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Advent devotions 2007

December 10 - In the bold and in the simple
By Ross Peterson-Veatch, curriculum director for the Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning

Week's theme: Rejoice!

Devotional:
Rejoice! Jesus is coming! The prophet and the psalmist in this week's Scriptures speak of miracles of healing. The New Testament passages remind us to be patient and vigilant. These verses show us that Jesus brought healing for the ills we cannot heal, hope to overcome our despair and joy that frees us from the imprisonment that is our sin. The Scriptures also exhort us to pay attention to the miracle of God's presence in the world around us.

As our celebration of Jesus' birth nears, as the excitement builds, as the anticipation starts to generate more and more energy, I always remember two Christmas miracles of my childhood. One of them is the lush garlands that decorated the house of my youth, the rich foods, the piles of gifts under my family's ornamented tree, the choirs and candles of Christmas Eve. How miraculous it all seemed – the world transformed to celebrate God’s great gift to us. The other is a moment in my family’s celebrations when my aunt invited an acquaintance of hers to eat with us. He wore old clothes, used rough and unrefined language and even spilled a drink on himself as he sat in my uncle's favorite recliner. My aunt, my grandmother and my parents all spoke kindly to him, helped him clean up and welcomed him to the table as we sat down to share a meal. As a child, I witnessed the simple gift of Christmas – the stranger made family.

Lord, help us remember to be vigilant and to recognize you in the bold and in the simple as we prepare for Christ's coming this week. We rejoice that the gift you gave us in your Son heals our pain and makes us one. Amen.
Posted at 23:37 #