To the Wonder and Mystery
Advent
The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
It is a season set aside to prepare for the mystery we are about to celebrate at Christmas: the arrival of God with us, God incarnate.
Birth
Wonder
Astonishment
Adoration
"Every year Christmas comes around again and forces us to deal with God in the context of demanding and inconvenient children; gatherings of family members, many of whom we spend the rest of the year avoiding; all the crasser forms of greed and commercialized materiality; garish lights and decorations. Or maybe the other way around: Christmas forces us to deal with all the mess of our humanity in the context of God who has already entered that mess in the glorious birth of Jesus."
(Eugene Peterson, God With Us)
Birth
Wonder
Astonishment
Adoration
I am choosing the latter. I am choosing to dwell on the wonder. To be astonished again. To dwell in the mystery. And to adore. I am choosing to focus on the God who chose to enter my mess. I may not do it perfectly, but that is where I want to be.
This is the irrational season
When love blooms bright and wild.
Had Mary been filled with reason
There'd have been no room for the child.
(Madeline L'Engle)
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit
upon our preparations for Christmas.
upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do, seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy, seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking light.
To you we say, Come Lord Jesus...
Amen.
(Advent Prayer - Henri Nouwen)
I am re-posting last year's Advent readings. I am going to take a break this Christmas Season, close my studio so to speak, to take extended time to contemplate what this season really means to draw near to Jesus.
I pray you experience God in new exciting ways during this time of waiting...
(Advent Prayer - Henri Nouwen)
I am re-posting last year's Advent readings. I am going to take a break this Christmas Season, close my studio so to speak, to take extended time to contemplate what this season really means to draw near to Jesus.
I pray you experience God in new exciting ways during this time of waiting...
6 comments:
I am nodding Amen to all of this...even taking the break. God has said that to me also, so I will probably do the same.
Thank you for posting this last year...so many post just spoke to my heart so deeply that I felt they were written just for me...isn't God good? Thank you!
Blessings to you and yours through this season of joy!
Enjoy your reflective respite! xox Corrine
Mary, what a lovely post. I'm wishing you Peace and tranquility while on your break.
I look forward to Christmas... and put up decorations and tree and sometimes keep them in place through January... I don't want to take them down or put them away until I am ready to move on to the next phase of life. I may end up busy sometimes with family and friends... but other times I just sit w/o lights in the LR and enjoy the brightness from the tree. It's a gentle and blessed stretch of time. Bless your phase of life during this lovely time.
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas season Mar. Knowing where and when to draw aside is half the battle. Enjoy this time and come back refreshed, in spirit if not in body, we all know how busy the Christmas season can get!
Mary,
My heart just says I love you and may you have a blessed season..
May your heart be filled with his love and it over flow to touch others.
Love,
Katelen
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