Daily Readings: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; Hosea 6:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. I Thessalonians 1:2-10, NRSV

One thing that jumps out at me when I read this text from First Thessalonians is how encouraging it is and I think encouragement is one thing we could all use at this time of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere at least, Advent arrives during the darkest and coldest time of the year. Culturally speaking, the Christmas season, that now arrives long before Advent even begins, is filled with unrealistic expectations and a commercialized sense of joy that for most of us rings pretty hollow. I would argue that without Advent, Christmas is just another mindless commercial holiday. Emmanuel, the light coming into the world, is not good news at all unless it can pierce the darkness that lurks deep in our wounded and battered hearts and souls, a darkness that Advent invites us to contemplate and wrestle with. 

This is why Paul’s words of encouragement are so important for us to overhear this Advent season. He was writing to a band of disciples who were struggling with ostracization and persecution in their own community and their own time. Through the din of this noisy world, we too need to hear that we are beloved of God. We too need to know deep in our hearts that God finds us worthy and chooses us. We too need to admit that we are the answer to prayer for others. So I invite you, as you wrestle with all that is going on in our world and all that is going on in your world this Advent season, to be encouraged, for the love of God for you and for me can and will never wane.  

Grace and Peace to you this Advent season.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Dave Fredrickson

Daily Readings: Psalm 79; Micah 4:6-13; Revelation 18:1-10

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes. Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.

Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord! Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. Psalm 79, NRSV

Over the years, Advent has been considered much like the Lenten season with its focus on repentance and seeking of forgiveness – even sporting the same ecclesiastical colors. Both seasons are harbingers of greater things to come and historically time for baptismal preparation.

The focus and liturgical colors may have changed in some churches, but to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child and the Parousia seems to mandate repentance and an emptying of ourselves – a kenosis. I mean, if something is already full, how can we add to it?

May we take some time or make the time to ask for forgiveness and to forgive, to empty ourselves of all busyness and fret and worry, and make room for Jesus today.

[Note: Parousia is the term for the second coming of Christ into the world.]

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Bill Albritton

Daily Readings: Psalm 79; Micah 4:1-5; Revelation 15:1-8

In the days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills.

People shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountains of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us in his ways and that we may walk in his paths.

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;

but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:1-5, NRSV

Most translations of one of the Beatitudes read Blessed are the peacemakers…the ones who MAKE peace – not just the ones who want or even pray for peace. What happens to such people? They shall be called the children of God (Mt. 5:9).

As a veteran of a foreign war, I can vouch for the fact that war is hell. During Micah’s time, all kinds of wars were going on – just as in our time. And Israel/Judah was the focal point. As they say in France, plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. Or, as Peter, Paul, and Mary sang in the 60’s, Oh, when will they ever learn?

During this Advent, when we ponder the coming of the Prince of Peace, heralded by angels proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors,” may we find favor in the eyes of God and make peace with ourselves and others.

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father, to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. BCP

May both shadow and light lead you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Bill Albritton

Daily Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

” But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, or the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his own work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” Mk. 13:24-37, NRSV

According to the pamphlet stuck under my windshield, the world was going to end on October 28th, 1992. There were diagrams and quotes backing up the claim – mainly from the books of Daniel and Revelation, but also from today’s reading. Like the Millerites in 1844, the 1992 end-of-days believers were not to see the end of days.

These apocalyptic passages, these end of days narratives, were never meant to be taken literally. They aren’t puzzles with chronological solutions: they are images pointing us toward two profound spiritual realities:

God is near.

We remain unaware of God’s nearness because we don’t really expect the presence of the holy.

Advent is our annual call to awareness and wakefulness, a time to look around and look within. And it just might change how we live the rest of our days.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.

I pulled the elf and snowflake mugs from their usual spot at the back of an upper shelf, and I set up a table for working on holiday themed jigsaw puzzles; hand and dish towels with snowflakes and winter scenes are in use since Thanksgiving day. Retail ads with jingly bells and twinkly tree lights are all over the television, and Hallmark Christmas movies are running 24/7. It’s the Christmas season already in one sense, and not quite Advent in another.

I’m keeping this week’s to-do list pared down to work and life essentials, giving myself the gift of time for reflection and quiet. Cookie making and shopping can wait a week, as can most of the planning and organizing for the yearly Advent devotional soon to begin. Right now, there’s time for a pause, a rest for body, mind, and spirit.

What do I hope to gain from this? Perhaps some clarity and perspective. I love the happy season of holiday decorations, music, food, and activities; I want to enjoy it at a reasonable pace rather than in a frantic rush. Even more, I want to remember that this happy trail leading to Christmas isn’t the same as the road to Bethlehem that leads to God-With-Us. That path is as full of darkness as light. It isn’t a happy trail: it’s the path to the joy that gives birth to the universe.

I hope you will walk with me…