Advent Reflections
by Madison Randolph December 11: AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42; Isaiah 7:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Luke 22:1-13
As a child, I remember the anticipation of Christmas and the thought that December 25th would never arrive. I think much of it was knowing that we had no school for a couple weeks, and of course, the excitement of family and gifts. During my youth, the time between each lighting of the Advent candle seemed an eon. The first Sunday’s purple candle was lit. An eternity passed to the second Sunday. Well, I think you see the pattern here. And yes, I still get caught up in the holiday hype of glitter and glam. But, now I want the season to slow down, give me more time to reflect, and really meditate on the reason I celebrate, the anticipation of the coming of Jesus.
Today’s passages portray just that. I am reminded of two things:
- Jesus is coming to save us from evil, and
- Waiting on Jesus.
The first line in Psalm 37, David writes, “Do not fret because of evildoers.” And, he later says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Isn’t this a main theme Jesus has told us throughout history? The Latin word for Advent is adventum, which means coming. We celebrate the coming of Christ through the miraculous birth.
Henri Nouwen wrote, “Waiting is a period of learning. The longer we wait, the more we hear about Him for whom we are waiting.”
So be patient and wait. Slow down and wait for the ultimate birth announcement proclaiming our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Image by Thomas Hawk (used by permission via Creative Commons).
