December 20, 2023

The Eighteenth Day of Advent

As we draw nearer to the date we celebrate as Christmas, my body wants to be even more quiet, still.  It seems, these days, my thoughts begin to travel back in time, with more frequency, with the passing of the days.  Each of us, so often, seeks answers from family and friends, when we should first seek counsel from within.  I say this because I am amazed how much spiritual communication was taking place before the birth of Jesus.  Mary received a vision, and apparently, she had no issue doing what the angel asked of her, saying “yes,” to the messenger from God, and doing so without a bit of hesitation.  We are told she went to visit her relative, Elizabeth, and here too, Elizabeth not only received Mary’s greeting, but knew, from within, what Mary had come to share with her.  Believing, trusting, knowing, communicating with an angel, acting on what was revealed from within.  This is how I want to live.

          On this eighteenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 1:39-45.

The Reading

December 20, 2023

“³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  Luke 1:39-41

December 19, 2023

The Seventeenth Day of Advent

There are so few days left in this sacred season of the year.  And now, when I allow myself to be still, I go.  I go back to that time, just before the birth.  My thoughts are of those who were willing to listen to The Holy Spirit within, willing to follow the guidance of angels, willing to risk that which they knew, to say yes, and take the hand of that which was new.  I think of Mary.  I think of Joseph.  I think of Mary’s family.  Mostly, now, at this time of year, as I do today, I hold in wonder that which they were willing to do, as they were guided by angels, out of the mundane, into the divine.   

          On this seventeenth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 1:26-31.

The Reading

December 19, 2023

“26 In the sixth month the angel ^xGabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named ^yNazareth, 27 ^zto a virgin betrothed¹ to a man whose name was Joseph, ^aof the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, ^bO favored one, ^cthe Lord is with you!”² 29 But ^dshe was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for ^eyou have found favor with God. 31 And behold, ^fyou will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and ^gyou shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of ^hthe Most High. And the Lord God ⁱwill give to him the throne of ^jhis father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob ^kforever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”³

35 And the angel answered her, ^l“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of ^hthe Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born⁴ will be called ^mholy—ⁿthe Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her ^owho was called barren. 37 For ^pnothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant⁵ of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And ^qthe angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:26-38