Anglican Mainstream

Advent Reflections from Fr Kevin Francis Donlon, Church of the Resurrection, Tampa

First Sunday of Advent

 
First Sunday of Advent

The lessons appointed for today set the a firm foundation for the Advent journey reminding us that as Christians take, attentive to the truths of  Holy Scripture that there are signs that clearly point to the redemption that is of the Messiah we are reminded again that he is to come again to the present in the world today in great glory and that which is old and regarded of value ( such as the Temple) will pass away. While these themes seem unusual amidst the consumer culture of Happy Holidays, the themes of Advent invite us into a different narrative about who we are than that of consumer culture's version which ranges from shopping holiday parties and artificial memories and meaning provided by good for a price. Today on Advent I we are reminded that lives can change dramatically indeed is we can be reconciled to disconnect between God's promise of life for us and the mess we have made of life given. That is why today begins with the challenges for us to join God's desire to make all things new.

PRAYER: Gracious  God, we pray you this day increase our desire of will to seek Christ first inthis Holy Season being ever open to the manifest destiny he has for each of us to be made new and in turn be instruments of grace to make the things of this world a new. We ask this in the name of the One lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.

Activity – Let Advent into your home. It's not too late to start an Advent observance. Create or buy an Advent wreath, Advent calendar or Jesse tree today. Let your creation remind you daily that we are waiting for Christ to come.

Ancient Wisdom/Present Grace: “Since God willed that the Word should be made flesh and born a human, how then I ask you should not the Word of God himself be able to make Bread become the Body of Christ?”- St. Ephraem, 4^th Century Sermon I, On the Most Holy Sacraments

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