Oh my! Can you believe it is December already? I told my mom in October that we were going to slow down and enjoy the holidays. I don’t know where the last month went.
This week I am in Tampa at our Annual Joint Conference. I have been very nervous about this week because of all the political ugliness surrounding school boards these days. I told Lee before I left that I was really looking forward to being home late Friday. That reminded me of the Advent reading from this past Sunday.
Week 1: November 28, 2021
TIME TO GO HOME
Jeremiah 33:14-16 & Luke 21:25-36
Reader One: We have endured these past few years and know that there is more to face before us. We don’t know if we have the strength to withstand what might be around the next corner. And we wonder who will stand with us, who will have our back, who will occupy our corner.
Reader Two: Who is with us? That is what we begin to wonder these days. Who will light our way and chart our course? Who is on our side, who will welcome us home again?
Reader One: Home. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a branch that will be raised. Jesus spoke of a Son of Man that will descend. Both point to a hope. A hope that calls us home. Our true home, where we’re welcomed and loved and included. Where there is justice and equality and peace. It’s time, this Advent season, time to go home.
Reader Two: We light this candle, as a sign of our hope, our strong hope that there is a way to go home. To the home in Christ, and it starts with us, and it starts here, and it starts now. It’s time to go home.
No matter what, Christ has our back and is in our corner. Just as I am looking forward to being home Friday because I know it is a safe place, we too must be looking to “go home” to heaven where we are safe and loved. That is our Hope.
The song mom and I sang Sunday was called, “Hope is Born Again.” My favorite words are:
“Lift your voices high and sing, Grace has entered in. Celebrate the joyful news, Hope is born again.”
We have hope because Grace entered in. (I can hear Bill Mercado saying, “Thank you, Lord!)
We have Hope. We will go home to heaven because of God’s AMAZING GRACE!
Shine, Shine, Shine! And because of the Christmas Season, add a little sparkle.
See you, Sunday!