Lessons: Psalms 146, 147; Isaiah 1:1-9; 2 Peter 3:1-10; Matthew 25:1-13
God Is Always Coming Into Our Lives
“Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending….” is one of my favorite Advent hymns. I recall a marvelous service of Advent Lessons & Carols at Christ Church in Charlotte, North Carolina with an amazing choir, brass, tympani and organ all joining to make for an unforgettable experience and rendition of this great hymn. But this year I am wrestling with the idea that God will come into our lives not just at the end of time. No, my belief and faith experience tells me that God is always coming into our lives. It is not a “distant future” event as the hymn suggests, but a coming in the here and now among us. It is an ongoing affair within the individual and then extended in being community to one another.
If that be true, then one exercise to be encouraged during this season of preparation and expectation is to remove the blindfolds that prevent a person from seeing the Lord’s coming in the midst of our own realm. What keeps me, or you, from seeing this reality in the world around me? Are we too busy? Lack of faith? Cynical? Too influenced by the world’s agenda?
Henri Nouwen, the Roman Catholic spiritual writer and teacher said in a sermon many years ago that “we are called to be contemplatives, that is seers, men and women who see the coming of God.” During these next four weeks, and led by the Spirit, each disciple of Jesus is invited to become a contemplative, recognizing and seeing our Lord in all that we say or do. The benefit? By throwing aside our blindfolds, we may perceive and welcome the transforming power of God and a love that can purify our restless hearts leading to reconciliation and the healing of the world.
Gracious Lord, call each one of us into your abundant light and life. Help us to see you daily, to know you confidently, to love you passionately, and to imitate you authentically each and every day of our life. Amen.
Advent Action Step: It is a new Church year. Make a resolution about your life of faith – one you can keep.
Love One Another - Brian
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