Advent Reflections
Advent Meditation for Friday, Christmas Eve 2021
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." Luke 2:8-11Well, we have come to the end of this year’s Rossiter Devotionals. This one is for you, dear reader...to meditate on.Imagine yourself as a shepherd, guided by angels...in the cold of winter...to a lowly manger. You stand enchanted and...more than a little bit frightened…by the stillness of the night…by the brilliance of the stars…by the scene unfolding before you...by the manger...by the sounds of a baby crying. You, embodiment of the most humble in the century in which you lived, will someday realize that you were present at the birth of a New Age.Help us to be like the shepherds as we stand in wonder and awe…Tomorrow is Christmas Day. Hallelujah! LO
Advent Meditation for Thursday, December 23, 2021
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. Luke 1:46-50 I have a very dear friend who is a Maryknoll Priest. One day he asked me about how Protestants saw Mary, the mother of God. He asked me: have you forgotten her? His question made me think. Certainly, she has one of the definitely essential starring roles in the birth narrative of our Lord.But do we cherish her in our hearts, all year long? This adolescent girl realized that God has looked upon her, a humble servant and glorified her name. She realized the greatness of God. Mary was the embodiment of humility and strength, as she made her life-long commitment to our Lord. She possessed these essential traits for living a Christian life. LODear Lord: Let us remember Mary as a courageous and faithful model of Christian womanhood.
Advent Meditation for Wednesday, December 22, 2021
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! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 26-28Mary is the only person who was present at all three of the most important events of Jesus’ life: his birth, his death, and his resurrection. For a long time, Mary was the only person who knew who Jesus was, and who he was. Yet Protestant theologians have kept us at a distance from Mary, who as Jesus’ mother, had a profound influence on his spiritual formation. As the woman God chose to be the mother of the one who was to be called “holy”, Mary is deserving of our respect. She experienced Jesus’ birth as a participant and faced this death as personal loss, rather than an event to be studied from afar. Many have missed out on any kind of relationship with Mary, even though she was the first Christian, and the first able to answer the question Jesus puts to all his disciples – who do you say that I am? Our relationship with Jesus as Messiah remains incomplete without addressing what role Mary can play in our discipleship.Our heavenly Father, even as we try to understand Jesus’ relationship with you, help us better understand his relationship with his earthly mother, Mary. AMEN. CV
Advent Meditation for Tuesday, December 21, 2021
A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 13:15Dear Lord, let us always strive to look for the positive side of things and bring joy and comfort to others. Amen (JM/TR)
Advent Meditation for Monday, December 20, 2021
This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my instruction within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people. They will no longer need to teach each other to say, “Know the Lord!” because they will know me from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sins. Jeremiah 31:33-34I believe that God loves us so deeply that he entered our hearts. He wanted to be certain that He was accessible to us. He is one with us, the seed of his love is planted in us for all our days. It is there, whether it is perceived or not. There are times when we are very aware of God’s presence, we are moved, our eyes fill with gratitude. There are other times when we question when the seed of our faith is shaken. It is at these times that a friend or loved one, who is perceptive, can reach out to us. How great is the Lord, who, knowing our vulnerability as human beings, made his love, his acceptance of us, an integral part of our being.Albert Schweitzer once said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another. Each of us has cause to think, with deep gratitude, of those who have lighted the flame within us.”Dear Heavenly Father,We are filled with gratitude for the light and love that you radiate into our lives. Thank you for surrounding us with family and friends who help us to develop as human beings. Help us to see the divine spark in others and to be willing to reach out when we feel we are needed. May our hearts be open to love and to receive your guidance every day.Amen
Advent Meditation for Saturday, December 18, 2021
The wolf shall live with the lamb. the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion together, and a little child shall lead them....They will not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11: 6, 9)I have always appreciated the paintings by Edward Hicks, a Quaker artist working in the 1820s and 1830s. One of his favorite subjects was The Peaceable Kingdom in which he utilizes the idyllic images from this passage in Isaiah. Natural enemies in the animal realm gathering together, laying down with one another in a beautiful scene of harmony. Hicks painted several different versions of this theme with people in the background engaging in peacemaking activities. These paintings, of course, are an idealized image. They draw us in so that we are calmed and inspired by these natural enemies living together. A child even has his hands around the neck of a lion or reaches out to pet a big cat!God is inviting us to live into and help to bring about the peaceable kingdom. Forgive someone. Learn to control your irritability. Give a donation to the church. Volunteer your time in the new year to do something to help others in need. Do a random act of kindness and senseless beauty.God of beauty and harmony, inspire me today to become a peacemaker. Amen. Rev. Dr.J
Advent Meditation for Friday, December 17, 2021
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and reverence for the Lord. (Isaiah 11: 1-2)This passage is from the great Hebrew prophet Isaiah who preached in a time of national calamity with enemies all around. It was an anxious, confusing and scary time. People could not see the way ahead amid so much fear of the unknown. Into that time of uncertainty, the prophet offered words of encouragement. God is going to send a leader who would be a descendant of King David (a shoot out of the stump of Jesse) and he would be characterized by love of God, speak wise words and lead by holy example. Isaiah offered the people hope.Throughout the ages followers of Christ have seen in these words a description of the life and teaching of Jesus. Today you and I are living in a time of pandemic and social unrest and like those ancient Israelites we are anxious, fearful, uncertain about the future. Thank God for the one who is coming into our lives to give us hope.God when we are frightened remind us to pray and remember the example and wisdom of Jesus who can give us comfort and peace. Amen. DrJ
Advent Meditation for Thursday, December 16, 2021
Luke 3: 16John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”Every time I see a baptism, it reminds me of my children being baptized. It makes me feel confident that God is always looking over them.Dear God, thank you for your love and all you do for us. Knowing that you watch over us and protect us helps us go through our daily lives so that we might be able to serve you better.
Advent Meditation for Wednesday, December 15, 2021
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who had been told it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2: 17-18Mary must have been a very special woman. Not only was she entrusted to bring Jesus into the world, but she raised him from his infancy to grow up into the man he ultimately became. Her loving care kept him safe from harm as a small child. The food she prepared nourished him. She would have taught him about God and the Hebrew traditions, about family love and trust, and her example would have helped Jesus learn how to regard others with compassion. She would have coached him to learn from his experiences, comforting him when he was hurt or unsure. We know that they remained close because she was there, heartbroken, at his crucifixion. Without this remarkable woman, we would not have had the Christ who lights our lives today. Hail, Mary!Dear God, help us to recognize and honor the people who do your work quietly, faithfully and without expectation of reward. In the name of Jesus, Amen DP
Advent Meditation for Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Isaiah 12: 5-6Sing to the Lord who has done glorious things. Proclaim this throughout all the earth. Shout and sing for joy, city of Zion, because the holy one of Israel is great among you. Reading this scripture tells us how the Lord loved his life. The love and caring things he did for us! What a Joy! This is how I see many of our folks living out his love and caring ways today. The Lord walks with us each day and any way I can follow his example is a blessing. A phone call to a shut-in or a friend, a greeting to a stranger or a “thank you” to the bagger in the grocery store. Love and caring are a blessing to many.Lord, let us all remember the way Christ lived his life and let us be examples of his teachings each day.
Advent Meditation for Monday, December 13th
God is indeed my salvation; I will trust in the Lord and won't be afraid. Yes, the Lord is my strength and my shield; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2The Book of Isaiah is the prophecies that came to him in visions during the reigns of four Kings of Judah. It is like a mini Bible with it's 66 chapters and it is filled with such wisdom and hope. In the verse above, one word that stands out to me is "become". God is becoming my salvation. Becoming close to God is a process. For some, it comes gradually. Some are fortunate to be raised in a Godly home with scripture, prayer, devotions, and attend church their entire lives. But others may experience a life event where they find there is nowhere else to turn, and God becomes their salvation. It is from this place of sorrow and despair, when God is all you have, that we find God is all you need. In this scripture Isaiah talks about trusting God, leaning on Him for strength, letting Him shield us from harm. With that trust we are comforted when we are afraid. That is something God would want us to know because it is in the Bible 365 times to not be afraid. Oh Isaiah, thank you.Lord God we love you so. We praise you and remember how much you love us. Thank you for sending your Son to gift us with Your love. Let us always remember to turn to you first for strength and peace of mind. Our friends and family love us but You dear Lord have the answers and You Are the answer.AmenES
Advent Meditation for Saturday, December 11th
2 Peter 1: 5-7You must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness; and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love.It sometimes seems that our world is becoming meaner and more divisive.Help us to integrate more kindness, thoughtfulness and empathy into our daily lives. Purge crudeness and crassness from our conversations, writings and interactions with others as we strive to attain godliness. SM
Advent Meditation for Friday, December 10th
He tends his flock like a shepherd:He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;he gently leads those that have young.(Isaiah 40:11, NIV Bible)There are many illustrations in the Bible that speak of God's desire for intimacy with mankind. God uses an illustration of a loving shepherd to demonstrate how He feels about us.Just for a moment, shut out the world around you and close your eyes. Try and visualize what God is saying through this picture with the eyes of your heart. Can you see the loving shepherd, gently picking up His little lambs in his big strong arms? Can you see the look on the shepherd's face as He lovingly gazes down into the eyes of each lamb held close to His breast? What a picture of intimacy and safety.There is no other place that these lambs would rather be at that moment in time. Their shepherd cares for them and has vowed to lay his life down for their protection. He has truly won their hearts. God wants us to know, that this is how He wants to relate to you and I. He is our shepherd and He wants to pick us up in His big strong arms and hold us tightly to His breast that we might feel the beating of His heart.Can you be a little lamb who needs to be picked up and held? If you can, you will find a place of safety and rest that is better than anything you have ever experienced.PRAYERFather, I ask that You pick me up and gather me in Your big strong arms. I want to hear the beating of Your heart and to feel the warmth and safety of Your embrace. I know that You have made a special place in Your bosom reserved just for me. You are the Great Shepherd, and I am just a little lamb who needs to be held. Thank You for holding me close to Your heart. In the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus I pray, AMEN. JG
Advent Meditation for Thursday, December 9th
Just as it was written in the scroll of Isaiah the prophet: A voice crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places made smooth. All humanity will see God’s salvation. Luke 3:4-6The coming of the Messiah was foretold in this passage from Isaiah. John the Baptist was the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry.As we prepare for the birth of Jesus in this Advent season, may we give thanks for this wonderful gift that was given to all humanity.
Advent Meditation for Wednesday, December 8th
Jesus called the Twelve together and he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal sickness. They departed and went through the village proclaiming the Good News and healing the people everywhere. Luke 9: 1-2, 6There are many interpretations of this scripture and varied beliefs, but let's focus on what we can do today to heal ourselves, our loved ones, and others we come in contact with. You might ask, how in the world can I heal another person? Isn't that the job of medical professionals? Well, look in the mirror and who do you see? You see someone looking back at you that God loves. It doesn't matter if we feel sad, depressed, lonely or wonderfully happy. We are loved. Now our job is to share that love with our neighbors. How? When we feel a nudge to call a friend or family member, even if we haven't heard from them in a while, don't put it off. Make the call. When we encounter a person in the grocery store, aren't they our neighbor? Don't be afraid; nod and smile, because even with our masks on, God's love will shine through.Here's something to think about. When buying those rolls of stamps to send our once-a-year Christmas cards, buy a few more so you can send notes of love and inspiration throughout the year to friends who have lost loved ones, or who are struggling, or just to say hello. Just reach out. We can do it. Remember we are loved, we are loving, we are lovable.Father-Mother God, help us to remember we are your precious children. We praise you for your never-ending love, even when we feel as though we don't deserve it. Help us to be kind, loving and forgiving during this season that sometimes takes our attention away from the blessed event of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Advent Meditation for Tuesday, December 7th
Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn of heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace. Luke 1:79This comes from Zacharias, a priest, prophet and father of John the Baptist, who is filled with the Holy Spirit and sings a hymn to God who has given him a son who will prepare the way for a Messiah. Because of the tender mercy of our God, the Messiah will come to us from heaven to shine light on those living in darkness and the shadow of death to guide them onto a path of peace. This is a prophecy that would soon come true.The light from Jesus would spread out over the land, leading to genuine joy, love and peace. The power of light and hope are greater than darkness. Don’t block the light from your life.Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you are our hope, that you gave us the special gift of your Son so divine, and that you sent a special star to guide the Shepherds and Wise Men to the manger in recognition of His birth. Thank you for making it possible to live in Jesus’ light. We ask that your light will always shine on us so we will never forget your love and help guide us on a path of peace. Amen MT
Advent Meditation for Monday, December 6th
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. First Thessalonians 5:16-18As I read this verse what comes to my mind is a beautiful vision of seeing humanity following the Apostle Paul’s advice to us. Can I think of myself as living by Paul’s words? Can you?Paul wants us to live like Jesus taught us to live. Why can it be so difficult for us to follow his request?When behaviors and speech that were once considered socially unacceptable are now commonplace and accepted by many, when we anticipate incidences of shootings in our schools and marketplaces, it can be hard to respond by seeking to do good to one another. The first century, when the Apostle Paul wrote, had its own violence and turmoil. In the 21st century we must try our best to “give thanks in all circumstances and rejoice without ceasing”. Show gratitude everyday for some small thing that brings you peace, that makes you smile or dance a little jig when no one is looking.Prayer As we wait for the coming of the Christ child born in a manger, who will set for us the supreme example of humane human behavior, let us welcome him with anticipation and joy. LO
Advent Meditation for Saturday, December 4th
Lord you have been our help, generation after generation. Before the mountains were born, before you birthed the earth and inhabited the world—from forever in the past to forever in the future, you are God. Psalm 90:1-2When the Psalms were written, people just like us had already been turning to God for help for generations. Thousands of years have passed since then—a blink of a moment in the infinite time of God’s creation—and we can still find hope, comfort, inspiration, and strength when we turn to God for help.Dear God, thank you for being present in each moment and for your promise to be with us always. DP
Advent Meditation for Friday, December 3rd
Don't let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and live. 2 Peter 3: 8-9Peter's letter encourages those who are impatient for "the coming day of God (v 3:13) and for a "new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." It's hard to be patient when there is so much suffering and injustice in the world--God's beautiful creation marred by greed. If God is so unimaginably powerful, this unfathomable cosmic creator, why does God allow such suffering and injustice to happen? We are impatient for change, but we cannot possibly comprehend God's time, which is infinite. But, Peter says, patience leads to godliness (v 1:6) and ultimately to love. When we change our hearts and embrace love, we can realize God's promise to "share the divine nature" (v 1:4) and use this gift to make our world a better place.Dear God, help us to be patient and to accept and trust the mystery of your Plan. Help us to change our hearts and be filled with your love so that we can share the healing balm of your divine nature with our troubled world. DP
Advent Meditation for Thursday, December 2nd
The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too. Because God is the one who established it on the seas; God set it firmly on the waters. Psalm 24: 1-2 (Common English Bible) Besides being a celebration of God's dominion over the world in general, these verses speak to His presence in every aspect of it. If the earth is the Lord's and everything in it, then it is not ours. We are the stewards and God has entrusted many things to our care. It is no surprise to read about the negative things that we do as stewards of the world. We pollute the air, produce toxic wastes, dirty the water, and make plants and animals extinct. God has also entrusted us to care for our bodies, our time, and our brains. Are we managing things the way God would want us to?Thank you, gracious God of creation, Keep us humble enough to know our insignificance. Keep us confident enough to know that we can make a significant difference. Keep us mindful of your presence and continue to surprise us with awe and wonder. Please teach us to align our priorities with your will. Amen