Devotion for the Tuesday of the First Week in Advent

THEME FOR THE WEEK: HOPE

Devotion for the Tuesday of the First Week in Advent

READING: Romans 12:1–2, 9-12 (NRSV)

¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. ⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

REFLECTION:

The world sets many expectations for us—many of which may not match our own priorities and some of which simply may not be good for us. Our families set expectations, our friends have expectations, and yes, even the church sets expectations for us.

In this Advent season, which is also culturally the “Christmas Season”, we are tempted to try to live up to the expectations of others. We may have more invitations than we know what to do with. We may be expected to be happy and festive, when perhaps we have reasons for not feeling particularly festive. We may be tempted to BUY, BUY, BUY because billions of dollars are being spent to encourage us to consume endlessly, but also because we might feel that we have to meet the expectations of family and friends.

Some of expectations thrust upon us may actually be good for us. If we are feeling lonely, the encouragement to socialize may benefit us. Others of these expectations can be damaging to our fiscal and family well-being and may place inordinate pressure on us. The pressure to consume can cause us to be discontented and can distract our attention from the Advent Journey of prayer, reflection and focus on Christ’s coming.

Paul, in this letter to the Romans encourages us not to be conformed to this world, but transformed in ways that make our lives in sync with what God would want for us. Time spent in prayer and reflection is a good way to give God space to transform our lives and give us resistance to the expectations of others. Time spent is prayer opens us to the hope in Christ and enables us to rejoice in that hope.

PRAYER:

May your Advent time spent with God strengthen you, transform you and enable you to rejoice in hope. Amen