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Advent 3 - Friday
By srlee | December 21, 2007
Psalm 25:1-14
Malachi 3:1-5
Luke 1:57-66
O Emmanuel hope of the nations and their Saviour. Come and save us, Lord, our God.
(Prayers for Advent–Book of Alternative Services page 120)
Psalm 25 can easily be applied to Mary, a peasant girl, and Joseph, her betrothed, an older man.
The residents of Bethlehem undoubtedly know that Joseph has never consummated the relationship. Yet she is pregnant.
The gossips of Bethlehem saw a teenage girl “in trouble,” and an older, labouring man marrying her despite her loss of bride value.
Some may have seen him as a fool, others as noble. Unknowingly, what they were witnessing were people of faith, trusting in God as they walked with one another into an unknown life.
The psalm begins “I offer you my heart, Lord God, and I trust you.” This is one of the most important lessons of Advent. Unlike us, Mary and Joseph could not look back on their unborn son’s life and death, only forward. Whatever they were enduring for the audacity of their relationship, their calm came from giving their hearts and trust to God.
The psalm reminds us that we, too, are to offer our hearts and trust God, no matter what our lives bring. Blessed or in pain, rich or poor, sick or healthy, we get through each moment like a child in a thunderstorm who, though frightened, knows that by holding a parent’s hand, somehow all will be well.
Joseph and Mary trusted God despite social conventions that dictated they ought not so to do. Each of us, in every generation and in all walks of life, are to learn to love and trust God in the moment, without knowledge of so much as the next minute of our existence.
Prayer: Jesus, you are the light of the world. Teach us to turn to you and to live in your light. Help us to trust you and make us thoughtful and generous so that we can be ready to greet you.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1,14)
On Christmas Eve we will celebrate with holy joy. Our Advent preparations will be over and Christ will be born in our willing hearts and we will bear the Christ to the world. Christ comes to us each time we are nourished by him in the Holy Eucharist and he strengthens us to continue his work until he comes in majesty at the end of time. The joy of salvation, through the coming into this world of our Saviour, remains a joy for all times.
May this Christmas renew our lives and faith as Christians as we celebrate this Holy night.
Topics: Advent |