Advent Reflection: Dec. 4, 2017

Posted on by Shadyside Presbyterian Church

Seasonal Devotions

Scripture: Matthew 21:1–11  (Today’s Readings)

I wonder what Mary and Joseph imagined their Baby Boy’s life to be like when He grew older. Did they picture Jesus in our passage for today delegating tasks to a group of disciples to set up a dinner party? I wonder what the Jews who waited for the Messiah imagined their Savior to be like. Did they imagine their Savior to come humbly riding on a donkey and, days later, to die on a cross? I wonder what it is that we expect and wait for in this season of Advent. In Advent, we are called to “wait with anticipation.” I love that phrase, for it doesn’t mean that we just sit around doing nothing, but it also doesn’t mean that actions of our own can make the waiting go away. To wait with anticipation means we actively wait with hope and yet are opened to be surprised at God’s working in our midst. May we wait with anticipation for Christ to come again into the world full of surprising hope.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for Your surprising gifts. May You gift us again this year with the ability to wait with anticipation, that we may receive You into our lives with great hope.  Amen.

Contributed by the Reverend John F. Magnuson

Read more Advent Reflections on the blog of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church website.

Download the full booklet of Advent Reflections.

Artwork: Detail of No Between © Jan L. Richardson. janrichardson.com. Inspired by Isaiah 64:1: “O that You would tear open the heavens and come down … .”