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 3:3-6 & 13:22-30
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
Today we learn that John’s preaching was a fulfilment of the words of the prophet Isaiah. Note that the quotation from Isaiah (3:4-6) is sandwiched between two calls for the people to repent (3:3,8), which suggests that the images described by Isaiah are symbolic of what repentance might look like.
So, for instance, the raised valleys represent the lifting of the lowly and the mountains bought low represent the humbling of the proud and powerful (1:52). If we follow this line of thought then the straightening of the crooked paths would speak of those called to repent of their crooked ways and to embrace the straight path of the Lord (Acts 2:40, 8:21, 13:10; Phil. 2:15).
Where, or who, are the mountains, valleys, and crooked paths today? How might the salvation of God be seen through our own repentance and the repentance of others? What is the end result of this upheaval (3:6)?
Advent Quote
.Repentance is the response to grace that overcomes the past and opens out to a new future. Repentance distinguishes Christian life as one of struggle and conversion and pervades it, not with remorse, but with hope. The message of Jesus is not “Repent,” but “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near.”’
| John O’Shea
Advent Poem: John the Baptist
He didn’t see it, but felt it
through the darkness
of his mother’s womb,
the flame that baptized
drawn close enough
to singe his foot,
which caused him to leap.
The wild fire caught
and grew, ruining him
for a life of conformity.
So he moved to the wilderness
somewhere near the river’s edge
where others were drawn
by the smoldering flame.
He doused them each with water,
warning them one-by-one
of the fire to come.
Later, when he leapt from this world to the next,
leaving his head behind,
he was greeted by the fellowship of the flame
– Isaiah with his charred black lips,
Miriam who danced like a flickering wick,
and the others, too many now to name
together they glowed like so many embers,
lighting the long, dark night.
| Kelly Kchripczuk
Advent Song: Prepare the Way
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!