Wednesday, December 3, 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

 

When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.


 

So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth.Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The emperor's." He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.


Luke 20:19-26 

Reflection
  
 


 

But I thought everything belonged to God?  How can we give to the emperor what is the emperor's, when everything belongs to God? 


 

I know that Jesus gave this answer because he knew the questioners were trying to trap him.  And a good answer it was.  Nevertheless, I think that the answer points to the fact that we as Christians can't divorce ourselves from the society around us. We can fear God and honor the authorities and society at the same time.  For me, for Advent, that means that we can respect the emperor by enjoying the sentimental, secular aspects of the holidays without losing 'reason for the season'.  We can be attentive and vigilant and watchful as we enjoy parties and concerts and sentimental movies and not feel badly because we've wished someone a Merry Christmas before December 25th.  

 

 

Prayer
 

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, 

but to love things heavenly; and even now,

 while we are placed among things that are passing away, 

to hold fast to those that shall endure; 

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 20, p. 234, Book of Common Prayer

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