Prepare to Listen. Light all the candles, including the white one and pray: The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice (Ps 97:1).
Prayerfully Read Luke 2:8-20 8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Prayerfully Wonder When Mary gave birth to her first-born child, no one came to celebrate; no town cryer announced the birth of the Son of God in the streets; no cameras or news media; no Facebook or twitter telling the world the good news. Jesus was born in quietness and silence. Until the night was disturbed by a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and singing. But only a few shepherds in the fields outside the city saw and heard the heavenly fanfare. I often wonder why God kept the birth of Jesus so low-key, why he only revealed the good news to shepherds, an outcast group of people, distrusted and despised by city folk and the religiously devout. Not exactly the people we’d choose to be the first to hear the news of the birth of a great person. Were these humble shepherds the only ones God could trust with a message of great joy that was “for all the people?” News not only for the religiously devout, or pious Jews waiting for Messiah, but for all the people, their race, gender, gender orientation, creed, status, notwithstanding. God, these shepherds discovered, isn’t the possession of one group of people; Jesus didn’t come to save one group. God isn’t our inherited property. God is a God for all the people. Were only poor outcast shepherds capable of accepting this and willing to proclaim it to those who despised them? Prayerfully Reflect How about you? Is your God a God for all the people? If so, how will you celebrate the good news of Jesus this glorious day? Respond to Jesus Lord Jesus, you came into the world in silence and humility. You lived your life in the same way, drawing the outcast groups to God. This is the good news I want to live today with your help. Amen. Go live obediently in the world willing to proclaim the good news to all people.
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Prepare to Listen. Light all 4 Advent candles and be still in awe of this great event we now begin to celebrate again.
Prayerfully Read Luke 2:1-7 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Prayerfully Wonder The birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the promised and longed-for Messiah, the Savior of the world, is told briefly and undramatically! Tacked on at the end of a paragraph that names two rulers (who are insignificant to the story of Jesus), a decree to be registered for tax purposes (highlighting the suffering people endured under Roman rule), and the journey of Joseph and pregnant Mary to Bethlehem. After all that detail, just a few words describe the birth of Messiah—she gave birth—and that’s about it. Far from home and family support, Mary gave birth and “wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” And only Mary and Joseph celebrated his birth. J. B. Philips wrote, “God’s insertion of himself into human history was achieved with an almost frightening quietness and humility. There was no advertisement, no publicity, no special privilege; in fact, the entry of God into his own world was heartbreakingly humble.” [1] His birth resembled births among the poor and the marginalized. Jesus was born into poverty, lived and ministered among the poor and died with them. Prayerfully Reflect What do you imagine Mary’s was prayer that night? It will tell you something about yourself. Respond to Jesus Lord of all creation and majesty you came in meekness and simplicity, entered the world of humans without any fanfare. Today, I give you that fanfare even as I seek to live in the humbleness of your birth. Amen. Go live obediently in the world to which Jesus came in true humility. [1] In Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas. Farmington, PA: Plough Publishing House, 2001, November 26. Prepare to Listen. Light all 4 Advent candles and pray with thanksgiving: A child has been born for us, a son given to us.
Prayerfully Read Psalm 134 1Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! 2Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the LORD. 3May the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. Prayerfully Wonder Come, bless the LORD. This isn’t something we think about very often, at least not in the community I live in. Asking God to bless us is far more common. We feel blessed by God when good things happen; when covid-19 avoids us; when we experience prosperity, etc. The pray-ers of this psalm seem to have a different understanding. Twice they urge each other, as they make their way up to the temple, to bless the Lord and only once do they ask God to bless them. How do feeling blessed by God and us blessing God relate? Obviously, we don’t bless God by giving God health and prosperity! There’s another way to understand this word, bless. The word comes from one that means ‘to kneel.’ Thus, when we bless God, we kneel before him in adoration and praise, in humility and awe. Nothing, maintains Teresa of Avila, matters more than our humility. Kneeling before God is one way to show humility. We bless the Lord when we acknowledge his presence and submit to whatever circumstances come our way. When God blesses us, according to Eugene Peterson, “God gets down on his knees among us; gets on our level and shares himself with us” [1]. Being blessed by the Lord isn’t about staying covid-19 free, being well-off or problem free. It’s experiencing the presence of God among us, even as the world spirals out of control. Prayerfully Reflect “Lift up your hands to the Holy place and bless the Lord.” Practice this discipline during the day today. Respond to Jesus Blessed are you, O Lord, because you are present in the midst of my life today, both in the good and the bad and so I know that I too am blessed. Go live obediently in the world, blessing the Lord. [1] Peterson, E. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980, p. 185. Prepare to Listen. Light all 4 Advent candles and pray with thanksgiving: A child has been born for us, a son given to us.
Prayerfully Read Isaiah 9:2-7 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. Prayerfully Wonder A reversal of circumstances is promised—light instead of darkness. Light, usually linked to God’s glory, is the visible evidence of God’s splendor, majesty and sovereignty, as Brueggemann notes [1]. Darkness refers to anything that causes suffering, hardship, despair. For Israel, darkness was real—the despair and suffering at the hands of the powerful Assyrian conquerors. For us today, darkness has been the suffering caused by covid-19 and inappropriate responses from political and religious leaders. The good news, says the prophet, is a baby. Not an adult hero. A vulnerable baby! Israel would have to wait for the baby to become an adult. God often works in seemingly slow ways using lowly means. The wait is worth it, as the baby’s names, that is his titles imply. He will be called, “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The titles highlight the surpassing greatness of this child. The Christian Church reads this verse and sees it as a reference to Jesus, the Messiah, God’s chosen and anointed King. His coming will be with great victory, restoring with justice and righteousness, all creation to joy, plenty, healing, wholeness. “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Prayerfully Reflect What is your hope in today and to what extent is it a source of your strength? Respond to Jesus Your zeal, Lord of Hosts, will do all that you promised. Help me today to rest in the assurance of your zeal, rather than conjuring up my own. May I live, confident in your work in the world and my life today. Amen. Go live obediently in the world, where God’s zeal is still alive and active. [1] Brueggemann, W. Isaiah 1-39. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998, p. 82. Prepare to Listen. Light all 4 Advent candles and pray with thanksgiving: A child has been born for us, a son given to us.
Prayerfully Read Luke 1:46-55 46And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ Prayerfully Wonder When Mary sang these words, her circumstances weren’t ones to rejoice over. She was young (probably only 14), single, pregnant, and engaged to a man who wasn’t the father of her child. This is enough to plunge anyone into despair. Yet Mary’s song is filled with joy and hope. She was able to see beyond her awful present to God’s awe-filled future. Therefore, she rejoiced, boasting, “the Mighty One has done great things for me,” and lists five things, each beginning with: “he has….” They mostly focus on how God will (still future) reverse the fortunes of the lowly and weak by bringing down the rich and powerful. None of this described Mary’s immediate experience. She looked beyond the present with hopeful eyes to what God would do and, with a belief in the God of the impossible, she rejoiced. Mary sets the bar high for us today. We’ve been living in not-so-perfect times thanks to covid-19 and another nasty political election and its aftermath. At times it was hard for us to see beyond the struggle, to see God doing great and impossible things and then rejoice. Advent, a time of waiting for God in Christ to act, has been training us to keep hope alive and our eyes on the day Christ comes with recompense for the suffering, by bringing down the rich and powerful and lifting up the poor and lowly. Prayerfully Reflect Reflect on whatever in this passage and/or your world today gives you hope and inspires rejoicing. Respond to Jesus “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.” In your mercy, Lord, may this be my belief and attitude today. Amen. Go live obediently in the world, rejoicing in hope. Prepare to Listen. Light all 4 Advent candles and pray with thanksgiving: A child has been born for us, a son given to us.
Prayerfully Read Luke 1:26-38 26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. Prayerfully Wonder I was about five years old when I heard this story of Mary in a way that registered in my mind. I was fascinated. Mary, favored by God, was chosen to give birth to the Son of God, chosen to be a God-bearer. I longed to be Mary. When I got home I asked my mother whether God would ever choose me to give birth to his Son (my theology was non-existent in those days). I thought I too was ready to say, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ No angel Gabriel ever visited me! Years later I discovered that I, like Mary, am a God-bearer. Well, not exactly like her. No more virgin births! But called to be a God-bearer, nonetheless, and I needed to respond. Disciples of Jesus (think Christians) are God-bearers, regardless of their status. Mary was an unlikely God-bearer. She was young, poor, uneducated and unknown. God, it seems, delights in using most unlikely suspects, including you and me. Our Christian calling is to bring God to the world, make God in Christ known through our words and, even more, through our lifestyle. As Thomas Merton said shortly before his death, “What we are asked to do today is not to so much speak about Christ as to let him live in us so that people may find him by feeling how he lives in us” [1]. Each of us must respond to God’s call to be a God-bearer, bringing God into the world through how we live. Prayerfully Reflect You too are called to be a God-bearer. What characteristics do you see in Mary that you can emulate? Respond to Jesus Lord, give me Mary’s courageous faith to willingly say ‘yes’ to your mission to bring you into the world again and again. Amen. Go live obediently in the world. Be a willing and humble God-bearer. [1] In Halík, T. Patience with God. New York, NY: Doubleday, 2009, p. 23. Prepare to Listen. Light the pink and two purple candles. Be still and pray: Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD (Is 51:1).
Prayerfully Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil. 23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Prayerfully Wonder “This is the will of God in Christ for you,” writes Paul, having listed three things: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” If you’ve ever tried these always, you know it’s humanly impossible! But I wonder, are we supposed to be literal? Is that what Paul intended? If so, he’s sent us all on guilt trips of failure. I don’t believe that was his intention. Two things for our reflection. First, the extreme terms, always, unceasing and all circumstances ought to alert us to the importance of joy, prayer and thanksgiving. Throughout Scripture all three are repeatedly urged upon God’s people. We incorporate them into our Christian life because they are essential, even though we never manage to achieve Paul’s extreme version of perfection (as in never failing). Second, Paul’s conclusion gives comfort. God’s goal is the perfect standard Paul hints at. He writes, “may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Sound, whole, true, strong and blameless, no guilt, no shame, perfect. That’s the goal and we don’t get there in our own strength. Here’s the comfort: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.” We can fulfill God’s will for us because God will do it for and in us. This is the will of God for us now and always. Prayerfully Reflect What were you drawn to in this passage today? Name things for which you can honestly give thanks. Respond to Jesus Your will for me is to rejoice, pray and give thanks. I often fail at each of them, Lord, because I keep trying to do them in my own strength. Remind me throughout today that you will do this in me. Help me rest in you, all day. Amen. Go live obediently in the world, letting God work God’s will in you. Prepare to Listen. Light the pink and two purple candles. Be still and pray: Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD (Is 51:1).
Prayerfully Read Psalm 133 1How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! 2It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. 3It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life for evermore. Prayerfully Wonder “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” I don’t know of anyone who’d disagree. I do know many people who find it nearly impossible to achieve! As a former colleague liked to say, ‘Oh to live with saints above, that will be glory. Living here with saints below, well that’s another story!’ The psalmist describes the ideal; something to strive towards. She uses two images, oil and dew, as “symbols of blessing that celebrate the goodness and pleasantness of those who dwell together in unity” [1]. Oil was poured over priests and kings, as a sign of their anointing and a symbol of God’s presence. The idea is that where saints live in harmonious unity (not agreement on all things, but peaceful unity despite differences) God’s presence is known experientially. But it’s the dew image that intrigues me. Mt Zion is where Jerusalem was established and where the Temple was situated. It’s about 125 miles south of Mt Hermon in Lebanon. The pray-er sings that dew intended for Mt Hermon in the north, waters Mt Zion instead. Dew from a neighboring state waters the people of God. That’s what true unity is like. It’s effects are felt miles away. Yes, it is very good and pleasant when we live together in unity. Prayerfully Reflect Reflect on ways you might be able to live in harmony with others, despite disagreements; ways that unite rather than separate. Respond to Jesus Lord, we live in divisive times, even your saints below separate from those who disagree with them, vote differently to them or oppose them on issues. Pour your oil and dew upon us so that your presence becomes an experienced reality that even the world feels it in us. Amen. Go live obediently in the world that desperately needs to see us living in unity. [1] deClaissé-Walford, N, et al. The Book of Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014, p. 939. Helpful Background
Behind Ps 132 is the story of the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by the Philistines during Saul’s reign (1 Sam 4-6) and its return to Jerusalem by King David (2 Sam 6). The two cities mentioned in v6, Ephrathah and Jaar, are references to this story. Ephrathah was in the region of Bethlehem, David’s hometown. Jaar, perhaps short for Kiriath-jearim, was where the Ark remained after its return to Israel and before David finally brought it into Jerusalem. The pilgrims to Jerusalem rooted their prayers in the history of God at work among the nation. Prepare to Listen. Light the pink and two purple candles. Be still and pray: Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD (Is 51:1). Prayerfully Read Psalm 132 1O LORD, remember in David’s favour all the hardships he endured; 2how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3‘I will not enter my house or get into my bed; 4I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’ 6We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7‘Let us go to his dwelling-place; let us worship at his footstool.’ 8Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting-place, you and the ark of your might. 9Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy. 10For your servant David’s sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, for evermore, shall sit on your throne.’ 13For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation: 14‘This is my resting-place for ever; here I will reside, for I have desired it. 15I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread. 16Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy. 17There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. 18His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam.’ Prayerfully Wonder In this, the longest of the Ascent Psalms, pilgrims re-membered two vows, one made by David to the LORD (v2), the other made by the LORD to David (v11). David vowed to build a house, i.e. a temple for the LORD. God vowed to establish a house, i.e. a dynasty for David and thus security for God’s people. The Temple, God’s dwelling place on earth, contained the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence, a reminder that God is a promise-making and promise-keeping God. Claiming those sacred vows as their heritage, the pilgrims headed to the Temple calling to each other: “Let us go to his dwelling-place; let us worship at his footstool.” God chose, as deClaissé-Walford notes, “to settle down, inhabit, reside” [1] here among us very flawed humans. There is only one thing to do: Worship at God’s (not some human leader’s) footstool. The pilgrims then make two prayer requests, both of which formed the conclusion to Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the Temple (see 2 Chron. 6:41). First, they prayed for the priests, that they may be clothed in righteousness, meaning salvation. Second, for themselves, the faithful worshippers, that they may shout for joy (v9). God, the God who made earth his dwelling-place, who makes and keep promises responded to their requests, promising to clothe priests with salvation (righteousness) and make the faithful shout for joy (v16). Righteousness and joy. They belong together and the Lord will give them both. Today, in Christ we are all priests with direct access to God through Jesus and we’re all God’s people. More than ever we all need to be clothed in righteousness so that we mirror a truer reflection of God to world. And, after the devastating effects of covid-19, we need and want to be able to burst out in shouts of joy. Prayerfully Reflect What caught your attention as you read this Psalm? What tugged at your heart? What perplexed you? Reflect on this in stillness and quietness. Respond to Jesus Lord I pray today for our religious leaders that they will be clothed in righteousness. I pray for faithful worshippers that they may burst forth in joy. May all your people be clothed in salvation and exude your joy in the world. Amen. Go live obediently in the world, clothed in righteousness and bursting with joy. [1] deClaissé-Walford, N, et al. The Book of Psalms. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014, p. 935. Prepare to Listen. Light the pink and two purple candles. Be still and pray: Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD (Is 51:1).
Prayerfully Read Isaiah 51:4-6 4Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. 5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be for ever, and my deliverance will never be ended. Prayerfully Wonder Listen to me. There it is again with the added punch, give heed to me. If the first call to listen (51:1) was because God will comfort, this second call is because God’s teaching and justice has gone out as a light to the people. God’s teaching isn’t an entertaining lecture on YouTube. It’s about God’s work of deliverance that will rejoice some and anger others and thus requires discipline to listen to it. The promise from Isaiah is that God will bring in a new rule, one of justice for all, one that will swiftly bring near my deliverance, my salvation and my arms (meaning, power). Those seeking to hold onto power, maintain the status quo, and keep people doing things their way will not want God’s deliverance. It will anger them. Those in need, the oppressed, the marginalized and those who humbly give up their personal wishes and relinquish desire for power over others, will rejoice when the Lord’s full redemption comes. And it will come to all creation, not an elect few. Listen to me, says the Lord, not to the voices of politicians, news media, movies, etc. The voices of society will influence how we think and live; they give us a meta-narrative that, too often, has little to do with the gospel of Jesus. It takes discipline to refuse to be molded by mass media and instead be molded by God as we obey his command: Listen to me in order to be transformed in God’s way by God’s Story. Prayerfully Reflect A question to ponder, as we listen to the Lord, is this: Am I willing to set aside my agenda, my political issues, my needs and wants, and submit to God’s rule that will be very different to what the world has to offer? Respond to Jesus Keep my ear attuned, O Lord, to your voice in the midst of the many noisy voices around me today. Amen. Go live obediently in the world and remind yourself to listen to the Lord. |
AuthorI am convinced that reading the Christian Bible is essential for our Christian spiritual nourishment. I speak from experience, over 60 years of experience. I also believe we'll never get bored reading the Bible over and over. Each time I read it, I learn something new. Read with me during Advent and learn to wait for Christ with heart and mind alert for his coming. The readings draw on my background of study and teaching the Bible for over 30 years. ArchivesCategories |