Daily Advent Devotional

Malisa Pierce, Assistant Vice President of Advancement, at Phillips Theological Seminary welcomes listeners to the 2025 Advent Devotional.We have hope in the unchanging, sacrificial love of God, love of each other,our congregations, and the love that fosters equality and justice in the world through the birth and life of Jesus. We hope that as you encounter these devotions you are inspired to deepen your faith and renew your hope. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

God’s Shalom: Here & NowIsaiah 61:1-11For decades, the exiles in Babylon had dreamed about finally being allowed to return home to Jerusalem. Prophetic voices had promised them a glorious return, painting pictures of dry bones coming to life and a great highway leading them home. But when Cyrus of Persia issued the edict that freed them from exile, what they found in the city was anything but glorious. They had no land and their jobs were gone. Worst of all, their place of worship, the beloved Temple, lay in ruins. Instead of a wonderful homecoming celebration, they were faced with desolation. With the remains of the once great city of Jerusalem at their feet, all they could think about was the work that needed to be done. They had to rebuild the Temple and the city walls. Not only was their city in shambles but so was the community. There were divisions among them, arguments about how to start and who would be in charge. It seemed utterly hopeless.Out of the laments of mourning and despair, a voice declared: “The spirit of the LORD God is upon me!” A prophet stepped out from among the people and proclaimed words of encouragement. Without denying their pain and disillusionment, this messenger of God was called to preach release, freedom, healing, and hope. These promises of God, spoken by the prophet, were indeed good news. But the prophet not only proclaimed restoration of property but also restoration of responsibility. Like strong trees, this new community would stand as a testament to the God whom they worshiped and served, so that one day, in the near future, all other nations would look to them and to their future generations and recognize that they were a people blessed by God, that through them others would be blessed. This was just the motivation the people needed to begin the process of rebuilding their city and their lives. But the impact of these words would not end there. For this mission was not for the prophet alone. The spirit of God also had anointed the whole community to fulfill this call to make the messages of release, healing, freedom, and hope a reality.The words of Isa. 61 call us to action and faith. The prophet’s message was not a call to grasp at security or to embrace complacency. These were words of challenge, risk, and service. During this time of Advent, when we wait to see how Immanuel (“God with us”) will be made manifest this year, the challenge of Isa 61 reminds us that we are called to do more than just wait. It is our task to make Immanuel obvious in the lives of those who need God the most. We are the messengers called by God to proclaim the Divine Favor and work for God’s shalom to be experienced by all here and now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Preaching and Praise  Luke 2:8-20Angels and shepherds occupy center stage on this Christmas day. They provide interpretations of and model responses to Jesus’ birth.The stage is not the emperor’s palace nor the Jerusalem temple. It is a “nothing-place,” fields “in the region” of Bethlehem (2:8). Shepherds were of low social status. They had no social prestige or power. They were suspected of being dishonest in letting flocks graze in fields belonging to other people.An angel preaches the first Christmas sermon that announces good news of a savior born in David’s city, Christ/Messiah the Lord (2:9-11). The language of “good news” and “savior” was used for emperors and their actions. But in the midst of the empire, in David’s city, another “savior” is born. Jesus is “anointed” to carry on David’s agenda to transform the unjust status quo.A host of angels praises God, and announces divine favor and peace (2:14). The Roman empire declared it brought peace through conquest. Angels pronounce a different peace comprising just societal structures and access to resources.The shepherds respond by becoming godly disciples. They discern a word from God (2:15). They go to Bethlehem. Like missionaries, they bear witness to what the angels have told them (2:17-18). They praise God and celebrate the word about Jesus (2:20).That’s a Christmas celebration comprising proclamation of God’s justice-working actions and a celebration of what God is doing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giving Birth in a World Out of Joint Luke 2:1-8We often celebrate Jesus’ birth in very individualistic and spiritual terms. Jesus has come to forgive my sins or be my friend or help me when things get tough. Interestingly, these are not the emphases of these verses. Here the focus is on visions of a different world.Jesus’ birth occurs in the context of an imperially exploitative act (2:1-3). Emperor Augustus orders a worldwide census. This counting of residents asserts power and political control to secure a world that benefits only elites at the expense of the rest. Emperors counted people in order to tax them. That was a means of transferring wealth and resources to elite control.The reference to the census encapsulates the unjust Roman imperial world into which Jesus is born. Joseph and Mary are subjected to and cooperate with the Emperor Augustus’ decree.While the census asserts the emperor’s control over people’s lives, something subversive happens in the midst. The divine purposes send Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, David’s city (2:4-6). Recall the angel’s words of 1:32-33 that Jesus will inherit David’s forever reign in the midst of Rome’s rule. According to Psalm 72, that reign is about justice for all, especially for the poor and needy. It resists oppressors, protects against those who use violence, and ensures peace and food security for all (Psalm 72).That’s the gift of Christmas. It offers a vision of a different world, a transformed world of just living for all. The vision also functions as a summons to work for such a world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary: From Puzzlement to Praise Luke 1:39-56What is God doing in the world, if anything? Has God given up on us? Does our human sinfulness thwart God’s power and purposes (Rom 3:1-3)? Being committed to the ways of Jesus can be perplexing. Mary is perplexed, yet reassured, by the angel to embrace the divine purposes. She identifies herself as God’s “slave” and aligns with God’s word (1:38).The scene with Elizabeth also foregrounds the divine word (1:39-45). The angel’s declarations have come into being. Elizabeth is pregnant just as Gabriel had declared to Zechariah (1:8-25). Mary is also pregnant, though Luke’s narrative does not elaborate how this has happened (1:42).  Elizabeth adds her witness to Mary as mother and faithful believer in “what was spoken to her by the Lord” (1:42, 45). God’s word is presented as efficacious, powerful, and trustworthy. These events show God at work in the world, actively accomplishing the divine purposes. Luke’s Gospel begins by addressing Theophilus. The opening prologue assures him that the Gospel account provides security or certainty that God is faithfully carrying out God’s purposes in the midst of the destructive power structures of the Roman empire.  Mary responds with praise (1:46-56). The hymn stops the story’s forward movement to reflect on what has happened. Verses 47-50 celebrate God’s favor or mercy to Mary, even though the divine word has landed her in a difficult societal location. Verses 51-55 broaden the focus to God’s actions among people. God is constructed as delivering the powerless from the exploitative powerful, and providing for the hungry and needy.These actions express God’s faithfulness to the word spoken to Abraham to “bless all the nations of the earth” (1:55; Gen 12:3).If we are to “keep Christmas with you all through the year” as a song puts it, we are to live out this commitment to good life for all. We do so—according to these opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel—with the assurance that God is working for these ends and that we are to live as partners with God in this task. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesus’ Conception and BirthLuke 1:26-45; 2:9-11It’s Christmas week. Conception leads to birth. Angels are prominent.Several contrasts mark the angel’s announcement to Mary about her pregnancy and the angel’s announcement to the shepherds about Jesus’ birth. While an angel and shepherds greet Jesus’ birth with joy (2:10), that emotion is missing from the conception story. Mary is perplexed not joyful (1:29, 34), submissive not celebratory, meditative not exuberant (1:38). An unplanned pregnancy for an unmarried young woman in a culture where virginity was expected until marriage hardly merits joy. It does not seem like divine favor (1:28, 30). Mary rightly protests in naming the obvious obstacle (1:34). At Jesus’ birth, the angel identifies him as “Savior, who is Christ/Messiah, the Lord” (2:11). Talk of a Messiah is missing from the angel’s conception announcement. This absence is not surprising since expectations for a Messiah were neither universal nor univocal among first-century Jewish folks.Rather, in announcing Mary’s pregnancy, the angel locates Jesus in relation to God (son or agent) and to David (1:33-34). The angel declares that God has anointed or commissioned Jesus to be the agent of God’s purposes. Jesus is presented as another figure entrusted with the tasks that God has committed to David. These tasks include ensuring justice for all, especially for the poor and needy. He is to destroy oppressors, protect against the violent, and ensure peace and food security (Psalm 72). Mary will elaborate these tasks in her Magnificat (1:46-56). As followers of Jesus committed to living the ways of Jesus, we inherit these tasks. In our frequently broken world, damaged by exploitation, hostility, division, inequal access to resources, and selfishness (to name just a few of our challenges), we inherit these roles. And there is no shortage of opportunities for us to work for the world of justice and good life for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy in SurvivingPsalm 16:9-11Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:9-11 NRSV)Many of us can probably attest to the pits and pitfalls in life that have tried to swallow us alive. Some pits were natural indents in the road, some were dug for us, and others we unknowingly, dug for ourselves.No matter what walk of life we come from, we have had to overcome something that made us who we are and brought us to our present place. For sure, those living and trying to survive in a world that is not always friendly to women, children, people of color, queer siblings, poor, and others on the margins have never been easy.But I love the words of the prophet and poet Lucille Clifton who proclaimed, “come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.” Although we’ve all had challenges in life and encountered things that threatened to kill us, we survived. Despite the schemes, structures, and interlocking systems designed for our downfall, God has been present with us through it all and kept us from falling prey to the traps set before us.As the Psalmist says, “Therefore, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.” This Advent, celebrate with jubilant joy and endless gratitude that you are still here. All that tried to kill you has failed. So, live today.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rejoice Together—Weep TogetherRomans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15 NRSV)Expressing joy has never been a problem for me. I like to dance. I love to laugh. I enjoy spending time with family and friends. If you invite me to the party, I can celebrate with the best of them. But crying is another story.As a child, I would cry at the drop of a hat. Whether mad or sad, upset or confused, I wasn’t afraid to express my emotions because I saw my family freely express theirs. But over time, as I grew into adulthood, I began to suppress my feelings of anger, frustration, and disappointment for fear that I wouldn’t be able to control it. I was afraid that if I started crying, I may never stop.Even now when asked to walk with people as they experience intense loss, endure excruciating pain, and suffer horrific tragedies, at times I’m tempted to retreat because I’m not sure if I can handle the unknown, the questions, the pain. But then I’m reminded of this verse that shows us that there is no prescription for these moments.There is no patch or magic potion that will fit every situation. I remember that I don’t have to have all the answers. We are just called to be with those who rejoice and those who weep—to be with them as God came and still comes to be with us. This verse reminds us that we are to be with them in whatever season they’re in and gently remind them that it’s OK to be human.It’s OK to experience the full range of emotions—that we’re with them as they sit with the hurt, the anger, the questions, and even the silence. We’re better together in the good times and the bad. Joy comes with knowing you have a community to do life with, and you’re not in it alone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dancing with JoyZephaniah 3:17-18aThe LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. (Zephaniah 3:17-18a NRSV)Have you ever watched people dance? I love watching a good half time show, line dance at a wedding, or dance routine at a concert. It doesn’t matter if it’s ballet, swing, hip hop, salsa, or tap dancing, I’m intrigued by it all. But lately I’ve been mesmerized with watching my son and his friends dance.These children have found the secret to the good life and longevity. They know how to play and have fun. They know how to float and glide, slip and slide. They know about soaring and dipping, shaking and flipping. They know how to levitate, prance on air, and be whisked away to another world without a care or concern in the world. I’ve never seen a child (or anyone) dancing that looks like they would rather be somewhere else. Instead, they appear light, playful, and free. They appear joyful. This verse brings tears to my eyes every time I encounter it. To envision a God that’s not angry or vengeful, judgmental or resentful, but a God whose endless expression of love is so lavish and abundant that it erupts in exuberant dancing. Zephaniah gives us a glimpse of a God who celebrates their love for Israel through joyful singing, dancing, and rejoicing. God was back in their midst, defeated their enemies, and returned to reclaim beloved Zion not in judgment but with joy.Can you imagine God waltzing and foxtrotting over us with gladness? Can you envision God prancing and frolicking like raindrops on fresh cut grass? Can you visualize God delighting in us so much that they twist and twirl like children parading around the playground? This Advent season let us reclaim and recover this God who enjoys being in our midst and dances with joy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy Is…Psalm 30:5For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5 NRSV)As a child growing up in the Baptist church, I heard this scripture quoted all the time. It was a familiar refrain that rang out in times of trouble, hardship, and uncertainty. But it didn’t make sense to me.Historically, African Americans and Africans in the diaspora have had to endure many painful atrocities and suffered through agonizing adversities, yet we continue to put our hope and trust in a God whom we believe will eventually deliver us. Sunday after Sunday, I’d hear the lyrics of Amazing Grace: “Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” But I couldn’t understand: Why was God mad at us – and just when was this morning supposed to come?I’m no longer a child, but still I wonder sometimes when will this long night end and the morning begin?Is God angry with us because there is still a lot to weep about these days. From child hunger to wars raging to rising incarceration rates to senseless violence, we have much to weep about. But I realize now that biblical joy doesn’t ensure a quick fix or an easy answer to these questions.Often the joy attested to in much of the biblical witness is a joy that sustains and stabilizes you throughout life’s ups and downs. It doesn’t promise to remove life’s challenges, but joy is a steadfast confidence and steady companion along life’s journey that reminds you that God is with you. Joy is grounded in a faith that deeply believes that in time morning will come. In this Advent season, let us rest in the assurance that the Psalmist gives that joy will come in the morning and work to make it happen for all.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pause in JoyNehemiah 8:9-10I wonder what would happen if we set aside a day—stopped for a moment —paused to take a few cleansing breaths today to rest in the joy of the Lord? What if we lingered for a while to enjoy the moment, to eat good food, to sip our favorite drink, to take some time to take care of each other?What if that is the strength we need to get beyond this present moment? To be fulfilled, to be watered, to be nourished and refreshed together? To be buoyed, to be uplifted, to be sustained for the journey ahead? What if we tarried for a little while longer and clung to the words of Qoheleth that there is a time for everything under the sun? Nehemiah didn’t say that there wasn’t anything to mourn about. He didn’t say don’t ever mourn or grieve. He didn’t scold them or gaslight them into believing there was not good reason to weep and grieve for many things that they had lost. There was probably much that they heard in the words of the Law that they didn’t see in their community, their world, or within themselves. But that was not the day to mourn or weep. There may be some that are in despair with the results of recent elections. Some may be disappointed that life’s circumstances didn’t turn out as you had hoped. Some are disheartened because the world continues to be divided, disparate, despondent, and in seemingly utter disrepair.There will certainly come a time to mourn for all that we have lost. But that’s not today. What brings you joy today? Pursue it. Cultivate it today. Maybe God is calling us today to pause for a moment of joy and celebration as we remember where our strength really comes from.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy for AllLuke 2:10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10 NRSV)I don’t know about you but every time I see the words “fear not” in scripture, I immediately start to fear! Some suggest that it was the sudden appearance of an angel while going about their daily business that alarmed them; others believe that it was the glory of the Lord that frightened them, and still others maintain that it was likely the pronouncement itself that terrified them. But the truth is it’s all speculation because any or all of these things could be the reason that the shepherds were afraid. What I do know is that there is so much to fear in this world. Fear of violence and war. Fear of the loss of basic civil liberties and protections. Fear of poverty. Fear of deportation. Fear of climate change. Unfortunately, even fear of our differences. Sometimes it feels like there is no safe place to run to for shelter in this world without the threat of fear. Yet the angel says, “Do not fear, I bring good news of great joy for all people.” The angel didn’t come to bring fear or further insecurity. It said, “I’ve come with good news, and it’s for all people.” Not for some of us. But for all of us.Regardless of our nationality, gender, orientation, economic status, age, or religious affiliation, it’s for all. That’s the beauty of the good news—it’s not limited and includes all of God’s creation. So as we wait with eager expectation this Advent season, let’s work toward a world where all of God’s people will be free from fear and benefit from these good tidings of joy. For as the great Ella Baker proclaimed, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it happens.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spiritual & Social TransformationLuke 4:16b-19Jesus stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16b-19)Luke 4:18-19 was the only scripture that we had to memorize in our Intro to Theology course in seminary. On the first day of class, our professor declared to us newly initiated students that this Lukan text, if we were truly seeking to understand the depth and breadth of Jesus’ life, encapsulated not only who Jesus was but also his mission in the world. This text, taken from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, revealed that Jesus had not come only to bring a spiritual salvation as many of us had been taught. Jesus proclaimed that he had come to bring a social salvation that was to be embodied, practiced, and lived faithfully in the here and now.He had not come to save them only from their spiritual sins in the great by and by but to save them from a society that saw their poverty, their conditions, their imprisonment, and their oppression as sin. He had come to disrupt systems and dismantle structures that threatened their wellbeing and flourishing here on earth. It was personal – it was political – and it was prophetic. In his mission and ministry, no one was to be excluded. Everybody was included. As we enter into this Advent week of joy, Jesus invites us to join him on his mission to all that calls for both a spiritual and a social transformation. For as the text in Isaiah announces, those who do that will receive an everlasting joy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Divine Peace for AllIsaiah 40:1-11This passage from Isaiah is found among the chapters attributed to Isaiah of the Exile, who comforted the exiles living in Babylon (circa 587-538). When the Babylonians conquered Judah, they destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and forcibly relocated part of the Israelite community (primarily leaders and power brokers). After losing both the land that God had promised to their ancestors (Abraham and Sarah) and the Temple, the exiles began to wonder if God had forgotten or abandoned them. How would they survive? Would they ever return to Jerusalem? Out of the despair, the Divine called a prophet to “comfort, comfort my people” (v 1a) and to deliver those words of hope. God had not abandoned them; there would be a future for their descendants and a return to the land promised to their ancestors. The prophet declares that a highway should be prepared for God “in the wilderness” to lead the exiles back to their homes. Where the exiles only saw impossible obstacles to a new future, God would make a way. Mountains will seem like small bumps in the road, and chasms will become bridges to the future (v 4a). There will be no stumbling along God’s highway; everyone will be able to travel the road safely (v 4b). Human powers and efforts to oppress others will fail when God’s word and justice become a reality (vv 6-8).Today, with chaotic and ultrafast changes, many people experience being in “exile” even though their location has not changed. While many may not be seeking a physical return to a tangible location/geography, everyone who knows some form of exile wonders about God’s presence and longs for the assurance of a future filled with Divine compassion and comfort. The prophetic words of this unknown voice offer a vision of what God wants for them. Their “return” may be a “coming home” to God, to the safety known by a baby in their mother’s arms. Their return may be a liberation from what has been holding them back. Their return may be a restoration of dignity that comes with no longer begging for what others take for granted. People still yearn to hear words of “comfort” and to be reminded of God’s concern for all of creation, even the “least of these.” We must work for a time when: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace (shalom) will kiss each other” (Ps 85:10). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Faithful ResponseJeremiah 33:1-16Scholars typically date the book of Jeremiah to a time of great upheaval in the history of the people of Israel, usually during the waning days of the 7th century and up to (or even after) 586 BCE. Thus, Jeremiah can be understood as both a pre-exilic and an exilic prophet. The words attributed to him were first addressed to those living in Jerusalem before the Babylonian invasion and destruction of the city and Temple. Then, he prophesied to the exiles in Babylon.Our reading is part of a larger oracle of hope/restoration (vv 10-16) amid Jerusalem’s despair over the threat of the Babylonians. With confidence, Jeremiah proclaims that people will once again bring thanksgiving offerings to the LORD at the Temple; they will sing their praises with these familiar words: “Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for LORD’s steadfast love endures forever” (v 11b)! The LORD promises that the desolation found in the land will be transformed into a “pasture for shepherds resting their flocks” (v 12b).Perhaps the promise God is making to the people is not about a political change or returning to the way things were. Rather, it is a way of reminding the people of Jerusalem that they can make this new vision a reality. If they live by the Torah, loving God, neighbor, and self, they will ensure that the land is filled with “justice and righteousness.”  In the USA, many feel a comparable sense of despair. Fears about the weak economy, unemployment, the national debt, wars and rumblings of war around the globe, and environmental destruction make it feel like we are under attack. Some religious voices prey upon fears and tell them who is to blame for these ”attacks” as a way to enforce their moral views and to secure their positions of power. In these tumultuous times, we can also find words of hope in Jer 33:14-16. A faithful response to the fears and angst many feel is not to blame, deny, or give up; a faithful response is to remember that we have the power to create societies of “justice and righteousness.” How we live our lives (as individuals and as communities) can help God’s desire for restoration and wholeness to become a reality. With our words and actions, we can proclaim that the “LORD’s steadfast love endures forever!” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unprecedented PeaceIsaiah 11:1-10This reading comes from an 8th century (BCE) prophet, Isaiah, whose mission was to the southern kingdom of Judah. The beginning of the 8th century BCE had been a time of prosperity for Judah, but everyone did not share this wealth. While the powerful were enjoying a life of luxury, most of the citizenry of Judah was struggling to survive. The ruling class imposed heavy tax burdens on them and required forced labor and military service. Survival was all that the people could hope to do.The prophetic vision, found in Isa 11:1-10, echoes the dreams of people desperate for a better life. Since the fate of the nation of Judah was controlled by their human ruler and their relationship with God, the best hope that Isaiah could offer was a promise of a time when a just and righteous ruler would be in charge (vv 3 & 5), one who would “decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (v 4a). All the suffering of the poor would end, and their oppressors would be punished (v 4b). This new ruler would usher in a time of unprecedented peace, reflected not only in nature (vv 6-7) but also in the political realm (vv 9-10).This vision of the “peaceful realm” (particularly vv 6-7 & 9) is also found in Isa 2:4, Isa 11:6, and Micah 4:3. The dream of a restored “Israel” was still incomplete; they remained under foreign control with no hope of self-governing. The “root of Jesse” was intended metaphorically, not restricted to a person of Davidic lineage, but rather a ruler who embodied the characteristics attributed to David and other “good” kings in Israel’s history. This could even be a foreign ruler/power. Most important was the vision of a world in which natural enemies worked in mutuality for the common good, and everyone knew a life of wholeness (shalom) that only came from God (v 9). What would it take for you to experience the kind of wholeness described in Isa 11:6-9 (and other places in the bible)? How do we live in right relationship with God and with all of Creation? Is that even possible in this 21st-century world? Is Advent about envisioning the “impossible” – shalom – and then working to make it a reality? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steadfast LoveJoel 2:12-13 and 28-29This passage contains the words of Joel with which most people in the pews are familiar: “Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit” (vv 28-29). The first chapter of Joel describes the destruction wrought upon Judah by the locusts, God’s “great army” (v 25b), and the prophet’s call to repentance, which continues into the second chapter. In this section, the idea is put forth that it is not too late for God to have a change of heart (v 14), based on the prophet’s reminder to the people of God’s nature: “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing” (v 13). The Holy desires shalom not suffering.Our reading is found amid God’s promise of future restoration for the people. When God decides to bring an end to their suffering, all that the locusts have taken away God will replace, making the land green and fruitful again (v 22). Beginning in the 23rd verse, the prophet calls the people of Zion to celebrate how God has brought them back to life with refreshing rain and abundant grain. Once these wondrous things have taken place, Judah will no longer “be put to shame” (v 26b), in the presence of their friends and enemies. God proclaims that this should prove, without a doubt, that God is “in the midst of Israel” and that there is no other god besides the LORD (v 27).We must use great care when interpreting a text like Joel for a 21st century audience. While some of the images in this week’s reading are empowering and hopeful, there are also some very disturbing ones, which could easily be used to support an “us vs them” theology. Many people today may want to see the world judged and punished by God, but we are not free to take those matters into our own hands. That is God’s job. If, as this text describes, one day every person will be the recipient of God’s emboldening spirit, then perhaps there will not be anyone who does not “call on the name of the LORD”; all will be saved. With humility and awe, we would be wise to examine our own lives to make certain that we are not the ones who contradict the image of a God that is “gracious and merciful . . . abounding in steadfast love” (v 13). We must work for shalom in a broken world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shalom: Peace with JusticePsalm 146“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!” (v1) In this prayer, we are reminded of the Divine’s actions that seek a world of “shalom.” The Holy “executes justice for the oppressed; gives food to the hungry. . . sets the prisoners free; opens the eyes of the blind. . . lifts up those who are bowed down; loves the righteous. . . watches over the strangers; and upholds the orphan and the widow.” This description teaches us that the best way to praise the Holy is by working with the Divine to create a world in which “shalom” becomes a reality.Throughout the Hebrew Bible, God is consistently portrayed as requiring justice (e.g., Deut 10:18; etc.). Showing concern for the oppressed, the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger is a common theme among the commandments found in the Torah. Israel is taught to take care of the most vulnerable because that is what God did for them in the Exodus and because that is how they will image God to the world (Gen 1:26-27) and be a “blessing” to others (Gen 12:2-3). The word “shalom” in Hebrew means much more than just peace; it has a greater sense of wholeness. Shalom seeks the well-being of all. Shalom embraces justice, reconciliation and nonviolence. Shalom is the experience of being in right relationship with God, which would mean that you see yourself, your neighbors, and all of creation as God does – inherently good and worthy of respect. This psalm and other biblical texts teach us that, when there is brokenness anywhere within the human family, no one can know wholeness. As those made in the Holy’s image, we are called to be agents of this divine shalom in the world, creating peace with justice for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

God’s Desire: WholenessIsaiah 2:1-5During the 8th century BCE, Judah enjoyed a time of economic prosperity, but the riches were not shared with everyone. Those in power, both political and religious, allowed the worship of other gods in Judah; some even encouraged this practice. Such behavior was a breach of the covenant that God had made with the descendants of Abraham and Sarah. As the prophet Isaiah observed the people’s unfaithfulness and the desecration of the Temple, he shared God’s disappointment and anger. It seemed that there was no hope, that the Temple was doomed to be controlled by foreign influences. As the capital city, Jerusalem was the place where decisions were made that affected the lives of all the citizens of Judah. The current economic situation was also contrary to God’s desires for God’s people. The rich were getting richer off the sufferings of the poor. Whereas Solomon had envisioned the Temple and Jerusalem as shining ideals of all that Israel’s God wanted (I Kgs 8), the center of Judah’s worship and political power was a seat of corruption.In this scene of despair, Isaiah dared to speak a word of hope and encouragement. There would come a day when “the mountain of the LORD” would once again be a beacon of justice and peace. Instead of oppressive decrees coming from Jerusalem, God’s commandments would be proclaimed. The city would be an example of what the LORD envisioned for all of creation: shalom (wholeness). So amazing was this prophetic vision that Isaiah’s words suggested the impossible; God would do something that was beyond human imagination. Justice would reign for all people (v 4a). Weapons of destruction would be converted into tools of production (v 4b). Peace would settle over the nations, and all would live in harmony (v 4c).As we move through the 2024 Advent season, can these words offer us hope? Do we not need an assurance that the current situation (e.g., high unemployment, economic instability, wars, and rumors of wars, etc.) is not the final word nor God’s desires? What can we do to help further God’s desires for the world to become a place filled with justice, peace, and wholeness? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pause in JoyNehemiah 8:9-10I wonder what would happen if we set aside a day—stopped for a moment —paused to take a few cleansing breaths today to rest in the joy of the Lord? What if we lingered for a while to enjoy the moment, to eat good food, to sip our favorite drink, to take some time to take care of each other?What if that is the strength we need to get beyond this present moment? To be fulfilled, to be watered, to be nourished and refreshed together? To be buoyed, to be uplifted, to be sustained for the journey ahead? What if we tarried for a little while longer and clung to the words of Qoheleth that there is a time for everything under the sun? Nehemiah didn’t say that there wasn’t anything to mourn about. He didn’t say don’t ever mourn or grieve. He didn’t scold them or gaslight them into believing there was not good reason to weep and grieve for many things that they had lost. There was probably much that they heard in the words of the Law that they didn’t see in their community, their world, or within themselves. But that was not the day to mourn or weep. There may be some that are in despair with the results of recent elections. Some may be disappointed that life’s circumstances didn’t turn out as you had hoped. Some are disheartened because the world continues to be divided, disparate, despondent, and in seemingly utter disrepair.There will certainly come a time to mourn for all that we have lost. But that’s not today. What brings you joy today? Pursue it. Cultivate it today. Maybe God is calling us today to pause for a moment of joy and celebration as we remember where our strength really comes from.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.