Advent: Week 2
I've been reading a One Year Bible throughout 2012 and yesterday I started into the book of Revelation. In the past when I've been reading the Bible in a year and spent the days before Christmas reading about scrolls and seals or beasts and bowls or the return of Christ, I didn't think it suited the pre-Christmas season and wanted to get through it as quickly as possible. It didn't seem to suit the festive spirit around me. But now I see things different.
Why? My view of the pre-Christmas season has changed. I now know its name: Advent. I'm more mindful of Advent as a season for preparation both for celebrating the Incarnation as well as Christ's return that it yet to come. Our church in Winnipeg, St. Margaret's Anglican, has a Advent sermon series entitled "On the Four Last Things". The four sermon topics over the weeks of Advent are: Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell. Although it has been years since I've read Revelation, these seem like themes I will come across in the weeks to come. So, now I'm actual eager to do this reading amidst my shopping, baking, and all my other Christmas preparations. I think it will help me focus more on the Advent of Jesus that is still coming.
The Epistle reading for the Second Sunday of Advent was Philippians 1:3-11. It's a wonderful encouragement to us as we wait for the Day of Christ. We can be assured "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) We can also pray for what is most needed: love.
"9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
I will be praying this prayer for myself and for all of you who read this blog. Maybe you could take some time right now to pray it for yourself and others.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
Why? My view of the pre-Christmas season has changed. I now know its name: Advent. I'm more mindful of Advent as a season for preparation both for celebrating the Incarnation as well as Christ's return that it yet to come. Our church in Winnipeg, St. Margaret's Anglican, has a Advent sermon series entitled "On the Four Last Things". The four sermon topics over the weeks of Advent are: Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell. Although it has been years since I've read Revelation, these seem like themes I will come across in the weeks to come. So, now I'm actual eager to do this reading amidst my shopping, baking, and all my other Christmas preparations. I think it will help me focus more on the Advent of Jesus that is still coming.
The Epistle reading for the Second Sunday of Advent was Philippians 1:3-11. It's a wonderful encouragement to us as we wait for the Day of Christ. We can be assured "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) We can also pray for what is most needed: love.
"9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."
I will be praying this prayer for myself and for all of you who read this blog. Maybe you could take some time right now to pray it for yourself and others.
peace and grace in Christ,
Tracy
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