Reflections for Sunday, December 17 – Advent 3 – Joy
1st Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & Song of Mary (VU p.898)
Reflection:
The prophet Isaiah said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…” Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when Mary greeted her, and she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Whether we know it or not, we, like these figures from our Bible stories, are all accompanied on our life journeys by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the Living God.
Like the prophet, and like Elizabeth, and like Mary, mother of Jesus, we all have our part to play in this great drama of the evolution of human consciousness. And, of course, we can refuse to listen to the voice of Spirit, we can refuse our call, or in great ignorance, not even know about such things. Elizabeth could just have had her strange, wild, and unkempt son and thought him crazy or possessed. Isaiah could have dismissed his inner knowing of God’s will for his people as crazy dreams that could get him killed or worse. Mary could have buried herself in shame at being pregnant out of wedlock, instead of respecting her inner knowing that her child was very special and had a mission to save humanity from its own inner darkness.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all these players and many more for the work they did, the sacrifices they made to make manifest – to reveal - God’s presence and purpose here on earth.
The Divine Purpose is made known to us through the bodies, minds, and words of human beings just like ourselves. We are the instruments of the Good. We are beings of the Light – inspired by Jesus the Christ, guided by the Spirit of God within us.
BUT WE NEED TO BE AWAKE AND AWARE – WE NEED TO LISTEN – WE MUST BE WILLING TO RESPOND as Mary did, with courage and respect for what is right and what is good. What is the right thing to do in this case? What is God calling me to do or be in this moment?
Hymn #16 VU “Mary, Woman of the Promise”
2nd Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 & John 1:6-8, 19-28
Reflection:
Hymn #157 MV “I Am a Child of God”
1st Scripture Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & Song of Mary (VU p.898)
Reflection:
The prophet Isaiah said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…” Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit when Mary greeted her, and she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”
Whether we know it or not, we, like these figures from our Bible stories, are all accompanied on our life journeys by the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the Living God.
Like the prophet, and like Elizabeth, and like Mary, mother of Jesus, we all have our part to play in this great drama of the evolution of human consciousness. And, of course, we can refuse to listen to the voice of Spirit, we can refuse our call, or in great ignorance, not even know about such things. Elizabeth could just have had her strange, wild, and unkempt son and thought him crazy or possessed. Isaiah could have dismissed his inner knowing of God’s will for his people as crazy dreams that could get him killed or worse. Mary could have buried herself in shame at being pregnant out of wedlock, instead of respecting her inner knowing that her child was very special and had a mission to save humanity from its own inner darkness.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all these players and many more for the work they did, the sacrifices they made to make manifest – to reveal - God’s presence and purpose here on earth.
The Divine Purpose is made known to us through the bodies, minds, and words of human beings just like ourselves. We are the instruments of the Good. We are beings of the Light – inspired by Jesus the Christ, guided by the Spirit of God within us.
BUT WE NEED TO BE AWAKE AND AWARE – WE NEED TO LISTEN – WE MUST BE WILLING TO RESPOND as Mary did, with courage and respect for what is right and what is good. What is the right thing to do in this case? What is God calling me to do or be in this moment?
Hymn #16 VU “Mary, Woman of the Promise”
2nd Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 & John 1:6-8, 19-28
Reflection:
Hymn #157 MV “I Am a Child of God”
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