Psalm 45; Isaiah 9:1-7; Luke 22:54-69
Listen to the author read their meditation and prayer:
The Rev. Dave Scheider, Advent Meditation
Today we recall Peter’s denial when asked if he is a follower of Jesus. Jesus has been arrested and is awaiting a trial that will condemn him to death. We wonder: why we can’t read something that will enhance our festive mood?
Advent is a process of making room, like hiring a personal organizer. Deciding to hire someone who will help us remove clutter seems like a good idea, until she prods us to sell, donate, or throw away our stuff. We have to decide what to get rid of in order to make space for lower stress and spacious living. But getting rid of things also implies a degree of grief and risk.
Today our organizer holds up something for us to consider. We see in Peter’s denial our own unfaithfulness when we hide or minimize our love of God. When Advent asks if we want to get rid of our faithlessness, we struggle to imagine who we would become if we openly revealed our intentions to stumble along the path of following Jesus. Will our friends and colleagues mock, judge, or shun us for our faith?
If we decide that we will throw out faithlessness, the question is what will move into that space. This will be the adventure to see what happens if we decide to come out as Christians, letting others know that we love the One who loves us beyond our wildest dreams.
Gracious God, we thank you for the love revealed in your Son Jesus. Grant us courage to faithfully follow Him in the Spirit.
The Rev. Dave Scheider, DMin, ‘05
Director of the Loise Henderson Wessendorff
Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation
SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST
As Director of the Center, the Rev. Scheider oversees three of the seminary’s graduate programs that are designed for laity and clergy who have specialized callings to carry on the work of the church in counseling, chaplaincy, and spiritual formation. These programs meet in the evenings and on Saturdays. Before coming to the seminary, Father Scheider served as a U.S. Army chaplain for 25 years. He specialized in family therapy, earning two additional masters degrees in counseling and certification and licensure as a marriage and family therapist and supervisor. Additionally, Dave achieved certification as a Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and Diplomate for the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. He is also a graduate of the Seminary of the Southwest’s certificate in spiritual formation program as well as a DMin graduate from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Dave is an Episcopal priest, canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. MDiv, Andrews University MMH, Wright State University FLEC, Kansas State University DMin, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary