Luke 1:26-45 – The Advent of LOVE

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Luke 1:26-45 – The Advent of LOVE

Today’s Advent theme is love, and trust is certainly a huge part of any loving relationship. Through love, trust is able to overcome fear. Mary was too young, and Elizabeth was too old to birth new life. Yet, as an expression of their love for God, they both trusted God’s leading, miracles occurred, and their lives – and the world – were forever changed.

God called Elizabeth and Mary into co-creating the future. Of all the people alive, the Creator of the Universe said, “I want YOU, I pick YOU to help me do something new that will play a pivotal role in changing the world.” God calls out to us, today, in the same way.

During this Advent season, let us all follow Elizabeth and Mary, letting our love of God lead us into trusting God even more as we work with God and with each other to nurture what we already have while we seek new ways to birth the Kingdom of God into our community.

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Luke 1:57-80 – The Advent of PEACE, Shalom

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Luke 1:57-80 – The Advent of PEACE, Shalom

Christmas is truly the season of looking forward to new additions to our lives that arrive as unearned gifts from others. In a nation torn apart by politics, in a community still staggering from the blows of economic challenges and wildfire recovery, in a culture that tells us we always need to have more and be more... Peace, Shalom, may be the greatest gift of all this year.

Remember, the word peace we’re using today is our translation of the Hebrew word Shalom – a word that includes the concepts of being in a state of wholeness, completeness in our relationships with God, with ourselves, and with each other. This is far deeper, far more encompassing than “have a nice day.”

Thankfully, God offers us a never-ending supply of peace, shalom, if we simply accept and participate in that gift of peace. Every day, we have opportunities to re-gift that shalom to others so they can benefit as well. During this Christmas / Advent season, I encourage you to gift and re-gift shalom freely and with wild abandon... to yourself, your families, your coworkers, your classmates, and anyone else you meet.

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