We have been walking together through Advent looking for signs of the season. We began with looking for signs of hope and saw them in the first signs that often signal Christmas is coming – Christmas trees, nativities, Advent candles. These are signs of hope because they point to a better time that is coming. Despite the dumpster fire of our lives, the Christ Child is coming to bring gifts that sustain us through the flames, the smoke, and the smoldering ash.

We looked and listened for signs of peace – signs of baptism and forgiveness – that settle our restless hearts, calm our fearful hearts, and release the guilt or anxiety that often arises within us. We heard these signs through silence, conversations with family and friends, and even in the ra pa pa rum of Christmas music.

We looked for signs of joy, which meant we often tasted joy, in the special foods and flavors that only come out at Christmas time: The egg nog, the monkey bread, and peppermint treats. These foods and flavors are shared over meals together with family and friends who are family, and they were no less holy than gathering around the communion table.

We looked for signs of love and how we can fully embrace the Christ child just as he was embraced in Mary’s arms and Simeon’s arms when Jesus was presented at the Temple. Our search for these signs continues into the new year. Looking for love around us is not only found during Advent or Christmas, but it makes this season sweeter when we do find it. Often, our lives get more chaotic and stressful that it is hard to experience these signs of the season.

Within the tangled mess of our lives, there is hope, peace, joy, and love coming to us on Christmas. When we open our hearts to receive these gifts that only the Christ Child can bring, then we have arrived at Christmas. We hold on to hope that our lives and our world won’t always be a dumpster fire. We cling to words of peace when it would be so easy to cut someone down with angered words. We intentionally release our sadness and pain to make room for joy that is waiting for us. We love period. We love like people who haven’t been hurt, who aren’t bitter or resentful, who aren’t skeptical. We love because this IS what the Christ child is. A big bundle of love.

God joined us in our humanity out of love. God continues to join us in our lives out of love. Even when we aren’t ready to receive it, even when we flat out reject it, God is waiting in the wings until we are ready, because of love. This love never gives up on us. This love is not pushy. Sometimes we need to learn how bad we need it. This love is not condemning. Sometimes we have to learn the condemnation actually comes from us, not God. This love may seem subtle. Sometimes it takes time to grow. It often takes our whole lives to truly grow into the kind of love that was born this night.

The true sign of the season is Jesus. This season is all about Jesus and how he is immersed in every detail, every song, every decoration, every dessert, every gathering. Even the gatherings that include cross words or disagreements, Jesus is there, eager to bring healing, to the pain that caused them. Jesus is there amidst the difficult conversations…that’s why they are often called “coming to Jesus moments.”

Let us have a “coming to Jesus moment” this Christmas, where we realize and recognize that Jesus has been with us through the whole season. We may have not seen him or felt him, but Jesus has been there the whole time. Jesus is here, right now, just waiting for us to open our hearts to receive all that Jesus brings.
​
Just like the hope he brought to the world on the first Christmas, he continues to bring hope to hopeless situations. Just like on the first Christmas, he continues to bring moments of peace when the world is still and we are in sync with God. Just like on the first Christmas, joy breaks out in a baby’s cry and the world was never the same. Just like on the first Christmas, love could not be contained. It could not be neat and tidy and arrive on schedule. It came at the worst possible time into a messy world because that is exactly what they needed then, and what we need now.

We need a God who meets us in our caves with smelly animals and gives us a love that cannot be found anywhere else. This love has arrived. This love is here for all of us. Let it be born within us and may our lives be forever changed.        

For this fourth week of Advent that begins on Sunday, December 24, the scripture is Luke 1:26-38. As you read the scripture, look for signs of love. What word, phrase, or image represents a sign of love to you?

Luke 1:26-38[i]26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 
28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 
36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
​Then the angel departed from her.
 
Reflection Question:
Where did you see signs of love? There are no right or wrong answers.

Action: Explore, perhaps in a journal, why this word, phrase, or image is a sign of love for you.
Action: Show someone love this week.  


[i]New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

For this third week of Advent that begins on Sunday, December 17, the scripture is John 1:6-8; 19-28. As you read the scripture, look for signs of joy. What word, phrase, or image represents a sign of joy to you?

John 1:6-8; 19-28[i]6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ ” as the prophet Isaiah said.
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Reflection Question:
Where did you see signs of joy? There are no right or wrong answers.

Action: Explore, perhaps in a journal, why this word, phrase, or image is a sign of joy for you.
Action: Bring joy to someone this week.  

[i]New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

If you missed last week’s blog, please read the intro below first, which explains what this blog will be doing during Advent.

​For this second week of Advent that begins on Sunday, December 10, the scripture is Mark 1:1-8. As you read the scripture, look for signs of peace. What word, phrase, or image represents a sign of peace to you?

Mark 1: 1-8[i]The Proclamation of John the Baptist1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.
2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight,’ ”
4 so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Reflection Question:
Where did you see signs of peace? There are no right or wrong answers.

Action: Explore, perhaps in a journal, why this word, phrase, or image is a sign of peace for you.
Action: Be a sign of peace for someone this week.  


[i]New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.