Listen

Look, I am sending my messenger who will clear the path before me; suddenly the Lord whom you are seeking will come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you take delight is coming, says the Lord of heavenly forces.

Malachi 3:1

Think

Advent is a time of waiting. People of faith await the celebration of God’s Word made flesh in Jesus. As we wait, there are often messengers who are part of our lives that remind us to wait in hope for the coming of Jesus. These different messengers in our lives point us to the peace of God that guides us as we wait.

Christmas carols remind us of God’s love for the world many centuries ago in Bethlehem. There are messengers who clear a path for us as we end the semester with papers, projects, and exams, making a way for us to gather with family and friends during the Christmas holiday. Family and friends can be messengers of God’s peace and hope when they show us support, encouragement, and solidarity. We can rest in the peace of God’s faithfulness. God has made a covenant with us by becoming one of us, in Jesus, who delights in coming among us, getting to know and love us. May we pay attention to the messengers in our lives who remind us of God’s presence.

Douglas Sparks

Question to Ponder:

Who are the messengers in your life, clearing a path for you to encounter Jesus?

Pray

Lord of the heavenly forces, thank you for the messengers who clear a path for me to encounter once again your Word made flesh in Jesus, born to redeem and save me.

Amen.

Go

May Christ, as he comes, deliver you from shame and fear, from all resentment and anxiety…

from A New Zealand Prayer Book (The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia)