This is the final week of Advent. The season of waiting and watching and preparing is drawing to a close. In reflecting on the AdventWord devotions and by thinking about the words myself, I have been able to take a little time to pause, and think about this liturgical in-between time.
Last week’s words were the seven disciplines of the Way ofLove. I thought about how we should always #GO in a way that reflects God’s
love. We can #REST in the Lord and #PRAY in confidence because God holds and
carries us at all times and in all circumstances. I thought about the ways my
friends #BLESS me, even when socially distanced; and how #WORSHIP isn’t just
something done inside a church. This past nine plus months has certainly given
us time to #LEARN new ways and #TURN from some of our old ways that weren’t
necessarily necessary or helpful. You can see my images based on these words
and this week’s words here.
This week’s words call us to look at the Mystery of this Season
and to Proclaim the Good News. We are called to Rejoice in the Holy and seek
the Wisdom of God as we make the final preparations for Christmas. What will
the Spirit say to you through this week’s words as we get ready for Christmas?
Our Christmas celebrations will likely be different this
year. Many families will opt to care for each other by not gathering in person
across the miles (or even around the corner). Even with the vaccine, we must
maintain the mask and distancing practices that we don’t like, but that we know
help slow the disease. The love of God can be shared by the love we have for
each other.
Our Christmas services, too, will look different. No
midnight mass with the lights dimming and candles being lit from person to
person, no in-person pageants, no hugs and admiring one another’s Christmas
finery.
Yet, the Babe will come. In the stillness of our homes and
hearts.
The Babe will come even via Zoomed or YouTube services and
socially distanced choirs. (And thanks to all who work so these services can happen.)
The Babe who changed the world will lie in a manger, and
will ask us to join God’s dream of the Kingdom.
Maybe, without the traditional and expected trappings of the
Day, we can take time to consider the One who came as the least among us. Maybe
we can ask ourselves how we can, in 2021, be a light to the least among us. How
can we be Hope to the hopeless, Joy to the mourning, Peace to the fearful, Light
to the despairing?
January 6 to February 17 is the Season of Epiphany. I hope
you’ll stop by to look at Isaiah 61:1-4 with me, starting on January 3, 2021.
May you have a Joy-filled Christmas. See you in 2021.
