Hope Peace Joy Love B R I E F D E VOT I O N S F O R
Advent 2020
About Advent x The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming” or “visit,” begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year for Christians. During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming. During the four weeks of Advent you are invited to use these brief devotions as a way to prepare your heart and mind for the coming of Christ into the world. The devotion is broken into four weekly themes– hope, peace, joy and love. You may do each devotion in order, or pick the one from the week that most speaks to you.
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Week 1 - Hope x “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” – Jean de la Bruyere As this year draws to a close, take a moment to reflect on the previous 11 months. What miracles – both everyday and extraordinary – have grown this year?
x “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in God.” – Lamentations 3:24 The book of Lamentations expresses the Israelite community’s deep grief. Yet even in the midst of that grief, a note of hope is sounded when recognizing God’s steadfastness. What note of hope have you heard this year?
x Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. – Romans 12:12 Hope in God’s continued action in and redemption of the world gives us cause to be patient in suffering and persevere in prayer. In this Advent season of waiting, how do you persevere?
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“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul—and sings the tunes without the words—and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson Hope is perched in each of us, waiting for us to notice its singing. How can you turn inward to hear the tune and take heart?
x “Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” – Vaclav Havel When the world around us does not make sense, only God can unravel the tangled threads. How has your trust in God helped you to find hope?
x LISTEN TO:
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/ComeThou1 to listen.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. As we wait for Jesus this Advent, what do you long for?
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“This is the shadow of hope. Knowing that we may never see the realization of our dreams, and yet still showing up.” – Austin Channing Brown How do you continue to show up even when you may not see the resolution of what you are working for?
Week 2 - Peace x They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. — Isaiah 2:4 We go to war with guns and bombs, but we also war with one another through our words. How can we change our words of hostility and anger into words of hope and peace?
x For Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. – Ephesians 2:14 Jesus broke the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. If we invite Christ’s peace into our world, what walls of hostility can we break down?
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“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Where can you work for peace?
x Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. – John 14:27 Take heart in these words of Jesus to find strength and peace in each day. Who can you share Christ’s peace with today?
“If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.” – Moshe Dayan It is easy to talk to our friends and those we agree with. It is a different thing entirely to have a true conversation with those who we are in conflict with. Who can you share the olive branch of peace with?
x Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 How does the peace we find in Christ empower us to be peace-bearers in the world? 6
LISTEN TO:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/ComeBind to listen.
O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. Pray this verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel as a prayer. How do you envision God binding us in one heart and mind?
Week 3 - Joy x For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12 God calls us to abundant life, and even creation rejoices at the invitation. Where do you find God’s abundance to rejoice in?
x “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen How can you choose joy each day?
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For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. – Isaiah 9:6-7 This passage celebrates the birth of a king who will put God’s laws first and govern with justice and righteousness. Jesus is the ultimate example of this type of ruler. How does this vision of life reflect God’s joy in us?
x “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” – CS Lewis Being joyful does not negate sadness and pain around us. Instead, joy is the deep well that we draw from to face life’s hard realities. Who do you know who shows up with joy?
x “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” – Thich Nhat Hanh We can lose our joy when we focus on the past or the future, but when we attune ourselves to the present moment and its gifts, there is much to rejoice over. Take a moment of stillness, attentive your breath. Know God’s presence with you and rejoice.
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LISTEN TO:
The Canticle of the Turning Scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/Canticle2020 to listen.
My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. These opening words of Mary’s song (the Magnificat) remind us of her awe and joy at carrying the Christ child who came to turn the world. How do you see the world turning?
x The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. – Isaiah 35:1 What feeds your soul and causes you to rejoice, blossom and sing?
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Week 4 - Love x Thus says the Lord… “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” – Jeremiah 31:3 God’s love never falters or fails—it is forever. How can you return that love?
x “In the end, the only real love in the world is found when you let yourself be truly known.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber It is our vulnerability that builds trust and connection so we may be known. How can you be vulnerable with those you interact with today?
x Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Ephesians 5:2 If we are imitators of God, we are living out Christ’s sacrificial love. We give up our false selves – our pride, egos, desires – and live into God’s lovingkindness. What can you give up to allow God’s love to shine through you?
x “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu Who gives you strength from their love? Who gives you courage by loving them? 10
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. – 1 John 4:16 Picture yourself abiding in God’s love. How does that knowing change how you engage with others?
x LISTEN TO:
People Look East Scan the QR code or go to bit.ly/PeopleLook to listen.
Love the Guest is on the way. The Advent carol People Look East as it describes Love as a guest, a rose, a bird, a star, and the Lord. Which of these depictions of Love most appeals to you and why?
x “To love another person is to see the face of God.” – Victor Hugo In whom do you see God’s face?
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Christmas Day In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:8-20
After four weeks of waiting and preparation, the Christ child has come into the world. Let us rejoice! Pause and reflect on how Jesus’ coming changed the world 2000 years ago, and how it continues to change the world even today.