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FOR WEDNESDAY, ADVENT I
“What was the best part of waiting?” by Haden Tirey, St. John's, Monroeville
When I was a child, we were not allowed to come downstairs on Christmas morning until 6am. There were five of us kids, and we were ALWAYS up (on Christmas morning) before 6am. We would line up on the stairs – the oldest (Anna Leigh) at the top to the youngest (Emily) at the bottom. I was in the middle. Then – we waited. And waited. While we were there we’d talk about what we hoped Santa was bringing this year. I can almost hear my young voice yearning for a new doll (possible) or bike (doubtful). All of us were hopeful – Santa knew what we wanted, but he also knew what we needed. Socks. Underwear. Pantyhose for my sisters. Ugh. So unexciting. But – the hope was thick on the staircase. Our wants AND needs were bubbling up inside us, and it was so hard to be still! United in our waiting, the joy and excitement were spilling out into excited laughter and feet that were dancing! Today, I can’t tell you what I got from Santa most Christmases. What I remember the most is the love between us and the joy of being together on that staircase, dancing with anticipation as we waited.
The birth of our Lord is coming soon! So soon! Is the excitement bubbling up inside of you? Are your feet dancing in anticipation of this amazing gift? 6am is fast approaching and all that you could ever hope for or imagine is just around the corner. Jesus knows what we yearn for AND what we need. Get excited, people!!
Reading for the week: Psalm 13
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain[a] in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Collect for the week:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Join us this Advent as we explore what it’s like to wait! We will be offering a collection of daily questions and reflections inviting us to consider what we experience and learn in our waiting, and how we find God - and God finds us - in our waiting.
Each Sunday a brief video will be shared on Facebook and Instagram to introduce us to a focus and reflection for the week. Each day a question will be posted for us to ponder. You are invited to share your own reflections by replying to these posts or reposting on your personal social media. Please follow and use #diocgcwaits. Be sure to follow our diocesan social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram; search: DioCGC.