Advent Meditations: Sunday 24 December
| Sun Dec 24 |
am: 45, 46 pm: 89:1-29 |
am: Isa 35:1-10 pm: Isa 59:15b-21 |
am: Rev 22:12-17 pm: Phil 2:5-11 |
Luke 1:67-80 |
The Vigil for the Feast of the Nativity – (Also known as Christmas Eve)
MEDITATION– The Gospel for the Office reading helps give us a focus for the day. Zechariah had just experienced the birth of his son. A son whom he had been told by the angel Gabriel would be a “joy and delight” to him and who he knew would be the promised fore runner of the Messiah. Despite knowing all this Zechariah focuses and starts his prophesy not by talking about his son John the Baptist but by talking about God and what God had done. Will that be what we are talking about in these next two days. Will we be sharing what has been revealed to us in faith on these holy days? IF not, then don’t we have to ask why not? Why not when you consider that we have the full measure of hope, love, joy and peace. God has given us a gift not just in Bethlehem but the gift of worship, prayer, song, fellowship to help us in this regard. These gifts are not just things that make for a nice Christmas but rather gifts that transform our waiting and expectation into a certainty that transforms people who are willing to be transformed and go from being mute to announcing the power of God.
PRAYER: God of love and mercy, help me to follow the example of Joseph,
who was open amidst the fear to doing your will. At the message of an angel he welcomed a vocation he was not ready for but became a model for men, spouses and fathers everywhere nonetheless. May that gift come to us this Holy Night. Amen
Spiritual Discipline /Activity – Tell the people you live with—your children, your spouse, your parents—that you love them. Try to give each one a sincere gift through a kind thought and compliment during the day. Remember now your voice and your arms express God’s love.
Ancient Words/Present Grace:
“The Lord did not come to make a display. He came to heal and to teach suffering men. For one who wanted to make a display the thing would have been just to appear and dazzle the beholders. But for Him Who came to heal and to teach the way was not merely to dwell here, but to put Himself at the disposal of those who needed Him, and to be manifested according as they could bear it, not vitiating the value of the Divine appearing by exceeding their capacity to receive it.” – ― St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation .
SONG FOR THE DAY – ANGLES FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY Arranged by Dan Forrest
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