Welcome to our 2021 Advent Journey! This year we are making our way toward Christmas by exploring the four Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, but with a twist. This first week is not just about Hope but Hope(ful) Preparation, but before you jump in to today’s reflection, just take a moment, breathe slowly, and pray the following prayer as truthfully and earnestly as you can.

God of Hope,
We acknowledge that the Scriptures written in the former days,
were written for our instruction and so that we might have hope.
Fill us this day with all joy and peace in believing them,
that we might overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Amen

Daily Scripture: Luke 3:10-14

Find the above scripture in your bible and read slowly – you might want to read it out loud. You can also find it here.

Reflection

If John’s baptism of repentance represented a fresh break from the past and a renewed commitment to obey God, then John also makes it plainly clear that these actions alone are not enough and the truth of their repentance must be demonstrated through the changes they make to their lives

1. Who asked John what they should do and what did he say to them?
2. Are there some common themes that run through John’s answers to these questions?
3. Have a quick look at Luke 16:19-31 or 19:1-10 and see how it might relate to todays passage?
4. What might John say to you if you asked him, ‘what should I do’?

Advent Quotes

“The Sermon on the Mount seems dangerous. It challenges the whole underlying conception on which modern society is built. It would replace it by a new conception, animate it with a new motive, and turn it toward a new goal.”

| E. Stanley Jones

‘Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and communists and all the epithets they put on us, we know we only preach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down.

| Oscar Romero

‘It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand’.

| Mark Twain

Fruits Worthy of Repentace

At its core, Biblical repentance is about turning away from that which is not of God and giving oneself fully to God. Below is a short list, taken from Jesus’ teachings in Luke 6, of some of the things, the fruits, that Jesus thought would mark his followers. Read through the list slowly and allow God to speak to you about which of these areas he might be wanting to help you to grow in at this time.

Love your enemies
Do good to those who hate you
Bless those who curse you
Pray for those who abuse you
If anyone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other also
Give your shirt also to those who take your coat
Give to everyone who begs from you
Do to others as you would have them do to you
Do not judge
Do not condemn
Forgive and you will be forgiven
Give and it will be given to you

| Luke 6 -Sermon on the Plain

Advent Song: Kingdom of God

Closing Benediction

Be people of hope.
Let hope live in your heart and share the hope of Christ with all you meet.
Share hope by noticing someone else’s humanity.
Share hope by listening to someone’s story.
Share hope by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share hope.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share hope with those you meet.

Amen.

| Liturgy Link

Zoom Reflections each Mon, Wed, and Fri mornings at 7:00-7:20am

Click here to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84743926286

As always, we would love to hear your thoughts and reflections and so please do leave a comment in the section at the bottom of this page. Much love to you all on this Advent journey!