- 19
- Dec
- 2023
December 19, 2023
The Seventeenth Day of Advent
There are so few days left in this sacred season of the year. And now, when I allow myself to be still, I go. I go back to that time, just before the birth. My thoughts are of those who were willing to listen to The Holy Spirit within, willing to follow the guidance of angels, willing to risk that which they knew, to say yes, and take the hand of that which was new. I think of Mary. I think of Joseph. I think of Mary’s family. Mostly, now, at this time of year, as I do today, I hold in wonder that which they were willing to do, as they were guided by angels, out of the mundane, into the divine.
On this seventeenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 1:26-31.
The Reading
December 19, 2023
“26 In the sixth month the angel xGabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named yNazareth, 27 zto a virgin betrothed1 to a man whose name was Joseph, aof the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, bO favored one, cthe Lord is with you!”2 29 But dshe was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for eyou have found favor with God. 31 And behold, fyou will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and gyou shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of hthe Most High. And the Lord God iwill give to him the throne of jhis father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob kforever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”3
35 And the angel answered her, l“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of hthe Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born4 will be called mholy—nthe Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her owho was called barren. 37 For pnothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant5 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And qthe angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38
- 18
- Dec
- 2023
December 1, 2023
The Sixteenth Day of Advent
Each day I light the candles on the Advent wreath I think of those of you walking through Advent with me, and it brings me great joy. The closer we get to the date we celebrate The Birth my heart opens to the young woman who said, “yes.” And this “yes” was not to something simple, or merely challenging. She said, “yes” to the angel of God, Gabriel. And we are told she also added, let it be done unto me according to thy will. Wow! When I was a child I remember thinking, of course I would say yes. Who wouldn’t? But that child me did not yet know that in saying yes, Mary was risking everything, all she knew. She was giving all of her. Now, many decades later I know what her yes meant, and it draws me to my knees in wonderment and awe of what she was so willing to do, to say, so that it might be so.
On this sixteenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 32:18-20.
The Reading
December 18, 2023
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.” Isaiah 32:18-20.” Isaiah 32:18-20
- 17
- Dec
- 2023
December 17, 2023
The Fifteenth Day of Advent
Well, we have reached the third Sunday in Advent, the halfway mark, the pink candle on the wreath. In many ways this time seems to be moving slowly, still in other ways zipping along, getting away from us. Lighting the third candle always sends my thoughts back to what it must have felt like to wait for The Coming, which was the promise of the prophets, and The Word of God. Those waiting did not wait for a week. They did not wait for months like a mother preparing for birth. They waited for hundreds of years in hope and faith. Honestly it can be so difficult for me to wait for something, especially when it is a something or a someone, I am so eager to see, and be with. It can be difficult for a child to wait for a birthday, or any celebration. But to wait for so long, trusting The One would come, but not knowing when it would occur is a staggering thought, for me, like wandering in the desert. So, we have to stop, and think, when we face challenging times. Is it our time in the desert? Is it our time of preparation for that which is to come? I remember, when I was 11 or 12, I rode the city bus from my home to my school downtown. There was always a bench for waiting so you did not have to stand until the bus arrived. Sometimes, the buses would be running late, and I would get impatient, sitting and waiting. A few times, my patience wore thin, and I would start walking, following the sidewalk, heading downtown on my own. Occasionally it would get hot, or rain would fall, or I would get a nervous feeling about losing my way, until I reached another bus stop and bench, an oasis along my journey. Then, it would not take long for doubt to set in, and I would worry about getting on the wrong bus, ending up in the wrong place. It was in those times I fervently wished I had stayed put on the familiar bench, at the regular bus stop. I wonder how it must have been waiting, and waiting, all those hundreds of years. How often one must have been tempted to lose faith, give up hope! Now, we are in the season of Advent, a time of commemorating the waiting for The Coming, remembering those who did not surrender to doubt, but persevered in faith.
On this fifteenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 32:16-17.
The Reading
December 17, 2023
“Justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:16-17