Advent Reflection for December 19, 2012

WEDNESDAY Luke 1:39-56

• Mary’s Magnificat (in Latin, the first word of her song in verse 46) was not bland “church talk.” In verses 52-54, this peasant girl in an occupied land praised a God who scatters the

proud, brings down rulers and feeds the hungry. How does Mary’s song offer you hope and challenge (whether you feel rich or poor, powerful or powerless)?

• Imagine the day-to-day support and understanding these two women gave each other during their three months. Who has blessed you with understanding and love when you really needed it? Is there someone who needs your support this Advent season?

Reflection by the Page Family

We read today’s Bible verse from The Message version.  It says:

He bared his arm and showed his strength,

scattered the bluffing braggarts.

He knocked tyrants off their high horses,

pulled victims out of the mud.

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;

the callous rich were left out in the cold.

He embraced his chosen child, Israel;

he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.

We find hope in the verse that says: “He pulled people out of the mud.”  Mud is dirty.  Mud can make your traveling harder and can even stop you in your travels.  Mud = sin.  Just like mud, sin can make it harder to travel the road to Jesus/with Jesus.  It can make us dirty.  Jesus has the power to pull us out of the mud of sin.  He cleans us off and sets us on the right road to God.

We also find hope in the fact that “He piles his mercies high.”

In the Children’s Dictionary it says:

Mercy is kindness beyond expectation, it’s also known as blessing.

Blessing is something that brings happiness or well-being.

We could also say it like this: God piles His kindness on us and gives things that bring happiness and well-being beyond our expectations.  That’s a message full of hope!!

We also found hope in that Jesus leveled the playing field.  There is no rich and no poor in Jesus’ eyes….just people.  That can be challenging too.  Jesus just sees us/our hearts…not the stuff we accumulate in His name….not the good tasks we do…..just our heart and the relationship we have with Him.  That’s hard because we can’t hide behind good deeds…..if we aren’t right with Him, He knows it….and no amount of good deeds will make that right.

We were asked: Who has blessed you with understanding and love when you really

needed it?

Gabe:  Yesterday my brothers and I were playing outside and my oldest brother, Caleb, was hurting me.  I took a break away from him and rested.  My younger brother, Jeremiah, came over to me and asked if I was ok.  He made me feel loved at that time.

Joy: As a newly graduated high school teenager, I found myself without a home to live in or a family to love and support me.  For a time, I lived out of my little Dodge Omni hatchback, which was stuffed with all my worldly possessions, which I transported back and forth to my waitressing job.  Through a high school friend, I met a woman who allowed me to live in her unfinished second home.  This woman knew I didn’t have much money and charged me VERY little for rent.  That Thanksgiving, without a family or a home to call my own, I experienced love beyond compare.  As the lady’s family came together at this second home to partake in the food they had prepared in this little unfinished home, I was surrounded by stranger-friends full of love and compassion willing to envelope me into their family and traditions….accepting me right where I was with no questions.  I can’t really say that I felt understood by these folks, as Mary and Elizabeth felt understood by each other, but My God understood me and He knew what I needed more than I did.  He blessed me at that moment in my life with mercies beyond compare!

We were asked:  Is there someone who needs your support this Advent season?

We have an elderly neighbor, Ms. Sarah, who could use our love and understanding, especially this Advent season.  We will continue to visit Ms. Sarah and provide food for her during Advent.

How about you?  Is there someone who needs your support this Advent season?

Walking with you,

The Page Family