SO even though ADVENT does not officially start until tomorrow, I woke up in the mood to start today. Maybe it was all the shopping and seeing the decorations all over town yesterday. Maybe it was the fact that I already bought a fresh Christmas tree and set it up last night. Maybe it was the CHristmas music on the Sirius radio.
OR most likely, it is because ADVENT is my favorite season of the year.
Whatever reason, I wanted to share some thoughts with you as Christians all over the world begin celebrating the Advent season with the spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ.
Since the Advent books and devotional all start Dec 1st and today is Nov 30, I had to improvise
I started with today's scripture chosen by myself
Luke 1:26-38
This passage in Luke's Gospel tells about the visitation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, telling her that she will bear a son named Jesus One aspect which I will speak briefly today involves the Angel Gabriel's words
Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
We will hear the words "Fear not" again later in the 2nd chapter when the angels appear to the shepherds after Jesus Birth For some reason, Angels can take on a frightening appearance.
Angels are often depicted in a renaissance artistic ideal as winged infants, complete with chubby faces and gentle features. However, we know that angels have appeared throughout history as having different forms. We see, for example, in Daniel 10 verses 5-6 a description is a man with shimmering metallic features and a voice of multitudes In Numbers 22:23 however, the angel is invisible to humans but seen by an animal.
We even see something more fearful, an even more frightening, even scary version from Ezekial 10:12 this description is enough to send anyone running in fear!
We do not know what appearance the Angel Gabriel took with Mary but we do know His message. That a son will be born who will "reign over Jacob's descendants forever, and his Kingdom will have no end"
Certainly this excited Mary, if not frightened her, as it would anyone. For one, languages of the time did not have enough words and enough concepts or ideas to accurate describe something as other worldly and misunderstood as the appearance of an angel. And it was then, as now, hard to imagine a kingdom which lasted forever, as the daily events of the times were wars, occupations, movements of people and armies . Borders, kings, princes, all changed often, so the concept of an eternal kingdom was something many people might have wanted and even hoped, but it was not the reality of life in occupied Judea under the hand of Rome.
. Certainly Gabriel's message was overwhelming to Mary, as it would have been to anyone of her status in life. But we know too from the scripture that God does not send a task without the means to perform it.
And that is our first lesson of Advent As we prepare for the Celebration Christ's birth,let us remember that God will send us a way and a means to prepare. God As the Angels have said, Fear not, and let us know move forward into the new Church year with no fear but with anticipation, excitement, love and peace The Peace which passes all understanding
Thank You and
Amen
OR most likely, it is because ADVENT is my favorite season of the year.
Whatever reason, I wanted to share some thoughts with you as Christians all over the world begin celebrating the Advent season with the spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ.
Since the Advent books and devotional all start Dec 1st and today is Nov 30, I had to improvise
I started with today's scripture chosen by myself
Luke 1:26-38
This passage in Luke's Gospel tells about the visitation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, telling her that she will bear a son named Jesus One aspect which I will speak briefly today involves the Angel Gabriel's words
Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
We will hear the words "Fear not" again later in the 2nd chapter when the angels appear to the shepherds after Jesus Birth For some reason, Angels can take on a frightening appearance.
Angels are often depicted in a renaissance artistic ideal as winged infants, complete with chubby faces and gentle features. However, we know that angels have appeared throughout history as having different forms. We see, for example, in Daniel 10 verses 5-6 a description is a man with shimmering metallic features and a voice of multitudes In Numbers 22:23 however, the angel is invisible to humans but seen by an animal.
We even see something more fearful, an even more frightening, even scary version from Ezekial 10:12 this description is enough to send anyone running in fear!
We do not know what appearance the Angel Gabriel took with Mary but we do know His message. That a son will be born who will "reign over Jacob's descendants forever, and his Kingdom will have no end"
Certainly this excited Mary, if not frightened her, as it would anyone. For one, languages of the time did not have enough words and enough concepts or ideas to accurate describe something as other worldly and misunderstood as the appearance of an angel. And it was then, as now, hard to imagine a kingdom which lasted forever, as the daily events of the times were wars, occupations, movements of people and armies . Borders, kings, princes, all changed often, so the concept of an eternal kingdom was something many people might have wanted and even hoped, but it was not the reality of life in occupied Judea under the hand of Rome.
. Certainly Gabriel's message was overwhelming to Mary, as it would have been to anyone of her status in life. But we know too from the scripture that God does not send a task without the means to perform it.
And that is our first lesson of Advent As we prepare for the Celebration Christ's birth,let us remember that God will send us a way and a means to prepare. God As the Angels have said, Fear not, and let us know move forward into the new Church year with no fear but with anticipation, excitement, love and peace The Peace which passes all understanding
Thank You and
Amen
