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Thursday, December 6, 2018
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A Song of Hope and Thanksgiving
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68
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69
He has raised up a mighty savior for us
in the house of his servant David,
70
as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,
and has remembered his holy covenant,
73
the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us
74
that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75
in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
by the forgiveness of their sins.
78
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:68-79
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We live in a pleasant neighborhood, and my kids attend a good elementary school. Yet many of the other students my kids encounter at school experience challenges beyond my kids' comprehension. There are children who don't have shoes that fit, who don't have nutritious food at home, who have lost parents to crime, alcohol, and drugs. Some days it is hard not to despair.
Yet we have hope. My kids don't just want to know why their classmates aren't as privileged as we are - they also want to know who can help them. Our school has shelves of donated shoes for children who are in need. Some students receive backpacks filled with food each week to provide for their families. Teachers and staff ensure they are meeting not just students' educational needs but also their physical and emotional needs. We can serve one another. We can provide hope for one another.
Zechariah sings a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for delivering his people from their enemies as He promised. The Jewish people had hope and faith that God would provide for them. Zechariah's own son John would go on to baptize the one they were waiting for, the Messiah. During Advent we, too, sing joyful songs while we wait for the Savior's birth.
My son wonders what happens at Christmastime in households that don't have enough money to cover basic necessities - do the kids not receive toys or gifts of any kind? We can reassure him that through programs like Adopt-a-Family, those of us who are able can make sure that those children do have gifts to open and a reason to look forward to Christmas morning. While we are thankful for all that we have, we can share with others. We hope, we serve, we rejoice.
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Prayer:
Our Father in Heaven, help us to find ways this Advent Season
to lead others to the hope that is in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Advent Kindness Calendar on Thursday, December 6, 2018
Give thanks! Hand write three thank you notes to people who have touched your life in small, yet meaningful ways.
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If you would like to invite a friend or family member to receive Epiphany's Daily Advent Devotions via email, forward this email and have them
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