Christ is Coming...to bring Love

 

I would like to begin today’s devotion with probably the most well-known Bible verse,

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

Yes, God gave us Jesus, each one of us, out of an incredible selfless act of love…I would like to suggest that we meditate and chew on that for a little more than a moment.

Too often we drift through Advent somewhat anesthetized, setting our sights more on Christmas day and getting caught up in the bustle of pre-Christmas shopping, preparing only for that day of celebration rather than the preparation for which Advent is purposed.

The Season of Advent, the time between All Saints’ Day and Christmas Eve, does not simply mark the run-up to Christmas Day, it is the time between the times when we expectantly wait in hope for the promised return of our Lord Jesus, who came, who comes, and who will come again.

Okay, I know that you must be wondering “Why bring this up now? Advent is long gone, and Christmas done.” But why not now?

The season of Advent is two-fold. It is a looking forward to Jesus’ second coming and a looking back to the incarnation.

Cyril of Jerusalem, a theologian of the early church stated,

“There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a virgin at the fullness of time…a hidden coming and a coming…before all eyes, in the future.”

Luke, in the very first chapter of his gospel, tells us that God Himself is about to enter this world and sends a heavenly messenger to an obscure young woman, a virgin, to inform her that she has been chosen to bear a child, God’s own child. But not just the Son of God but God Himself.  

Upon hearing this incredible message, Mary exhibits expressions of shock, awe, wonder, gratitude, and great resolve as she allows what is to happen with her, in her, to her, and through her to sink in and digest.

Mary knew that the one who called her is faithful so, notwithstanding the disagreeable reality she would more than likely face as a pregnant virgin, Mary does not hesitate to respond affirmatively. Her hastiness borne out of obedience to God’s eternal plan, not obedience rooted in fear, but obedience deeply rooted in love.

Now completely focused on God, and in anticipation of this unimaginable miracle to be wrought through her womb, Mary, her mouth, filled with laughter and her tongue with shouts of joy, rejoices and celebrates by blessing Him.

Unable to contain the spirit of praise that sprung up within her, Mary burst into song, as recorded in Luke 1:46-55. As it is written,

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Her song of praise is a song of love to the Lord, her yet unborn child, the child to come, Jesus. A song that not only speaks of her intimate knowledge of the Scriptures, but also her faith in, devotion to, and love of, God.

Seen as no one special in her own eyes, for God to use her to bring the greatest gift to humankind, was worthy of her praise. It was all about God, not about her, for there is no room for pride in authentic love, no room for despair, only praise.

Love is the unbroken thread woven through every stanza of Mary’s heartfelt song of praise to the God whom she knew and from whom she found favour. Her song is evidence that she embraced the remarkable responsibility of birthing the impossible, God’s love personified.

Christ, left us so many practical examples of His love, through kindness, serving others, forgiveness, but nothing reveals God’s love more fully than the giving of Himself in sacrifice.

Cerro San Cristóbal Santiago Chile

Yes, the Season of Advent is long gone, Christmastime is over, even Epiphany has passed and though we are now in the Season of Ordinary Time, beloveds, times aren’t ordinary so let us recall Jesus’ first coming in anticipation of His second. Let us, like Mary, relinquish our own desires, and allow God to draw us more deeply into the love that the incarnation reveals, with the blessed assurance that just as Christ came in love the first time, undoubtedly Christ is coming to bring love the second time in the consummation of all things, His final victorious act of Love...

Let us pray,

God of extravagant, persistent, unbounded sacrificial love, in this season of so-called Ordinary Time, teach us to give ourselves in joyful service, renew our spirits and strengthen our confidence in You, so that we may truly learn to walk in self-giving love.

May we strive to live as an Advent people, cantered on the wonder of incarnation, on the hope of Christ coming, stretched to deeper faith, to higher hope, and to broader love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

Shelley Johnson “Christ is coming…To Bring Love” © November 3, 2021