Advent devotions, week one

As we enter into the Advent season, we pause to reflect on the advent of our God.  Each Tuesday, a reflection will be sent out (and posted on Facebook) that was written by one of our Worship & Music Committee members.  We thanks Mary Beth Commisso for this week's reflection

Also, you are invited to offer your own reflections, photos, etc. on the "word of the day" during this month.  Here are this week's words:

 

1) Hope

2) Advent

3) Anticipation

4) Waiting

5) Caring

6) Awake

7) Generous

Advent Reflections

…keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.

Are you one of those people whose home is always “guest ready”? Everything in order, clutter free, nothing askew or out of place? I’ve always admired those folks – but I’m not one of them. I remember a time early in our marriage when we were settled in for a relaxing evening and a knock came on the door. We both jumped – “who could that be?!” He ran to the door and peeked out to see that we were about to have an unexpected visit from a relative. I ran to the kitchen to hide the unwashed pots from dinner in the stove. Why is there an unmatched sock under the kitchen table? (always easy to blame the cats!). Quick! Put the laundry basket in the closet. Then calmly go back to the living room to greet the guests and hope they don’t notice the dust bunny peeking out from under the couch.

Advent is a “get ready” time. The reading from Mark warns us not to be asleep but to keep alert, ready for the coming of the Son of Man. And while this reading is talking about the Second Coming – the return of Christ to earth – I think we can also take it as good advice about being alert to the many ways Jesus comes to us in our everyday life. Jesus comes to us when we are shown kindness, love and compassion, especially when we don’t deserve it. He comes to us in the gentle touch of someone using their abilities to care for us or for a loved one who is sick. Jesus is there when we turn to him, burdened with fears or guilt or struggling with our feelings, and ask to be held, forgiven, strengthened. Jesus is there when we gather at Trinity to share in the meal of bread and wine that refreshes and renews us. If we keep alert, and if we keep ourselves ready, we can both experience and be for others a “little Christ” right here and right now. But if we don’t keep our focus on God we may miss these everyday miracles.

There’s no special time to get ourselves ready to experience the love and marvelous gifts of Jesus. Fortunately, we have a chance every day to clean up the dust bunnies in our lives and do our best to live as God would have us. But Advent is a time that shines a special light on that opportunity to be renewed and be alert.

Let us pray,

God, the source of all good, help us take advantage of this Advent season as an occasion to reawaken our faith and grow in our love for you and for all our sisters and brothers throughout the world. As we prepare for Christmas, fill our hearts and minds with compassion, wisdom and patience. We ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

The reading for today: Mark 13:24-37

“But in those days, after that suffering,

   the sun will be darkened,

   and the moon will not give its light,

   and the stars will be falling from heaven,

   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say