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Advent Meditation: Tuesday, December 17, 2019


Psalm 45, 47, 48  •  Zechariah 2:1-13  •  Matthew 24:32-44

I’ve always tried to rush this time of year. In the past, I felt Advent was something we had to endure to get to all the joys of Christmas – family, the carols, and if you’re a stickler for such things, the Christmas tree.  This year, I’ve tried to embrace this season of preparation, to live into the joy of anticipation, and attempt to reclaim that feeling of excitement I felt as a child waiting to fall asleep so I could wake up and discover what Santa left under the tree.
While meditating on today’s readings, particular emotions continued to stand out for me.  Humanity’s ability to experience joy and our willingness to celebrate important events.  These stand in contrast to Matthew’s gospel, which recounts endings – an ending of the world as we know it, and the endings experienced by Noah.  With each of these particular endings, we know there was a new beginning, one filled with rejoicing and gladness.
Just as loss spurs beginnings, we await the new beginning Advent prepares us for: a season of joy.  We celebrate the miracle of Incarnation, when the Word becomes flesh, promising new life.  “The Lord…has roused himself from His holy dwelling,” He humbled himself to walk with mortals.  What a wonderful event to wake up to – better than anything Santa could leave under a tree.

Loving God, we ask that you instill in us a childlike sense of anticipation that we may endure the seasons of preparation and come to appreciate those of joy.

Joe Williams
Master of Divinity, Class of 2022
Diocese of Oklahoma


Joe Williams 


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