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 third week is not just about LOVE but Love(ing) Solidarity, 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.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
All your ways flow forth from love,
for you do not just act in love but are love itself.
We remember that from this love, Love incarnate came,
and calls us to reach up and outwards in love.
Amen
Daily Scripture: 1 John 4:9
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
In today’s Scripture, the God who is love, reveals his love in a very particular and specific way: by sending his only Son into the world that we might live through him. In light of yesterdays passage, part of what John seems to be saying is that if we struggle to believe that God is love then we just have to spend some time reflecting on how the Father sent his only son into the world, for this is where the love of God is revealed. The God who is love reveals the truth of his love through the gift of his son to the world.
Take some time this morning to look up these other passages that cast the same truth in a slightly different shade.
- John 3:16
- 1 John 3:16
- Romans 5:8; 8:31-32
Advent Quotes
‘As we enter that kingdom [of God], we enter into a salvation that is also the way of love. Love is a terribly debased term today, almost beyond rescue as a description of the good news of the kingdom come in Jesus Christ. However, the New Testament is full of the language of love, particularly as Christ exemplifies God’s love and enables that same love in us. Therefore, we must work to recover an understanding and practice of love.”
| Jonathan Wilson
‘Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not’.
| C.S Lewis
‘John is the NT writer who most clearly explains how God has shown his love for humanity. Both here and in the most famous gospel verse, John 3:16, the sending of his Son to be lifted up on the cross is the supreme expression of God’s love for his fallen creation. God was not obligated to seek and to save any human being, but this was the purpose of the incarnation of Christ. The wonder of God’s grace is that any of us, in our willful, rebellious nature, have received the eternal life that Christ offers because of God’s love’.
| Karen Jobes
Advent Song: The Light of the World
The world waits for a miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
Oh come, Oh come Emmanuel
The child prays for peace on earth
And she’s calling out from a sea of hurt
Oh come, Oh come Emmanuel
And can you hear
The angels singing
Glory to the light of the world
Glory the light of the world is here
The drought breaks
With the tears of a mother
A babies cry is the sound
Of love come down
Come down, Emmanuel
He is the song for the suffering
He is messiah
The Prince of Peace has come
He has come, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
For all who wait
For all who hunger
For all who’ve prayed
For all who wonder
Behold your King
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Behold your King
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
The world waits for the miracle
The heart waits for a little bit of hope
O come, O come Emmanuel
| Lauren Daigle
Closing Benediction
Be people of love.
Let love live in your heart and share the love of Christ with all you meet.
Share love by loving those you see regularly.
Start by loving your community.
Share love by loving those you do not know.
Share love by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share love.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations,
share love, joy, peace, and hope with those you meet.
Amen.
| Liturgy Link
ZOOM REFLECTIONS
Zoom Reflections Monday – Thursday evenings at 9 – 9:20pm
Click here to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86970491613
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!