Advent Reflections: December 17

Joy 

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Luke 2:9-12

Reflection

Fear of the unknown is a very common emotion these days. As our world continues to change, unknown factors of life increase as well. Our lives are filled with many uncertainties, all of which contain a litany of various unfamiliar aspects and results. When faced with the unfamiliar, many of us find ourselves reacting with every emotion from uneasiness to shear panic. Basically, most us just don’t like to face the unknown.

But with every unknown situation, there is the opportunity for joy to transcend our fears. Unfortunately, fear is one of the greatest factors that hold most of us back from accomplishing extraordinary things. Think about this for a moment. Is it not usually true that when we take a critical step of faith, trusting God even while consumed with fear, that the overwhelming joy we experience overshadows previous fears? Is it not usually worth the risk?  

As the Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds, and the manifestation of the glory of God surrounded them, they were afraid. Who wouldn't be? In the presence of the unknown, fear overshadowed the joy that the Divine was about to proclaim. By the angel’s words, “Do not be afraid”, the Good News of Christ was proclaimed, and the unknown became known. Fear became joy. Truth transcended uncertainty.          

                      

Prayer

God, we face many uncertainties in this world and confess that the unknown causes great fear. But in your declaration of truth, through Christ, all fears are transcended to joy. Allow the essential truth that was declared to the shepherds to be the same joy that finds us today. 

Amen 

Advent Reflections: December 15

Joy

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55

Reflection

As we continue our journey into the third week of Advent together, most of us just might be finally settling into the routine of the Christmas season. There may be a last minute gift to buy, a few decorations to set in the perfect place and a few meals to prepare, but more than likely, things are probably settling down into a more consistent pace of life. Perhaps we can all finally take a breath and relax, if only for a few minutes. These are important times. The times when we can reflect and meditate on what is most important in our lives. These are the times when joy begins to fill our hearts, and anxiety slips away just a bit.

When we read the words of today’s passage, often called Mary’s Song, it’s impossible to not feel the deep joy that she must have felt in uttering these words. She cannot contain the emotions that fill her soul as she calls out, praising the God from where her joy comes. Her joy is overflowing from deep within her, and she wants all who hear her to feel the same joy that she does. Even today, over two thousand years later, her cries of joy can be felt in these quiet moments of our Advent celebrations.

As with peace, joy is often misunderstood in today's culture. Joy is a lasting emotion that rests deep in the recess of our soul. As with peace, joy is not based on the circumstances or our day to day ups and down, but transcends the external, and rest deep within the internal of our true selves.

Let us take time to reflect on the blessings that God has given us and those we love. Let us hear the words of Mary that are just as true for us today as they were with her so long ago. They are true. They are real. They are now. Let them fill our hearts, our minds and our spirits.

Prayer

God, as we settle into the Christmas Season, allow our hearts to settle as well. Let our hearts be filled with peace and the same overwhelming joy that Mary felt so long ago. 

Amen

Advent Reflections: December 13

Joy

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:18-21

Reflection

There are times in life when occasions that usually should bring joy do anything but. Two people are married for the wrong reasons. A promotion is accepted, but requires too much time away from home. A new home is purchased, but the debt is overwhelming. A child is born when the pregnancy was unplanned and unexpected. 

Most of us do our best to make good choices in life, but we all make mistakes, don't we? When those mistakes become realities, we hope and pray with all of our heart that God will transform our circumstances and forgive us in our failures. And sometimes we see that our circumstances, although not anticipated or planned for, turn out to be unexpected blessings from a loving God.

Joseph certainly did not anticipate Mary becoming pregnant before they were married. The Bible tells us that he was a righteous man, most likely making good decisions for most of his young life. But yet here he was, facing the possible ending of his relationship with Mary and the ramifications that would affect both of them for the rest of their lives. 

But being a man of God and knowing and knowing that something unusual was going on, Joseph made the best decision that his human mind could comprehend: he would divorce Mary with as much dignity possible. After all, from his perspective, she had been unfaithful.

It was only then that God stepped in to reveal to Joseph that this blessed occasion would not be a burden after all, but an event that would change the world. Joseph made the wrong decision based on his limited knowledge. God revealed that this was not his choice to make, and regardless of the unexpected circumstances, joy would rise from the birth of this unexpected child.

Prayer

God, in the midst of our mistakes, bad decisions, our failures and unexpected situations in life, help us to see the joy in all that you do through us. Help us to see that while our circumstances may be unexpected, joy can always come through our trust in you.

Amen

Advent Reflections - December 23

Love

“The angel answered,“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

 Luke 1:35

Reflection

As we read these words, it’s easy to imagine some of the thoughts that must have been racing through Mary's young mind. “Why me?”, “There’s nothing special about me!”, “I’m not good enough.”, “I’m too young.”, “I’m not ready for this!”, “This isn’t what I had planned!” But yet here she was, facing a choice that was actually not really a choice at all when you think about it. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” God chose Mary. An ordinary woman, with human faults like anyone else, recognized that the love of God was about to overwhelm humanity and that she would be used as its vessel. 

How often do we question ourselves when God wants to use us? Instead of recognizing the awesome fact that the God of all creation chooses to use flawed human beings, we resist thinking that we know better than God. Mary wasn’t perfect. She was afraid, confused and maybe even doubted herself a bit, yet God still chose her. With all her fears, imperfections and questions, she heard the call of God, chose not to hesitate and acknowledged that his plan was obviously much bigger than hers. In love, God chose her and in obedience, she was willing to say, “I am the Lord’s servant.”

  As the season of Advent comes to a close, may we set aside our plans, hesitations and fears of imperfection. May we trust in a God that chooses to use us, not because he has to, not because we are perfect, but because he loves us, and nothing more. 

 

Prayer

Lord God, it is in this quiet moment that we acknowledge your presence and perfect love for us. We know that we are far from perfect, and we know that our imperfections sometimes hold us back. But as we meditate on your perfection, help us to trust in you and that your decisions are always right. Give us the strength to step forward when you call, knowing that it is because of your love that you chose us. Let it be only in love that we serve you.

Amen 

Advent Reflections - December 22

Love
 

"and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote,
“His name is John.”
… And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Luke 1:76-79

Reflection

There are not many things closer to a miracle than the birth of a child. With each and every life that comes into the world, also comes a very specific purpose. Each life is uniquely created by God and every parent has high aspirations for their children. When a mother or father looks into their baby’s eyes for the first time, there is no limit to the dreams that they imagine. The love that is created in that moment knows no end and has no limit. Love is such a powerful emotion and encompasses the theme of our verse for today.

These words that we read from the Gospel According to Luke are just a portion of what is often referred to as Zechariah’s Song. Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist, who upon his birth prophetically declared that his son would go before Jesus to prepare the way for his ministry. In that moment, he not only declared his love, hopes and dreams for his son, but the hopes and dreams of the entire world as well.

Zechariah knew that his son was chosen by God to prepare the way for Christ. And although his love for his son outweighed anything that he ever imagined, he knew that his purpose was much more than just carrying on a family name. For in the moment that he gave the name John to his son, he acknowledged that he was destined for something much greater. Zechariah acknowledged that God would eventually use his son, to reveal his love to the world, manifested in the one that John would go before: Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Lord, it’s hard for us to imagine a love deeper than that between father and son. As we read these words of Zechariah, let us remember the deep love that you have for each of us. A love so deep that you sent your only Son to one day die for the same world into which he was humbly born.

    Amen