Following the Star

Pause

God’s peace is ever-present and ever-available to us. Take time this day to be still and feel God’s peace around you.

Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27)

Listen

They won’t harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain. The earth will surely be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, just as the water covers the sea.

On that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a signal to the peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his dwelling will be glorious.

Isaiah 11:9-10

Think

Family. It is a word that carries all sorts of definitions. There are volumes of books about families. Family is supposed to be a group of people with whom you are united, who love you unconditionally and vice versa. Sometimes that is not the family of origin, and that’s okay.

The Bible is full of history about families: family trees, heritage, lineage, ancestry. The books of Chronicles in the Bible tell about many people and their heritage and of who belongs to whom. It’s like listening to your grandmother around the holiday table tell of all the aunts, uncles, and cousins you’ve never met.

The reference to the “root” of Jesse in today’s reading is a reference to family – Jesus’ family. Jesse was King David’s father and Jesus was born of that lineage. Jesus is thought to be that “new root” that will stand as a signal to all and whose dwelling will be glorious. It also means that, as Christians, we are family: family in Christ Jesus… who loves us unconditionally.

Duana Cisney

Pray

I thank you, God, for your glorious son Jesus. I thank you that I can be family together with others in Christ. Help me look at others with unconditional love as I go through today. Amen.

Go

Go into the world in Peace, to love and serve the Lord.

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