Advent
December 23, 2017

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ –Luke 1:26-33

My adult, Sunday school class, is studying C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrow guided by Heidi Haverkamp’s book Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season. A group of mostly retired people still can learn a lot from a book designed for youth. Luke rather nicely sums up Lewis’ theme in one phrase, and of his kingdom, there will be no end. Of course, many twist and turns in the plot are required to help us all understand that point.

The book of John addresses this same idea in the words of Jesus to his disciples who are trying to wrap their heads around his pending death. In John 16:31-33, Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming. Indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

Many events of 2017 did not leave us hopeful as we faced huge hurricanes, mass shootings, world unrest, terrorist attacks, and deadly fires just to name a few. The Advent season is designed to help us ponder the darkness about us as we yearn for the light of Christ. The time is near at hand when we understand once again that God has our backs always has and always will have. This truth is something we can take for granted and it is the good news that we must never take for granted but must share with all the world so that we may all be one in the love of God.

Prayer: Holy One, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus the Christ to dwell among us and to show us the way to your Oneness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.