Advent Reflection

by Pastor Kristine

O come, o come, Emmanuel, God-with-us.
Come to us in our exile from your reign of peace.
Come to us and remind us that your love is more powerful than the evil we see around us.
Come to us and fill our hearts with hope that the world can change.
Come to us and love us into becoming agents of your healing power.

The cry of Advent is the longing of the people for God’s promised reign of peace. For a world without violence, without fear, without hunger or thirst or disease or pain. This year has felt particularly challenging as the arc of the universe has seemed to bend away from justice in so many ways. We cry out to God to come, be with us in ways we can feel and see and hear and touch.

Come wrap us in your loving arms and don’t let go.
Comfort us until we stop trembling.
Console us who mourn.
Wipe our tears.
And then help us rise to do that for others who do not feel, for whatever reason, that they can turn to you.

Help us embrace each other as kin.
Help us bring comfort to those who tremble.
Help us be consolers, reconcilers, repairers.
Help us light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, not just in church, but everywhere we go.