We experience a glorious break this week. Prayers for safe travels and good interactions with family and friends. Allow me to offer a devotional thought on the texts for this week.

The texts from the Revised Common Lectionary for this week:

Isaiah 2:1–5 – the mountain of the LORD’s house. no more war.

Psalm 122 – pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Romans 13:11–14 – wake up and walk in the light

Matthew 24:36–44 – stay awake for the Son of Man is coming

Happy New Year! This week marks the beginning of the new liturgical year. We cycle back to Year A in the Revised Common Lectionary. That means we will be anchoring our Gospel readings in Matthew all year (with a healthy sprinkling of John, of course).

The new year begins with the season of Advent. These four weeks invite us into a season of waiting. We look to the horizon in anticipation of the coming Messiah. Our longing takes on many layers. First, we look back to the days of the Hebrew prophets who stood in the time of the Exile and restoration of Jerusalem. They had experienced the great darkness of the Babylonian oppression and were longing for the coming Messiah who would establish the city of peace–Jerusalem–and draw all nations together. Second, as Christians, we stand in our present moment, acknowledging that the Messiah has come in Jesus Christ, and yet the reign of peace has not been fully realized.

Advent 1 begins the journey with the words of both Paul and Jesus to “wake up and stay awake.” It is easy to become weary in a world that does not seem to match the vision of God’s preferred and promised future. We look to the light on the horizon. We look to the day when the words of Isaiah will come true and the nations shall not learn war any more.

We are also reminded that our waiting is not passivity. We are invited to participate in the work of bringing this peace into being. Paul invites us to walk in the light. Jesus’ disciples are called to be peacemakers by embodying the love of God as Jesus modeled it for us.

Don’t lose hope. Stay awake. Walk in the light of the coming dawn.

Find everything at artpastor.com/advent.

The livestream sessions will be multicast to Facebook and YouTube.

Also, don’t forget to download your FREE Virtual Advent Wreath. May this FREE gifthelp you be filled with hope this Advent season.

Have a great week everyone!