Yesterday, we began our Advent 2020 by exploring what Advent is and why it is important. If you are unfamilair with this season or would just like to hear a bit more about why we are focusing on this at this time then carve out some sapce and watch the video below. If you have already seen it then crack on with today’s reflection!
Before you begin today’s reflection maybe just pause and pray the prayer below:
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
of holy prophets and ancient promises.
We await your coming,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Grant us patience in our waiting,
alertness in our time of watching,
and faith in the promise of your arrival.
Amen
Daily Scripture: Romans 8:22-25
Read the scripture in The Message version below. Read slowly – you might want to read it out loud.
‘All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.’
Romans 8:22-25 | The Message
Quote: Learning To Wait
Some words of wisdom from a Father in the Faith that let us know Avent is about waiting.
‘Celebrating Advent means learning how to wait. Waiting is an art which our impatient age has forgotten…. The blessedness of waiting is lost on those who cannot wait, and the fulfillment of promise is never theirs. They want quick answers to the deepest questions of life and miss the value of those times of anxious waiting, seeking with patient uncertainties until the answers come’
| Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Questions to ponder…
- Why do you think that the Christian tradition thinks it is important to have a period of waiting and preparation before Christmas?
- Do you agree with Bonhoeffer that ‘waiting is an art which our impatient age has lost’? Why?
- Are you able to name the things that you, your family and your community are waiting for from God?
- What might it look like to wait well?
Evening Zoom Reflection at 9pm
We will be meeting tonight on Zoom to reflect on this together. You would be most welcome to join us. We start at 9pm and finish at 9:20pm. Bring a Bible and a candle if you have them.
Click here to join. We are usually on a few moments before for a chat.
Feel free to leave a comment below with any thoughts, prayers or things God might have been speaking to you about.
One Comment on “Advent Week 1 | MONDAY”
As I was pondering the questions, I started to think about not only the things that I am waiting for but those in my church community as well. I was struck by the thought and the invitation to wait WITH one another. There was power in naming the specific things and then pausing to pray for individuals that came to mind. Lord, show us what it looks like to practically love and support one another as we wait together.