Advent
December 14, 2020
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; …Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established forever. –2 Samuel 7:5-8, 16
Of course, David’s son, Solomon, eventually built an elaborate temple for the Lord. Having a central place to worship and coordinate mission work and education is helpful, but our scripture above indicates not required. The COVID pandemic has challenged us much in maintaining our work in God’s service outside of the norms to which we are accustomed. Having had to work outside the box or, in this case, the building has made us prioritize and become more creative. While I will welcome someday returning to our sanctuary to worship, I am sure this experience has taught us many useful lessons.
The first week of shutting down and sheltering at home last March was hard. My first reaction to most challenges is to do something. I do not define doing nothing as “something.” Since that early experience, I realized that we are not called to do “something” we are called to love in righteousness. We are called, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discern what is right and what is just in the eyes of God, in all aspects of our lives and all interactions with others.
During this time, set aside in our calendars of life, to acknowledge the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior, let us take the time to review and renew our calling to love in righteousness.
Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign*.
Prayer: Spirit of God fall afresh on us this Christmas as we prepare to face a new year. Amen.
*First and last verse of Love Came Down at Christmas by Christina Georgina Rossetti
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.