Advent

December 3, 2020

Scripture Reading:
2 Peter 3:8-15a
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. 

The world during Advent seems contradictory. We read profound scriptures talking about the need for the Messiah. Assured that God is patient with us, we grow impatient with God as our distracted lifestyles are inadequate to usher in a world where everyone has enough, and all of God’s children know love and how to love. I will get busy on my Body of Christ work right after I get my Christmas cards sent, gifts purchased, house decorated, and the church decorated too.

We wrestle with the rat race of our culture’s holiday season, a conflagration of the coming of the Christ child tied in a big bow and served with overindulgence in food and drink and spending money. I like the holiday season with family gatherings, gift-giving, sharing with others opportunity. I have wished it were separated from the observance of the coming of Christ. That is why Advent has become vital to me. We need to stop our everyday routines once in a while to comprehend God’s work through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and how it changed our world forever.

Prayer: Lord, during the challenges of the holidays, amid a pandemic, help us carve some time to see in our world what the ancient prophets saw in theirs and welcome the Christ as his spirit leads us to be his Body in the world today. 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.