Psalms 5, 6; Isaiah 1:21-31; Luke 20:9-18
Listen to the author read their meditation and prayer:
Frank & Louise Samuelson, Advent Meditation
Whores! Murderers! Thieves! Ungrateful tenants! My first reaction to today’s readings from Isaiah and Luke is “How could Israel turn like that on God?” But, as 
I sit with these readings, clarity sets in. I see places in my life where I turn my back on God by pursuing my own well-being with no concern for others. Moments of honesty bring the advent of new ways of being.
Advent brings an expectation of God’s mercy and grace; and to our benefit, Advent also brings God’s truth, power, and justice. I’m thankful that as I draw near to God, I’m seen honestly, the good and the bad. Because of God’s love and grace, we can look at the brokenness in ourselves and the world, and because of God’s truth and power, we can hope for transformation and restoration. Advent is a time of great expectation. With honest seeing we can be filled with transforming hope. —FWS
Could have been
should have been
so good
so right.
Planting and reaping
in season.
Feeding and sharing
the plenty.
How did we forget
who we are,
whose we are?
Our garden withers,
we are spent.
We weep for those
we’ve starved
Ignored,
killed.
O Come
O Come
to them
for them
for they are we.
—LBS
O come O come, God of justice and mercy, to them, for them, for they are we. Amen
Frank & Louise Samuelson
Diocese of Central Florida
Master of Divinity, Class of 2017
SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST
Frank and Louise are senior MDiv students from the Diocese of Central Florida.
