Advent Meditations: The Second Sunday of Advent

Dec 5, 2021 by Jill

Second Sunday of Advent:

ABOUT THE LITURICAL DAY OF THE  SEASON – The second candle that is lit today for the Second Week of Advent on the Advent Wreath . It is sometimes known for the theme of peace. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.  It symbolizes the preparations peacefully and quietly being made to receive and cradle the Christ child. Bethlehem is a story about a humble couple on an unforeseen journey, at an inconvenient time, to visit a tiny town, which will be the home of the Prince of Peace.

 BIBLICAL MEDITATION:  In today’s lessons taken from the lectionary for the Principal Eucharist of the Day, the letter of St. Paul to the Christians at Philippi,  St. aul offers prayers that should be the template for our own advent prayer : “This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best; so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Paul reminds us that one of the most important vocations we have as the Body of Christ, the Church is to be a people praying for each other both in thanksgiving and in petition. One of the points to consider is that many people associate with this season as a time of asking for things, such as what do we want under the Christmas tree. What would our individual and corporate lives look like if each day started with a thanksgiving to Almighty God? We would begin to see a world where our relationships were marked by gratitude and encouragement rather than expectations and requests. Of course, a thankful heart requires an acknowledgment that what we have or who we are may not be dependent upon me but rather on the one who created me!

This begins to make us “other” focused rather than self-centered because prayer helps us care about each other.  So, when we pray for each other, we have moments we can cultivate God’s love for others in our hearts. This is a great gift

Sadly, people do not always see the value in this type of spirituality and remained focused on self. The consequences for such a self-focus are highlighted in the first lesson from the book of the Prophet Malachi. In his ministry of prophecy to Israel, he made it clear that ignoring a perspective beyond self would have fearful consequences for Israel. This sounds harsh but this is often the resort one has to take when people fail to see how much they need God. It is not intimidation tactics but rather being ultimately honest. That depth of honesty is what Luke is endeavoring to articulate as he emphasizes that, God’s message is not abstract but occurs in real time that demands a response and is not something some of us just imagine  as a future reality.,

PRAYER: O Lord, be with us this second week of Advent as we seek to the necessary changes for a true spiritual journey this holy season. Deliver us from the temptation to embrace the message of the “Consumer-mas “while failing to observe an Advent that seeks to keep Christ in Christmas. Grant strength and wisdom to all who wait for Jesus, that we may find peace in all situations and places until the time of eternal peace. Amen

ADVENT ACTIVITY: As we consider this week’s theme of the Bethlehem Candle, what do we know about the plight of brother and sister Christians in that place. Go to https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/downloads/commentary_and_analysis/the-plight-and-flight-of-palestinian-christians.pdf  to learn more and consider way you can help. We can start by offering prayers for them.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE: “Though there are very many nations all over the earth, …there are no more than two kinds of human society, which we may justly call two cities, …one consisting of those who live according to man, the other of those who live according to God ….To the City of Man belong the enemies of God, …so inflamed with hatred against the City of God”. St. Augustine from The City of God

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