The Second Week of December
We Read…
Joy is one of the themes or virtues we focus on during the Advent season. We find joy in knowing that God has gone before us, that God has come to deliver us, and that God brings light into the darkest parts of our lives. The letter to the Philippians opens with a joyful greeting, reminding us of people in our lives for whom we are thankful, those who bring us joy even when we least expect it.
We might wonder how Malachi 3 fits into this theme of joy. At first glance, it feels like a daunting passage. Hearing the words “refiner’s fire” can be a little scary. But this fire we read about isn’t destructive; it doesn’t burn us down or rage out of control. Instead, the refiner’s fire purifies, removing all the parts that aren’t meant to be in silver and gold until all that’s left is pure, perfect metals. God wants to refine us and take out the parts of our lives that don’t match what God has called good. This should bring us joy, even when that refining is hard.
Malachi 3:1-4
Look, I am sending my messenger
who will clear the path before me;
suddenly the Lord whom you are
seeking will come to his temple.
The messenger of the covenant
in whom you take delight is coming,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
2 Who can endure the day of his coming?
Who can withstand his appearance?
He is like the refiner’s fire
or the cleaner’s soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner
and a purifier of silver.
He will purify the Levites
and refine them like gold and silver.
They will belong to the Lord,
presenting a righteous offering.
4 The offering of Judah and Jerusalem
will be pleasing to the Lord
as in ancient days
and in former years.
Luke 1:68-79
68 “Bless the Lord God of Israel
because he has come to help
and has delivered his people.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in his servant David’s house,
70 just as he said through the mouths
of his holy prophets long ago.
71 He has brought salvation
from our enemies
and from the power
of all those who hate us.
72 He has shown the mercy promised
to our ancestors,
and remembered his holy covenant,
73 the solemn pledge he made
to our ancestor Abraham.
He has granted 74 that we would be rescued
from the power of our enemies
so that we could serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness
in God’s eyes,
for as long as we live.
76 You, child, will be called a prophet
of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his way.
77 You will tell his people how to be saved
through the forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of our God’s deep compassion,
the dawn from heaven
will break upon us,
79 to give light to those
who are sitting in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide us on the path of peace.”
Philippians 1:3-11
3 I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. 4 I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. 5 I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. 6 I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. 7 I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. 8 God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
9 This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. 10 I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. 11 I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God.
Luke 3:1-6
3 In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 4 This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way for the Lord;
make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled,
and every mountain and hill
will be leveled.
The crooked will be made straight
and the rough places made smooth.
6 All humanity will see God’s salvation.”
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses?
Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
How has God taught you to walk along God’s paths (maybe this is from Scripture, a trusted mentor, church, etc)?
Why do you think God sent John the Baptist ahead of Jesus?
What does joy mean to you?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
When have you experienced a joyful greeting from someone? When have you offered this to someone else?
When have you experienced God’s compassion? When have you offered that compassion to others?
Where has God refined your life? What has God taken out of your life?
We Believe…
In the Advent season, we anticipate the coming of Jesus, both as a remembrance of his birth and a reminder that Jesus will one day make all things new. We believe that Jesus came to live alongside us and show us what it means to truly live as God has called us to. We can experience God’s Kingdom on earth right now because Jesus brought heaven to us. At the same time, we recognize that there is still sin and brokenness all around. The world isn’t perfect yet, but we can still do our best to partner with God in these moments, to live out God’s love into the world, and to reflect the light of Christ all around us.
We Practice…
This Advent season, take time each day to reflect on what Jesus’s birth means to you. Share this with a small group or a friend who can reflect alongside you. End with this prayer from The Revised Common Lectionary:
God of timeless grace,
you fill us with joyful expectation.
Make us ready for the message that prepares the way,
that with uprightness of heart and holy joy,
we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
This prayer, along with other resources for Advent and other seasons of the church year can be found at https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayer/?y=384&season=advent&d=2nd_sunday_in_advent
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