Advent 2023: Day 1
Living in Between: A Journey of Faith During Advent Opening Prayer “Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (BCP 1979) Scripture Reading Jeremiah 33:14-16 14 “ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’ The Great Tradition “David’s Lord was made David’s Son, and sprang from the fruit of the promised branch—One without fault, the twofold nature coming together into one Person, that by one and the same conception and birth might spring our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom was present both true Godhead for the performance of mighty works and true humanity for the endurance of sufferings.” (Leo the Great) Prayer of Confession “O God of infinite promise, we confess that we often fall into hopelessness, skepticism, and even cynicism about the future, and that we despair about our own prospects and the fate of the earth. Forgive us we pray. Strengthen our faith and bolster our hope, so that when your grace bursts into our lives, as it always does, we shall be able to recognize it and be ready to give you our thanks and praise. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen” (Paul Laughlin) Reflection As we embark on this Advent season, a time of anticipation and preparation, it’s a joy to explore the profound and timeless message of hope, peace, joy, and love this season offers. The Advent season marks the beginning of our journey toward celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Just like a traveler prepares for a journey, we too are called to prepare our hearts for the arrival of our Redeemer. Today’s devotion is our first step of this journey. The opening prayer reminds us to connect our hearts to the divine promise and purpose of this season. It beautifully encapsulates the essence of Advent, reminding us to cast away the works of darkness and clothe ourselves with the armor of light. As we anticipate the arrival of Jesus Christ, we’re encouraged to embody his light in our lives. In the book of Jeremiah, we read about a promise—a promise of a coming Savior, a righteous Branch from David’s line, who will do what is just and right in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. This Savior is to be called “The LORD Our Righteous Savior.” The scripture reminds us that God’s promises are not empty; they are filled with hope and purpose. Jeremiah’s words speak to the hearts of the people of Israel and Judah, who, like us, were living in anticipation of God’s fulfillment of his promise. In the words of Jeremiah, we hear the resounding message that our Lord’s intention is to fulfill the promises he makes to his people. Just as Jeremiah’s words found fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ, we can rest assured that God’s promises to us will also be fulfilled. Leo the Great reminds us that in Jesus Christ, David’s Lord became David’s Son. The twofold nature of Christ, truly God and truly human, came together in one Person. This was necessary for the fulfillment of God’s plan, for in Christ, both his divinity and humanity were present. His deity allowed him to perform mighty works, while his true humanity enabled him to endure sufferings. As we reflect on Leo the Great's words, we’re reminded of the profound mystery of the Incarnation. Jesus, the Son of God, took on human flesh to fulfill God’s promise of salvation. He was born into this world as a humble baby, yet he was also Almighty God who could perform miracles and bring salvation to all. This is the heart of the Christmas story—a story of divine love and grace. Throughout this Advent season, we must also intentionally pause for introspection and confession. The prayer of confession by Paul Laughlin above humbly acknowledges that, at times, we fall into hopelessness, skepticism, and cynicism about the future. We may despair about our own prospects and the fate of the world. But we’re called to confess our weaknesses, for in doing so, we open our hearts to God’s forgiveness, strength, and hope. This season calls us to remember that the hopes and fears of all the years were met in Christ at his birth. Our God is faithful in keeping the promises he makes to his covenant children. Just as Israel and Judah anticipated the Messiah’s first arrival, we, too, look back at our Lord’s first advent, even as we look forward to his second coming. We are called to live faithfully “in between” these two advents. Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion Let’s remember throughout this Advent season, that we’re not alone. We’re a community of believers, walking together in faith, hope, and love. Together, we cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, awaiting the glorious return of our Lord and Savior. May God bless you abundantly during this Advent season, and may you find joy and encouragement in the anticipation of our Lord’s coming.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Click image above to subscribe to my newsletter.
Dale TedderThanks for stopping by. Learn more about me, my ministry, and this website by clicking here. Please visit my bookstore
Click, Listen, and Subscribe to My Podcast
Updated: 2-5-24 Connect and/or Follow for more content...
The Book of Acts
Updated 2-28-24 Sermons
Updated 3-4-24 Categories
All
Click the image above to order this book and study guide about the most important person you will ever meet.
Archives
January 2024
Click image above to learn more about and order this follow-up to "Lord of All."
Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: (Proverbs 23:19)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(Matthew 7:13-14) |