Tuesday, December 24 Matthew 1:18-25 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (Which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. St. Matthew underscores the prophetic character in which God-in-Jesus Christ was made manifest before the eyes of men. Awaking from his slumbers, St. Joseph immediately did as God’s messenger bade him do, and he did it without fear. According to Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, a contemporary exegete, Joseph gets it that there are fundamentally two races of men: "those who receive the grace of God when it is offered and become God's servants, and those who have chosen to ruin their lives...
Monday, December 23 Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah The Nativity of our Lord nears. Tradition has it on this day, a long, long time ago a major miracle took place, one on the order of what many in the world now regard as the Big Bang. But this was not the day the universe was created out of nothing; rather it was the day the One who created the universe out of nothing entered his creation as a baby. He grew to become a Jewish man from a backwater village in Galilee, a Jewish man named Jesus. Many in the world now know his name. This man Jesus was God the Son, a difficult claim for us to comprehend even today but one completely beyond most of his time. The Jews had endured significant hardship to cement their commitment to God as one and one only. That he has a Son, that God therefore is Father, seemed a backward step for their “metaphysics”...
Sunday, December 22 Isaiah 7:10-17 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah...
Saturday, December 21 Matthew 11:11-19 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” It is novel concept since we all have ears, but are we willing to listen? In this case Jesus is asking whether we are willing to listen to a radical life changing message. A message that could change our identity and how we see this word. Once we have accepted Christ, these ears become even more important. With these ears we hear God and what he has for us. The catch is we usually don’t listen. We must train these ears by praying to God to change us, by sitting in silence, and read His word so we know His voice. It is not something that comes naturally in this easily distracted world, but with persistent and patience we can absolutely get there. So, over the last couple days of this devotional, ask for new patience, ask to enjoy the silence, ask for God to change us, and most of all ask for Ears to hear. It will change the time you spend with God; it will change how you pray; it will change how you read His word and will change how you see the service. I encourage you to be patient and persistent, it will take time, but it is worth it. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen. ...
Friday, December 20 Matthew 11:2-10 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ John the Baptist was called to prepare the way of the Lord. He went around the region proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sin: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:2) and “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). People flocked to him for he proclaimed a message of hope. In a way, we are all called to be John the Baptist’s ...
Thursday, December 19 James 5:7-20 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. The Book of James is filled with practical wisdom for Christians, calling us to live out genuine faith through good works (be doers of the Word, not merely hearers” (1:22). we cannot stand up to trials by our own abilities. Without faith we could never find the strength to trust God; we would never be able to be doers. And in these concluding words of James he tells us to be patient. That is really, really, hard for anyone. However, when the Lord returns everything will be make right. In verses 7-11, James repeats in different ways that the Lord is returning and for us to be steadfast, patient, long-suffering in our trials while we are looking for the Lord’s return. Hang in there, the Lord will return. As we wait for the Lord’s return let us show evidence of being doers by being sensitive to the needs of others, endure with patience as Job did, pray with faith as we wait, don’t grumble and groan about others. Remember in all we do that the Lord will return at his appointed time. Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are, quite naturally, impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet, it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability ...
Wednesday, December 18 Psalm 146:5-10 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! The commercial Christmas season often stirs us with happy sentiments. Because we long to be happy. People tend to be nicer to one another, unless they are eyeing the same gift when only one remains. Through all the tinsel, lights, smiles, and happy songs a subtle lie is told and embraced. The lie is that things are okay; that people are naturally good; that happiness is merely a choice or an action away. But a truer story is told through the season of Advent. A story that acknowledges all is not right in the world or in our hearts. This elusive “blessed” or happy life that everyone deep down longs for is not attainable on our own no matter how kind or giving we are. But it is available for those “whose help is the God of Jacob.” (v.5) For this God is the one “who made heaven and earth” (v.6) and he will rule and “reign forever” (v.10). This Lord sees what is wrong in the world and acts with justice and compassion to set prisoners free, give sight to the blind, and lift up those who are forgotten. His justice flanks his compassion (v.7, 9). To the readers of the New Testament, these actions of justice and compassion should ring familiar. For Jesus embodies many of the characteristics of the Lord’s rule directly with his healings and teachings and feeding and liberating. This is good news for us, who stumble in darkness, for there is a genuine and real hope because the reign of God, revealed in the psalms and in the life of Jesus Christ, is made available to us. The God who made heaven and earth stepped out of heaven and into earth in the person of Christ to dwell among us and to “execute justice for the oppressed” (v.7). Because this is a real hope of a real blessed life the psalmist erupts in real praise. This is the appropriate response for us to make also: “Praise the Lord!” Gracious Father, your kingdom is one of justice and compassion. Help us to rightly mourn our brokenness but to not fall into despair. For you are the Lord who made the heavens and the earth. By your Son, Jesus, you bring light and life to the world. Deliver us from the oppressive sins to which we are bound; feed our souls with the body and blood of Christ at his Table; and open our blind eyes to your glory and grace. For the honor of your holy name we pray. Amen! ...
Tuesday, December 17 Psalm 146:1-4 1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Robert, Cardinal Sarah, author of The Day is Spent, made some apt seasonal observations in a recent interview. “Civilized man is fundamentally an heir; he receives a history, a religion, a language, a culture, a name, a family. Refusing to join a network of dependency, inheritance, and filiation condemns us to enter the naked jungle of competition from a self-sufficient economy. Because he refuses to accept himself as an heir, man condemns himself to the hell of liberal globalization, where individual interests clash without any other law than that of profit at all costs.” One doesn’t have to be a Socialist to get the point. Like the good Cardinal, read Put not your trust in princes to include the princes of commerce as well. After all, they are not the sponsors of Christmas. Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ...
Monday, December 16 Isaiah 35:5-10 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Our English word “remedy” is not used much these days. Check it out online and you will find its decline began in the 19th century and has reached its present nadir here in the 21st. Small wonder. Whether used as a thing or as an act, this word has its roots in going back to what once was, and that “what” is understood as better than the “what” that is now. It is a word that declares the past is superior to both the present and the future. At its base, this word casts the present as a failure, and the future as worse. Those of us with pasts lengthier than our prospective futures will likely agree with remedy’s core logic. But it is a sentimental acquiescence, one that likely ignores what we once eyed when it was our futures that loomed large. Above, the prophet rejects such limp sighing. With a bulging vigor from on high, he unleashes God’s muscular fury on all human progress. “It is a lie, a ruse, a deceit! Fools! You rush headlong to greater afflictions and desiccation!” Tucked inside the outburst is a reminder, an Ebenezer of something we can but barely recall: There is nothing better than the perfection that flourished so abundantly there in God’s Zion, where we might walk with him garlanded by everlasting joy. And then the invitation at the center of all such eruptions from God: There is a highway back. Our habit of Christmas points us wrong ward, forward, to the day, then the week, then the new year, then looking forward to it again. If a disorientation descends into your heart while packing up the decorations, then take up Isaiah’s remedy. The Way of Holiness alone restores. Lord Jesus, lead us on the Way. Amen. ...
Sunday, December 15 Isaiah 35:1-4 1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Don’t like the ways things are? Neither does God. So, take heart. Someday, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52), it will all change. Isaiah peered into the future and saw that. But he lacked language to describe what he saw. So, he put it in terms people might understand. Flowers will bloom, even where there is no water. The creation will rejoice and sing. Fear will go away. God will save the weak and infirm. Sand will melt into a pool of water. Danger will be absent. God’s people will sing with joy. Sounds good, don’t you think? But Isaiah had even better news than that. He said, “They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” (Isaiah 35:2) In other words, on that day, we will see God. We will see God. What might that be like? Honestly, words fail me. God is more than I can describe or imagine. Perhaps it is better to rely on another. Here are some hymn lyrics written by Walter Chalmers Smith. Reflect on these and you will have a better idea of what it will be like to see God. Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might; Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; All praise we would render; O help us to see Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee! ...
Saturday, December 14 Matthew 3:1-12 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” “… whose sandals I am not worthy to carry,”...
Friday, December 13 Romans 15:8-13 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” 10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. When I was a child, I used to canvas the presents under the tree before Christmas to see which ones were for me. We didn’t have a lot of money, so there weren’t a lot of presents, but to even find one with my name on it just filled my little heart with delight. It was for me! We should have the same delight in Paul’s message to us: the gift of salvation from God through Jesus Christ His Son is for all of us ...
Thursday, December 12 Romans 15:1-7 1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Want to please God? Don’t we all! In today’s verse Paul tells the Christians in Rome one way to do that. He tells us that we Christians who are strong need to come along side our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them in times of weakness. We are to help them carry their burdens. Sometimes this is sacrificial in our time and maybe even finances, but it is for the good of our neighbor and it helps build them up. We aren’t to please ourselves just as Jesus came not for himself but for others. Paul advises the Romans to look back through the Old Testament at the endurance and encouragement God gave to those who came before them and to share the hope with others during a difficult time. It can do the same for us. As we look back through our lives at what God has done especially in times of weakness, we can share this with others who need encouragement and hope. This leads to what pleases God. That is unity! When we reach out to our neighbor with words of encouragement and concern, it leads to harmony, unity and peace with one another. We do this through our common bonds with Jesus. When we live in unity with each other, sharing burdens and doing life together, we become one voice glorifying God and Jesus. This is pleasing to God our Father and his Son. Dear Father, in this season of Advent, when we look closer at the love of the Father through Jesus, help us to come along side our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and strengthen them to endure difficult times. Let our unity, concern and love for one another become one voice glorifying and pleasing you and our Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” Amen. ...
Wednesday, December 11 Psalm 72:8-15 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! 12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! Royal, or Kingship psalms celebrate the king’s praises. Often, they extol the reigning king’s military victories and benevolence, while also serving as a strong reminder of his high calling as king. Yet, this psalm exalts the king and his calling far beyond that which is humanly attainable as to suggest for its fulfillment a different kind of king is required: a Messiah-King. The dominion of this Messiah-King is to be exhaustive, “from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (v.8). This dominion not only includes lands but peoples, “May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him” (v.11). However, this dominion is not merely due to the Messiah-King’s unmatched power, though he is unrivaled. Rather, his dominion over the hearts of nations and kings is due to his justice and goodness. For his kingdom is marked by deliverance, pity, salvation, and redemption for those oppressed. Twice we are told the response to such a King by his subjects is to “bring gifts” (v.10, 15). However, this psalm looks beyond the tokens of courtesy and culture to “something greater than Solomon” and to the gift of total homage. As we journey through this Advent season take time to consider the depths of your own needs. See yourself as the needy, poor, and oppressed from v.12-14. Consider also, the greatness of this Messiah-King, Jesus, who by his life brings life. Gracious Father open our eyes to see you as you are. May your kingship be evermore worked into the recesses of our hearts and imaginations. So much so, that the rhythms of our lives reflect your dominion, to the honor of your name. Amen! ...
Tuesday, December 10 Psalm 72:1-7 1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! 5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! The kings of Israel were to bestow only what they received from God. The prosperity of their people emerged out of a ruler's faithful execution of divine justice. Indeed, the Davidic monarchs are depicted in this Psalm as sources of blessings for the whole world. "This king will come to the people for their good and for their rescue like rain" (v.6). Here, in a medieval rabbinic translation, emphasis is on the messianic deliverance by Davidic kings who kept the covenant, thus insuring the flourishing of biological Israel. The benefits of the rule of Christ, David's remote heir, are greater. Commentators from the early church saw in the Psalm a prayer reflecting the prophetic hope of a glorious and just rule of the cosmic Christ over the earth. Theodoret of Cyrus, one such exegete, found in verse 17 "All nations will declare him blessed... The inspired author knew this through the grace of the Spirit, and inflamed with desire he prays for it to happen and for the prophecy to take effect." Consider what we are preparing to observe in this new church year. From the coming of God-made-man made manifest in Palestine to our anticipation of Christ's universal kingship on his return, we mark the convergence of his story with that of our own. Lord Jesus, Carpenter and King, supreme Sovereign of all men, look with tender mercy upon the multitudes of our day who bear the indignities of injustice everywhere. Raise up leaders in every land dedicated to Your standards of order, equity, and justice. Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, the grace to be worthy members of Your Mystical Body, laboring unceasingly to fulfill our vocation in the social apostolate of Your Church. Guide our minds to a meaningful understanding of the problems of the poor, of the oppressed, of the unemployed, of all in need of assistance anywhere. Guide our hearts against the subtle lure of earthly things and undue regard for those who possess them. May we hunger and thirst after justice always. Amen. ...
Monday, December 9 Isaiah 11:6-10 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. 9 They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples...
Sunday, December 8 Isaiah 11:1-5 1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. That’s not fair! How many times in your life have you thought that? Probably more than a few. That’s because life isn’t fair. Or said differently, life is not just. One doesn’t have to look far to see injustice. Poverty, war, crime, refugees, hatred, persecution. These are not simply words or concepts. These are people, people being treated badly, people suffering. Each of these people was created in the image of God. Each has a name, a face, a story. And, each is forced to accept injustice as a given, a way of life. That’s not fair. As Christians, we should seek to reverse injustice. Unfortunately, the problem is bigger than we are. This problem needs divine intervention. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a day when injustice would be addressed. He described it this way… …with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. …he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Who is this judge? Who will make wrong things right? Isaiah knew only in part. The one who would bring about justice would be “a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” Today, we know this is Jesus. Jesus is the one who will bring forth righteousness. Upon his return, Jesus will judge the living and the dead. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10) Then, things will change. Then, “justice (will) roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) Then, life will be fair. Lord Jesus, we long for justice and we wait eagerly for your return. Amen. ...
Saturday, December 7 Matthew 24:36-44 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Uncertainty. It raises fear, anxiety, worry, stress, … I could go on and on. Especially during this time of year, we do not want any curveballs thrown to our plans...
Friday, December 6 Matthew 24:29-35 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Let’s be honest. None of us woke up this morning hoping that today the sun would be darkened, or the moon would not give its light, or the stars would fall from heaven. In fact, usually on days we don’t see the sun, rainy or not, we consider the day dreary, don’t we? We’ve been conditioned to believe that a day without sunshine is a crummy day, so we look forward to sunshiny days. But what if you were told that a day without sunshine ...
Thursday, December 5 Romans 13:8-14 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. What is your first thought in the morning when you wake? Is it that salvation is nearer to me now than when I first believed, or nearer than when I went to sleep last night? Well it is!! For some this is an exciting and comforting thought. For others maybe not so much. Perhaps they aren’t quite sure of their own salvation; perhaps there exits an area of unconfessed darkness; perhaps they have a loved one that has not yet come to Jesus, or maybe they just haven’t thought about it. Well it’s time to wake up from our spiritual sleep and put on the armor of light and know that the day of Jesus’ return is at hand! Jesus is coming back, Paul is telling us to live like it! In this Advent season, we wait expectantly to celebrate the birth of our Savior and prepare our hearts for his coming. However, Advent is more than that. It is excitement and anticipation for the return of our Lord Jesus when all will be made right. “The day is at hand!” During this Advent season may we as believers remember to cast away any areas of darkness that keep us hiding in the night and to daily clothe ourselves in presence of Jesus by putting on his armor of light. Let us tell our family and friends of the light of Jesus that has come into the world casting out the darkness of sin and may we be found walking in daylight when Jesus returns. Lord, in this Advent season fill us with great expectation and excitement for your return. Help us to examine our life for any area of darkness and reveal it to your light. When we wake tomorrow let us rejoice that “salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.” Amen. ...
Wednesday, December 4 Psalm 122:6-9 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” 8 For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Psalms of Ascent, like the Advent season, are enactments of a pilgrimage. Travelers wading through the rough, broken, and dangerous terrain towards a place of hope: Jerusalem. Christmas! Jerusalem was desired because it was the place of God’s dwelling, home to the Temple. Christmas is the desired destination of Advent because it rehearses God’s coming to dwell among us. What Jerusalem was to the Israelites, the Church is to the Christian. It is, therefore, fitting that we, as Christians, should take up the actions of this passage as our own. Firstly, we are urged to pray for peace. Interestingly, the focus in not on external foes who seek to humiliate and harm, though they are hinted at with the imagery of “walls” and “towers” (v. 7). The emphasis, rather, is “within” Jerusalem. Three times our attention and prayers are focused “within” this city, place, and people. As Christians, we are to pray for peace “within” the Church for the sake of our “brothers and companions” (8) in Christ. We are to long for and desire the Church to be a place of peace and protection from adversaries outside, yes. But also that peace would “be within you!” That the Church...
Tuesday, December 3 Psalm 122:1-5 1I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem...
Monday, December 2 Isaiah 2:4-5 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. How would you like to receive this gift for Christmas: PERFECT justice? Yes, perfect justice, absolutely perfect justice! With this gift all wrongs will be made right, all injuries cured, all debts paid in full and with interest...
Sunday, December 1 Isaiah 2:1-3 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem....
Sunday, December 1 Isaiah 2:1-3 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say:...
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