Advent

December 15, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Luke 1:46b-55
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’

Adam Hamilton, in his Advent study Incarnations, says that just as Jesus was the reflection of God with Us, Emmanuel, we, too, are called to reflect God with Us in our lives. I am sure I overstate my view; it is my website’s name—Wholeness, Oneness, Justice. Wholeness represents our continual, spiritual work at staying aligned with God. Oneness brings God-followers together to create the synergy Jesus talked about when he said When two or three are gathered together in my name I am with them (Matthew 18:20). Justice is another word for the righteousness of God. Micah 6:8 describes it succinctly, but its thread runs through the entire Bible, including Mary’s Song quoted above.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? –Micah 6:8

Prayer: Lord, we live in very troubling times. We need your support and guidance on how to live your love in such a time as this. 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.