Day 15 of our 2018 Advent Contemplations.
Welcome to the Blue Ocean Advent devotional podcast. This is Day fifteen: Sunday, Dec. 16. I’m Emily, and I’ll be your guide today.
Let’s start with a moment of gratitude. I’ll give you 20 seconds of silence to think about something you’re thankful for, and to thank God for it. Let’s begin now.
[20 seconds of silence]
Now we’ll move on to our petitionary prayer. Today we’ll pray that God’s joy will be present in our relationships—especially those closest and most precious to us. Let’s take 20 seconds of silence to pray.
[20 seconds of silence]
Our Scripture reading today comes from Luke 1:39-56. During the third week of Advent we focus on cultivating joy—remembering that we are surrounded by fellow travelers, trusting in God’s Love. Let’s listen for this in the gospel.
It begins:
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
And Mary sang:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be mercifulto Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
We’ll close today by meditating on John 16:20, which says:
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
Take a few moments now to meditate on what it might look like for grief to turn to joy.
Our Concluding Prayer:
Creator, almighty and everlasting, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus my Lord. Amen