Email from Church of the Redeemer

Morning Devotion for the Season of Advent

December 11, 2023

The Invitatory

Watch, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning, lest he come suddenly and find your asleep.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Meditation: Rebecca Northington

Every December the Redeemer Youth Group, RYG, receives daily emails from me with a “word of the day”. The goal of these emails and these words are to bring us back to the real focus of Advent and Christmas. It can be overwhelming for many that Christmas now starts in October, and the traffic, lines, pressure to decorate, buy, and prepare becomes more materialistic and more intense year after year. Gone are the simple advent calendars with a line of scripture and an idyllic mini picture. We now have makeup, candy, toy, underwear, and bourbon advent calendars and other advent “enhancements” to make the season more festive, and more complicated. The number of white elephant parties and secret santa exchanges are too numerous to count, and the days are slipping away faster than sand in an hourglass.

Is that what this season is really all about? Do all of these expressions celebrate that first birth in a stable with all the simplicity of a barnyard scene? I am the last person to throw judgment upon anyone for embracing all of these growing traditions. I love a good party, and gift giving is my favorite. But everyday I consider a word that authentically captures the season and I try to bring focus to what can be a manic four weeks; words like faith, hope, joy, music, light, thanks, abundance, patience and grace. These words represent more than what can be bought or sold, more than what can be wrapped up and given.

For me Advent is more akin to Lent. It is a season of waiting. It requires discipline and attention. It is less austere than Lent, with quiet moments listening to a Christmas carol while taking in the grandeur of the Christmas tree, or the smell of baking as the fire crackles and pops. But it anticipates the coming of Jesus and all that that birth and life and death entail. While the joy can be palpable, it comes at a cost including the slaughter of the innocents as Jesus and his parents flee Bethlehem. His birth means his inevitable death, by crucifixion. His birth means generations of persecuted and martyred disciples and apostles. So as we prepare this season, as we wait and anticipate, let us remember that Jesus asked us to be different than we are, in that he asked us to love one another, and to love God above all else. This includes loving God above Christmas presents, material goods, extravagant foods or drinks. These daily words remind us to claim a moment each day to catch our breath, and find room for the true meaning of Christmas as we prepare our hearts and minds for December 25th, and all that this birth represents.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.