ADVENT

This year our Advent theme is entitled Filled with Expectation. This theme comes from both references in the Old Testament and also specifically from Luke Chapter 3 verse 15 where the people are asking John the Baptist about the Messiah.  

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Of course, even today we remain filled with expectations. Some of these expectations are exciting and joyful and some are worrisome and may cause pain. Regardless we all have expectations for our future, and in this season, we once again are expecting the birth of our Lord. In fact, advent is not a Christmas countdown calendar where you unwrap a chocolate or a bottle of wine until Santa visits but instead it is a liturgical practice and spiritual journey meant for us as a people of faith to prepare our hearts and minds for the Savior of the world to be born. And Jesus is born not in a splendid palace but as a part of an oppressed occupied people whose family lacked economic or social standing. And though the Christmas cards don’t show it, our Lord was born in a smelly barn, to an unwed mother, and very confused father, both who were filled with expectations.

 

These devotions are meant to help us as we go through this waiting. To help in doing this I have chosen to use texts from this year’s Daily Revised Common Lectionary as our guide. I pray these short devotions will be helpful for you during this advent season.

 

Blessings for a joyous advent season.

 

Clay Gunter