 Theme for 1st Week: We begin with the Revelation text from which the overall theme come from. We then focus on the Advent call to repentance, reflecting on passages that are intended to wake us up and see our need for ongoing repentance, changing our minds and our behavior.
Prepare to Listen. As you light the 1st purple candle hear the Lord saying to you: See, I am making all things new. Prayerfully Read Revelation 21:1-6a [1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ 6Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Prayerfully Wonder When I began this reflection a few months ago, my native country was in violent chaos. A mob of angry rioters had run amok, looting and then burning shops (stores), churches, factories. Today, as Advent begins, I’m making the difficult decision to cancel my planned trip to visit family and friends in South Africa because of a new and more dangerous variant of Covid-19. These verses from the end of the Bible continue to give me hope. But there is something we must do to experience hope. Twice the Lord commands us with the word see. See, in this passage, isn’t like seeing a beautiful sunset or ugly violence. It goes deeper. Into the heart. We see in the sense that we know, deep down this is real and true; we see as God sees and this changes, makes us new. First, “See, the home of God is among mortals.” God isn’t out there waiting for us to call on him. God’s home, that place where God is most available, is here with us now. See as in knowing deep within God is here. Second, “See, I am making all things new.” Jesus’ first Advent made possible the all-things-new process. It’s hard today to see God when we live under an all-things-old order—chaos, violence, death, a global pandemic, conspiracy theories and lies, a growing divide between the haves and the have-nots. Whether big or small, the all-things-old is in our face. It takes trust and courage to see as God sees. To hope (believe) that the sea, a biblical symbol for the old evil order, will be no more. Because of Jesus, God’s home is with us; all things new is now possible. Prayerfully Reflect What caught your attention in the reading? Let that be your reflection today. Respond to Jesus Lord God, you dwell with us in the midst of chaos, pandemics, violence, divisiveness. You are making all things new. Train the eyes of my heart to truly see your presence and work of newness. Amen. Live obediently. Obey the command to See what God wants us to see. [1] All Scripture for the Advent readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.
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 INTRODUCTION to ADVENT DEVOTIONS in 2021
Daily devotions begin on Sunday, November 28 and will appear on this page until Christmas Day. Join me in praying Scripture during the season of Advent. Advent is the season to prepare to re-member (make our own) the incarnation of God in Christ Jesus so that we live the Jesus Way and not our own. Reading Scripture is an essential practice to help us re-member and live rightly. This Advent I’ve chosen less familiar biblical texts to read, some of which aren’t normally associated with Advent. The overall theme for these Advent devotions is all things new, which in Scripture includes all creation, not merely humans. Jesus’ incarnation is about “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Each week follows an aspect of all things new, beginning, in week 1 with the Advent call to repentance, i.e., turning around and changing the way we now live, so we live into God’s newness. Week 2 reflects on the nature of redemption as it relates to all creation being made new. Week 3 focuses on God’s call to live in newness and includes stories of those who were called to proclaim God’s new way of living. Week 4 reflects on passages that focus on becoming new in Christ, stories of the birth of key people, concluding with the birth of Christ. The format for these devotions is based on the ancient prayerful Bible reading practice known as lectio divina (holy or sacred reading). There are 6 stages, beginning with space to quieten the heart and prepare to listen to God’s Word. If you use Advent candles, this period includes lighting them. 2nd, prayerfully and slowly read the biblical text; 3rd prayerfully wonder on the text as you read the meditation; 4th prayerfully reflect focusing on your thoughts and emotions, using the question or comment suggested; 5th, respond to Jesus in prayer, using the written prayer or one in your own words. The final stage, live obediently, is a reminder that we are to be doers of the word and not merely hearers. Follow these stages if you find them helpful. |
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