Advent Devotional: Dec 2
Scripture Readings: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 | Isaiah 30:19-26 | Acts 13:16-25
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. (Isaiah 30:19)
Many of us today live in a world of instant gratification. Restaurants serve fast-food and entertainment is available with the click of a button on our smart televisions and mobile devices. Online retailers can deliver clothing and other goods within one or two business days. There are not many things we must wait for and this has changed our ability to be patient with ourselves, with each other, and even with God.
We come from a long line of people who have waited. Noah and his family were in the ark for several months waiting for the water to recede. Abraham waited years for Isaac to be born. God’s people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. There were roughly 400 years between the words of Israel’s last prophet and the birth of Christ. The disciples of Jesus waited for what must have seemed like the longest three days of their lives before the women found his grave empty. The Church has been waiting thousands of years for Jesus to return.
Saint Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). As we continue to wait for our Christmas celebration and to prepare ourselves for Christ’s return, may we become people of patience and hope who are ready to receive Jesus with open hearts when he appears.
Prayer response: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary
Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica, Inc.
Prayer from The Book of Common Prayer, 2007; Contemporary Collects, First Sunday of Advent
Reflection by Rev. Serena J. Wolfe
