The LORD loves the righteous;
[PSALM 147:8]
the LORD cares for the stranger;
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
| ADVENT DAILY OFFICE READINGS |
|---|
| AM Psalm 146, 147; PM Psalm 111, 112, 113 Amos 1:1-5,13-2:8; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Luke 21:5-19 |
A few words of introduction to this year’s Advent reflections.
I’ve been doing these off and on for several years now, and my challenge is to write something different than what I’ve written in the past.
In an effort to avoid repetition, I’ve decided to focus exclusively on the psalms for this year’s meditations; even though my experience has taught me that no matter how many times one reads a passage of scripture, it should, and usually does, reveal something new to us at each separate stage of our life.
To that end, I’m providing a link to all the assigned readings for each day at the top of each entry. I would encourage you to spend some time with each one. This might be asking a lot from those of you who don’t have the luxury of time. Nevertheless, always remember that we serve a God of grace, so don’t be overcome with guilt if that doesn’t fit your agenda.
Now on to my thoughts for today.
Each year, as we begin the Advent season, I look for signs of hope.
The cynic in me asks, “How’s that working out for you?”
In my search for inspiration, I have bought far too many books by a wide variety of authors that speak to that exasperation I’m feeling in these perplexing times. Some are helpful, but most tell me what I already know and don’t really offer any magic solution to my frustration.
So, I turn to my tried-and-true source of comfort – God’s word in Holy Scripture.
I have often read and quoted Psalm 146, one of the psalms assigned for today, but perhaps I’ve not really immersed myself in what it has to tell me.
“Put not your trust in rulers,” it tells us, “Nor in any child of earth, for there is no help in them.” (v. 2)
We’ve seen the mess that our elected leaders have made of things with their partisan agendas driven by self-serving motives that are of little, if any benefit to their constituents or anyone else in society.
Our help is in the LORD, as the psalm goes on to tell us. It is God in whom we put our trust.
We serve a God of compassion, who guides us in the way of justice and truth.
- It is God who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.
- It is God who sets the prisoners free, opens the eyes of the blind, and lifts up those who are bowed down.
- It is God who loves the righteous, cares for the stranger, sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked. (see verses 6-8)
Over the past few months we have seen what the direct action of people, encouraged by passion and eagerness for the justice of God have accomplished.
When political power struggles resulted in the interruption of supplemental nutrition benefits, community food pantries, staffed mostly by volunteers, became a beacon of hope to those who were hungry. People found it in their hearts to give out of their abundance to benefit those with less.
When immigrant communities felt threatened by the indiscriminate government raids that targeted anyone who looked different, or spoke with an accent, people took to the streets in protest and lifted their voices in support of those whose lives were upended by fear.
Throughout history, it is we, God’s people, who are called upon to “encourage one another and build up each other,” as the apostle Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians in the second reading for this day. (1 Thess. 4:11)
We will always be confronted by wickedness, but it will never win the day as long as we put our trust in God to lead us in doing what is right.
Let us pray:
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 824)
Walking Together in Faith 