in the meantime strive (try) to be "at peace, without spot or blemish." We are told neither to try and make it happen (that mention is clearly a retorical device) nor to BE (or expect perfection of others. We are to try to be perfect, not expect that from ourselves or others.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

3:11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,

3:12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?

3:13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

3:14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;

Another thing I found worthy of note is how John the Baptist downplays water baptism:

I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.  - Mark 1:8

I noticed this because I've heard many Christians who would consider themselves evangelical or fundamentalist say that a baptism is not valid unless water was involved. Yet John himself is specific that the Holy Spirit is what is important. (This doesn't even take the whole issue of immersion or not, with a specific church or groups of churches or not into consideration.)