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Week of November 29, 2020 - The First Candle: Hope
Week of December 6, 2020 - The Second Candle: Faith
Week of December 13, 2020 - The Third Candle: Joy
Week of December 20, 2020 - The Fourth Candle: Love
ADVENT WREATH DEVOTION: Week of November 29, 2020
The First Candle: Hope
Click HERE for a printable version of this week's Advent Wreath Devotional
Either by yourself or with family/others: Light the first purple or blue candle
The Advent Litany
The Spirit and the Church cry out: COME, LORD JESUS.
All those who await his appearance pray: COME, LORD JESUS.
The whole creation pleads: COME, LORD JESUS
The Primary Verse: Romans 15.12-13
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may mourn in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
Paul’s first quotation is from Psalm 117. This is one of the psalms central to the Passover Meal. Paul takes the quotation from Isaiah 11.10-16. The shoot from the root of Jesse (King David’s grandfather) is a person, not a dynasty. We associate the shoot with Jesus. The first part refers to non-Jews who will inquire about God. More significant is the fact that Paul, through Isaiah, refers to a hope that is grounded in the Exodus from Egypt. We look forward to a second Exodus that will come in the form of a ‘gathering’.
God will extend his hand a second time to gather a remnant from Pathos - upper Egypt, Shinar - Babylonia, the coastlands - the Aegean Sea and its islands, the tongue of the sea - The Red Sea, and the River - The Euphrates. In other words all along the Fertile Crescent. The reference to the Philistines, the Ammonites, the Edomites, and the Moabites is a reference to the long-standing enemies of Israel.
Wherein does our real hope lie? Politics, the goodwill of others, knowledge, and science may give us some hope but ultimate hope is what Isaiah points to - the eternal, unconditional love of God expressed in Jesus, our Savior.
Reflection:
· Have there been occasions when you have been able to share the hope that comes to you through the Christmas Story?
· Are there particular memories, songs, symbols or activities that uplifted that hope? What are they?
The Canticle: Listen! You nations of the world!
This Canticle could be spoken as a prayer or sung LBW 14
Refrain: Listen! You nations of the world: listen to the Word of the Lord. Announce it from coast to coast; declare it to distant islands.
1. The Lord who scattered Israel will gather his people again; and he will keep watch over them as a shepherd watches his flock. [refrain]
2. With shouts of joy they will come their faces radiantly happy, for the Lord is so generous to them; he showers his people with gifts. [refrain]
3. Young women will dance for joy, and men young and old will make merry. Like a garden refreshed by the rain, they will never be in want again. Break into shouts of great joy; Jacob is free again! Teach nations to sing the song; “The Lord has saved his people!” . [refrain]
ADVENT WREATH DEVOTION: Week of December 6, 2020
The Second Candle: Faith
Click HERE for a printable version of this week's Advent Wreath Devotional
Either by yourself or with family/others: Light the first and second purple or blue candles.
Advent Litany
The Spirit and the Church cry out: COME, LORD JESUS.
All those who await his appearance pray: COME, LORD JESUS.
The whole creation pleads: COME, LORD JESUS.
Primary Verse: Luke 11.10-13
Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish will give a snake instead of a fish! Or if the child asks for an egg , will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Commentary
This verse comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ comments about prayer. He began this section with the offering of what we call ‘the Lord’s Prayer’ as a model for prayer. This is followed by encouragement that we persist in prayer, even when it seems like our prayers are not answered.
Jesus uses the metaphor of parent/guardian and child. The responsible, loving parent will always respond to a child’s request with helpful guidance or by giving that child the good things the child requests. If we approach prayer in this way, then our faith is grounded in the loving relationship we have with God our Creator. We know God loves us and wants only the best for us. We know this because God continually sent special messengers to remind us of who we are and how much God loves us.
Most clearly and dramatically God sent Jesus, God’s son, in Bethlehem’s stable to live among us and to die bearing the guilt of our sins. The light of the Advent Wreath shines into the dark recesses of our life and brings the light of the Resurrection - God’s presence and life for us
Jesus’ closing words are curious ones. “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” We may pray for healing, for the end of the Covid 19 virus, for peace in our nation and in our own lives. However, the best answer to our prayers is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was given in full measure to the disciples as they faced the awesome task of reaching the whole world, where there was hostility and danger, with the Gospel. God knew what these disciples needed and God knows what we need as well.
AN ADVENT READING
[quoted from an article in 1851 entitled “Sojourner Truth Speaks in Meeting”]
“Den dat little man in black dar, he say women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wan’t a women! What did your Christ come from?” Rolling thunder couldn’t have stilled that crowd, as did those deep, wonderful tones, as she stood there with outstretched arms and eyes of ire. Raising her voice still louder, she repeated, “Whar did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothin’ to do wit Him.” Oh, what a rebuke that was to that little man!
PRAYER
[From the “O Antiphons” of the early church]
O Day-Spring, Splendor of Eternal Light, and Sun of Justice:
Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O Emmanuel, King and our Lawgiver,
the Desire of all nations and their Savior:
Come, Save us, Lord, our God.
ADVENT WREATH DEVOTION: Week of December 13, 2020
The Third Candle: Joy
Click HERE for a printable version of this week's Advent Wreath Devotional
Either by yourself or with family/others: Light the first, second and third candle on the wreath.
Advent Litany
The Spirit and the Church cry out: COME, LORD JESUS.
All those who await his appearance pray: COME, LORD JESUS.
The whole creation pleads: COME, LORD JESUS.
Primary Verse: Luke 2.7-15
And Mary gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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 angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God 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.”
Commentary
The narrative of Jesus’ birth and the angels’ announcement to the shepherds is full of joy. In fact the joy that is expressed in this passage jumps out at us right off the page. When do you hear joy in this passage?
[- after a difficult journey from Nazareth Bethlehem, Mary finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
- the angels sing: “Glory to God in the highest.” It is a very joyful song.
- the shepherds ‘haste’ to Bethlehem. They are excited; and when they leave the lodging, they are glorifying and praising God.]
At last the Messiah, the Savior has come. Even though most of the residents and certainly the world were not aware of what had taken place and how important it was for all people. God had entered our human world to walk alongside God’s creation. According to the angels’ song, Jesus’ birth brings peace to all who believe and work to do God’s will. The specific miracle of this night is that the shepherds (along with the midwife and a few neighboring women) are the first to receive the word and to proclaim God’s advent among us. Remember that the shepherds and shepherdesses were poor laborers who enjoyed no position of privilege or honor. It is a sign that God holds in high regard the poor and the marginalized, the immigrant, the foreigner, the one who suffers undeserved injustice.
An Advent Story: Sharon’s Prayer
She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity, convinced every word was revelation.
She said they were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat.
And they went a long way from home without getting lost.
The lady rode a donkey, the man walked, and the baby was inside the lady.
They had to stay in a stable with an ox and an ass but the Three Rich Men found them because a star lite the roof.
Shepherds came and you could pet the sheep but not feed them.
Then the baby was born.
And do you know who he was?
Her quarter eyes inflated to silver dollars.
The baby was God!
And she jumped in the air, whirled round, dove into the sofa and buried her head under the cushion, which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation.
PRAYER
[This is from a Seventeenth Century Latin hymn]
When this old world drew on toward night, you came; but not in splendor bright, not as a monarch but the child of Mary, blessed mother mild.
Come in your holy might, we pray, redeem us for eternal day; defend us while we dwell below from all assaults of our dread foe.
Amen.
ADVENT WREATH DEVOTION: Week of December 20, 2020
The Fourth Candle: Love
Click HERE for a printable version of this week's Advent Wreath Devotional
Either by yourself or with family/others: Light all four candles on the wreath.
Advent Litany
The Spirit and the Church cry out: COME, LORD JESUS.
All those who await his appearance pray: COME, LORD JESUS.
The whole creation pleads: COME, LORD JESUS.
Primary Verse: Luke 1.26-45 (46-56)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” “The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you: therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary said,
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name,
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty,
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Commentary
Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was 6 months in her pregnancy carrying John (the baptizer). Mary and Elizabeth shared similar life experiences: Mary received a visit from Angel Gabriel as did Elizabeth’s husband, Zechariah. Both were devoutly religious and understood their pregnancies to be inspired by God and connected to each other in an intimate way.
As soon as they met, a great song was sung. We call it ‘The Magnificat’ which refers to the first line of the song (in Latin) “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Although Scripture and church tradition calls this Mary’s Song, some scholars have suggested that the song might have been sung by Elizabeth. One reason for this speculation is that the song seems to parallel Hannah’s song (I Samuel 2.1-10) and Hannah’s life seems to mirror Elizabeth’s life rather than Mary’s
Regardless of its origin, the Magnificat describes the significance of Jesus’ birth. Some call it the ‘Great Reversal.’ God has scattered the proud. God has brought down the powerful and lifted up the lowly (Mary and Elizabeth being examples of the lowly). God has filled the hungry and sent the rich away empty. The song proclaims that God has remembered the promise God made to our spiritual ancestors (Abraham, Sarah and their descendants). In other words God’s eternal and never-failing love for us is embodied in Jesus, our Lord and our Savior.
Reflection
Take some quiet time to think about God’s love and how you have experienced that love in your life. How has God’s love touched your life - in good times with good gifts and in hard times with healing, providing ways out of difficult situations, and with people sent from God to help and support you.
Devotional Reading
(From Martin Luther)
Look upon the baby Jesus. Divinity may terrify man. Inexpressible majesty will crush him. That is why Christ took on our humanity, save for sin, that he should not terrify us but rather that with love and favor he should console and confirm. Behold Christ lying in the lap of his young mother, still a virgin. What can be sweeter than the Babe, what more lovely than the mother! What fairer than her youth! What more gracious than her virginity! Look at the Child, knowing nothing. Yet all that is belongs to him, that your conscience should not fear but take comfort in him. Doubt nothing. Watch him springing in whelp of the maiden. Laugh with him. Look upon this Lord of Peace and your spirit will be at peace. See how God invites you in many ways. He places before you a Babe with whom you may take refuge. You cannot fear him for nothing is more appealing to man than a babe. Are you affrighted? Then come to him, lying in the lap of the fairest and sweetest maid. You will see how great is the divine goodness, which seeks above all else that you should not despair. Trust him! Trust him! Here is the Child in whom is salvation. To me there is no greater consolation given to mankind than this, that Christ became man, a child, a babe, playing in the lap and at the breast of his most gracious mother. Who is there whom this sight would not comfort? Now is overcome the power of sin, death, hell, conscience, and guilt, if you come to this gurgling Babe and believe that he is come not to judge you, but to save.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus. Come!
Pittsburgh Lutheran United Ministries (PLUM), 405 Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110 412-466-7773