Friday 6 December - Walk in the Light

Readings 

Psalm 119:105-112, Isaiah 9:2-3, Mathew 5:13-16 and 1 John 1:1-10

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:1-7

Reflection

Many years ago I paid a price for not looking in the shoe cabinet too closely when getting a pair of shoes out and spent the rest of the days with my right foot crossed behind my leg. The reason; one black shoe and one dark blue. Similar styles are indistinguishable in the dark. I dared not bring it to people’s attention.

Having light to live by is important when you have places to go.  God knew hispeople needed light to live by. The law was a light for the people - ’a lamp to their feet and a light for their path’ (Psalm 119:105) and Israel needed an even greater light, as they stumbled through history to live out God’s purposes for them as nation. Even the illumination of Moses’ law became dim. Despite the best efforts of prophets and priests they struggled being the people of God. The light was also for the Gentiles—the incessant light of the love of God is indiscriminate—God’s intention was clear; the covenant relationship with Him was to be harmonised—all can be brought into a relationship with him—all brought into light.

Prayers

Jesus, I long for your coming. The promise of new light and life is before me, give me the faith to believe in your presence this day. Give me the promise and assurance of salvation with no more shame, only the light and saving grace of your love. May your peace come to my life and may it be evident in my relationships and daily living. Amen

Thursday 5 December - They were childless

Readings:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a, Psalm 71, Luke 1: 5-18 and Philippians 3:1-14

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Luke 1:5-7

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  Luke 1:11-14

Reflection

There is a beautiful song called “When the dream never dies” if you have access to you-tube you may like to find it (Donna Summer sings it)  and it portrays the longing of Elizabeth. We know so little about her life before Luke 1:5, the contours of her relationship with God, how she aged into her longing and lived with the pain of constant desire. We know so little about how her sorrow shaped her. I am grateful that the first central acting human figures of Advent are courageous women who participate with God's giving to humankind. 

Advent reminds us that the work of God begins in the most mundane corners of life, where our deepest insecurities and most vulnerable desires are laid bare. God  honours the seemingly rote business of domesticity, and chooses to visit us when our guard is presumably most down, in the commonplace of our homes.  I ponder if the invitation of Advent is again that God desires to inhabit us, to make a home within our home, to have a certain space within us which God’s self can let down God’s guard and show us the vulnerability of a God who would chose to dwell in us. Could Advent be the season when we clear out space for God to move in and linger around us. Where our dreams could be met, our sorrows and longings met and joys encountered.

Prayer

Patient, life giving God, through your grace that dawned upon humankind enable me to open my life to you so that you may dwell in me.
That I may abide and remain with you forever. Amen

Wednesday 4 December - The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night

Readings:

Jeremiah 30:18-24, Amos 5:18, Mark 13:32-37

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.  1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Reflection

Are we nearly there yet! Is it almost time? How many more sleeps? It isn’t just impatient children restrained in the back seat of cars with copious amounts of  sweets and a DVD playing who seek an end  to their journey. The end is of course ambiguous—simply labelling a conclusion, but it is used to signify the end, a goal and a purpose. We all seek an end to something. Pain, frustration, waiting. What do you  long for an end to?

In both the Old and New Testament the pious hoped for the coming of the “day of the Lord” and the deliverance that only God could and would bring. That freedom they longed for—the prophets foretold and also warned Israel to be careful what they hoped for. This promised  “last thing” was to be also a time of judgement on God’s enemies. Amos 5:18 reminding us of days of ‘darkness not light’ for whilst its precise timing is not known, except by the Father (Mark 13:32) ,  it will be daunting and unexpected and it will bring light and hope.

Be prepared, be on your guard for the time will come—that we do know.

Prayer

Lord God I praise you for creating me and restoring me through Jesus.
Word becoming flesh, Word indwelling
Word transforming, Word restoring
Word challenging, Word healing
Word sharing  my weakness and making me whole

Word here now—O Come Emmanuel. Amen

Tuesday 3 December - An ever present help in trouble

Readings:

Psalm 46, Isaiah 26:1-6, Matthew 7:21,24-27, Romans 15:4-13

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall^; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us;  the God of Jacob is our fortress

Isaiah 26:1-7

Reflection

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." --Victor Hugo

Advent is about waiting. In a sense, it is a four-week course on patience. That's a good thing, in that patience means having endurance under difficult circumstances. And, if being patient is about persevering in the face of delay, well, who wouldn't be in favour of that and want it? Even more importantly, patience often means having the capacity -- when provoked -- not to act simply out of annoyance or anger, but to  act out of
compassion.

Now, perhaps we are more students than practitioners of patience, constantly learning and honing our skills. Perhaps we know a lot about patience - we live it and see it in others. With patience, we exhibit forbearance under strain, especially when challenging difficulties end up becoming longer-term and we become desperate. In our constant waiting and longing may we know Christ who will come as Saviour and Redeemer. 

Prayer

Come thou long expected Jesus into the parts of my life hidden to others.
Come into the barren and hurting places. Come into the dry places that need refreshing by the outpouring of your love.
When I lack love and compassion, change me.
When I am impatient and frustrated, deliver me.
When I fail to see the goodness, help me to focus on you, the author and perfector of my faith.  Amen