Advent

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. –Hebrews 1:1-4

On the evening sports, I watched Tiger Woods hugging his son after coming in second in some father/son golf tournament and saw the love from both as they walked off the green together. Earlier in the year, Tiger was nearly killed in a terrible car accident and faced the possibility of losing one of his legs. That event changed them both. Both recalculated what is most valuable in life.

As we look forward to celebrating the coming of God with Us in the form of the infant Jesus, let us envision the love God has for God’s Son and how much the Son loved God. God’s giving Jesus as the Christ is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Jesus willingly modeled the way of love in his life, death, and resurrection, is the greatest blessing of all.

Children have always been our future. Therefore, we must invest our better selves in providing them with the faith, hope, and love that will prepare them for whatever calamity they may meet and how to make the best of their skills and talents to create the world God envisioned for us at creation. I mentioned calamity first because we seem to be surrounded by it now with pandemics, violent storms and other challenges of climate change, violence on the streets, and poverty in all our communities. However, our commitment to using our skills and talents as partners in God’s Kingdom prepares us to deal well with calamity and blessings.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your saving grace and the gift of your Son as a model of how we are to love. 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.