Advent-First Monday 11/29

The second reading from today's Lectionary come from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and it reads as follows:

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

As I embark on this journey through Advent I remember how easy it is to get caught up in the secular ideas of Christmas and forget about this season of waiting and anticipation.  I forget how easy it is to pass the nativity scene and rush to see the children sitting on Santa's lap.  I forget how easy it is to stuff presents under the tree and forget about the child that was laid in a manger.  

The text from 1 Thessalonians speaks to way people were living.  In every place of their faith God had become known, people were reporting of the welcoming, their turning from idols, all to serve a living and true God. 

What would that look like for us here, today, this Advent, this Christmas, in our lives?   Would that mean that we focus on learning to do good; seeking justice, rescuing the oppressed, defending the orphan, pleading for the widow, reaching out to the poor, visiting those who are sick and in prison, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ in all of these things?  

Advent is a time where we remember that Christ came and dwelt among us in the flesh.  As a precious child who would grow into a man whose focus was on doing good.  During Advent it is easy for us to sit and wait, to sit an anticipate, to watch and to listen, but I challenge us to do.  To buy less for ourselves, to give more to the world around us.  To be to the world what the world awaits, Christ, let us be the hands, feet, and mouths of Christ not just over the next few weeks, but let our reputation of being welcoming, of turning to God, of serving a living God go before us and fall behind us.  

May the world come to know of this peace, love, joy, and hope that is Emmanuel, God with us.  May we all be Christ to this dark and broken world.  May we be light and life each day, as Christ was on Christmas morning. 

Peace be within you,

KP