Monday, December 1, 2014
Advent Reflections
Diocese of Newark


Thank you for joining us as we begin the journey of Advent.  Each day you will receive a scripture reading, a reflection on that reading and a short prayer (except on Sundays when you will receive the Gospel lesson and a prayer).  The word "Advent" means "coming". It is a time to slow down, be quiet and meditate about the real meaning of Christmas.
  
These meditations and prayers have been prepared by a team of diverse members of our Diocese.  Joan Chittister, says: "The function of Advent is to remind us what we're waiting for as we go through life too busy with things that do not matter to remember the things that do. Advent asks the question, what is it for which you are spending your life?"
  
We all desperately crave more meaningful, less cluttered, lives, yet we rarely take the time to slow down and ask this question. The hope is that these reflections each day during the four weeks before Christmas will help us to prepare our hearts and our lives as we wait for the coming of Jesus.

May this Advent be a time of hope, anticipation and a deepening of our relationship with God. Please feel free to share.
                                                          Scripture
 

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated Anointed*). He brought Simon* to Jesus, who looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas' (which is translated Peter*).

  

John 1:35-42
Reflection
 

"What are you looking for?" Jesus asks the two disciples of John who were following him.

 

What are we looking for?

 

What are we looking for this Advent?

 

Are we looking for peace? For security? For goals? For answers?

 

What are we looking for when we come to church?

 

What are we looking for in our relationship with God?

 

What are YOU looking for?

 
Prayer
 

O God, from whom all good proceeds; Grant that by your inspiration

we may think those things that are right,

and by your merciful guiding may do them;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

 

                                                                     Collect for Proper 5, page 229, Book of Common Prayer

 

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