Third Week Advent Devotional

December 14-O-Opulence is a goal for many presents. We can be opulent with the hand work of a craft of course. I just heard a story of mannerly opulence. A woman and her daughter kept bumping into the same man as they made their way around the market. Finally, the mother said, “don’t I know you?” The man lowered his eyes, I’m the man who comes around. He meant around back to pick up the trash. The mother said, of course, you’re one of the most important men in my life. The man just beamed.

Monday –P-A season of peace is hard to face with American troops overseas. Snow only covers up blood. The cold matches the human heart that sees an enemy instead of a brother or sister. A Christmas card wishing peace can indeed be a prayer when a family is worried about loved ones. Yes, we all crave inner peace. We also crave not only a respite from fighting, but a season, a long season, of peace.

Tuesday-Q-Quiet is my image of the season, even in the midst of all of the noise. Consider using some of the abundant Christmas decoration as a focal point for prayer: a candle, tinsel, the tree, whatever strikes you. Using that image can help still all of the warring, unquiet voices within. When the voices distract you, let them, but slowly return to your selected image.

Wednesday-R-Rest seems to be in short supply in this season. Advent in religious terms fades into a swirl of Christmas parties, gatherings, and a mad dash to fill the shopping lists. How to find a center of rest in the bustle? Is it possible to imagine oneself resting in God like the baby resting in the manger? In a hectic time, I’m a fan of trying to take little breaks, to step back from the stress and breathe a bit.

Thursday-S-Savior-The Greek word, soter, Savior, has its root in saos, to be safe. That is likely a bit different than being saved from something; it has a sense of being secure, safe and sound. Even Bethlehem could only be safe for a while, and the One who would has us be safe had to be an exile in Egypt. In the many ironies of the bible the future Savior had to be saved from the same forces that would eventually take his life, but that seeming success of evil is transformed into the stage for the new resurrection life.

Friday-T-Tekton is Greek for a craftsman, including carpenters. I’ve always liked that Jesus was raised by a craftsman. Of course, Jesus would grow up to craft souls. Joseph’s life was probably spent making simple things that his clients rarely had the money to pay for, so it was a life on the edge. For all the talk lately of a gospel of wealth, Jesus did not live within it.

Saturday-U-I’m of the age where we grew up fascinated by the undercover agent. I don’t know how much I’d like to play with the idea that Jesus was sort of an undercover divine agent to explore humanity. What lessons did he draw from his 30 years on the planet? Christmas has an undercover aspect of needing to look behind the surface. What does the wrapped present contain? What do we all harbor within us?