Advent, Day Twenty-One

Advent, Day Twenty-One
Quite often out of an intimate encounter with God encounters with other human beings become possible... If you are the beloved of God, if you start thinking about other people's lives, you start realizing that they are  as beloved as you are. Once of the profound experiences of the spiritual life is that when you discover yourself as being the beloved son or daughter of God, you suddenly have new eyes to see the belovedness of other people.

It is very interesting because it is the opposite of what happens in the world when they say you are very special, that means you are not the same as the rest. If you win an award and they say you are different than others, then that award is valuable because not everybody gets that award. The world is saying that you are only the best when not everybody else is the best.

Henri J.M. Nouwen
Discovering Our Gift Through Service To Others
Speech given to members of FADICA, 1994

Scripture:
³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  Mark 9:33-35

First Presbyterian Church Advent - 2020

Prayer

 
A Prayer for Washing the Dishes

There is so much to be done. Would You meet me here in the middle of everything? I believe You can speak to me even while I go about my long list of tasks. I confess sometimes I hurry too much and ignore the help You’d like to give me. You have my attention. I admit that in this season of busyness, I forget to listen for Your voice.

I’m listening now. What obstacles are between me and You? Open my eyes. I don’t want to be like the Pharisees, who only clean the outside of the dish when the inside is filthy. I need to start with the inside, with my own heart. Is there anything in me You’d like to wash out? What areas of my life are soiled by sin?

I’ll be quiet for a moment and listen for Your kind voice, the Voice of truth. Create in me a clean heart, oh God. Give me a calm and quiet spirit that is ready to hear from You every moment. Give me courage to hear Your truth and trust in Your forgiveness, grace, and lovingkindness. For You are good, Father. So good.

I’m washing these dishes because You’ve provided me with food, clean water, and shelter. I’m washing these dishes because my body is healthy and able to do so. Your gifts to me are amazing! I pray now for those who don’t have all these gifts. Lord, please bless and provide for them.

Show me how I can bless and give to them out of the abundance You’ve given me. Thank You for giving Your Son to make a way. I am undone by You, God. That I am able to have an intimate conversation with the God of the Universe while I wash dishes, I am in awe of Who You are, and how much You love me! Amen.

Scripture

 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8