December 23rd Advent Reflection

Peter 3:8, 9 The Message

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost.  He’s giving everyone space and time to change. (The Message)

In this letter, the writer of Peter is answering the concern of the first century followers who didn’t understand why Christ’s second coming (and the end of the world as they knew it) hadn’t yet happened. What a powerful reminder – God’s time is not like ours. Don’t worry, the writer says, God’s got this! Don’t we all know what it’s like to want God’s intervention in some place or some person of our lives and be frustrated because it may seem God is not acting? So today, we are invited to remember that the God who created the stars and sent forth all things into being, who created and is creating still, is acting, all the time. God is accompanying us and hearing our prayers, and according to the writer here, making sure we all get plenty of time to get on board, so we all can make it, no one left behind.

Prayer: O Creator of the Stars, help us to remember You’ve got us covered. You’re in this for the long game, knowing us better than we know ourselves, giving us the time to catch up to You. May this knowledge bring peace to our hearts as we ready for Your coming again and again! Amen.

(Rev. Marisa)