Sing a New Song

Advent Day 24

Fourth Tuesday in Advent

December 20, 2011

Reading: Psalm 33:2–4 (NRSV)

²Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

³Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Theme: Sing a New Song

Reflection:

Some of you know that my husband John is a Christmas music aficionado. He has been collecting for years, and now having an iPod and access to iTunes has given him totally new opportunities to acquire different renditions of Christmas carols. We usually play Christmas music in our house from the time Thanksgiving is over, throughout December and the entire Christmas season, until Epiphany. Even though we play Christmas music frequently during the season, each late November, the music is NEW again. Because we play this music for only a short season each year, it is special music that somehow helps to create the aura of Christmas.

It is hard for me to think of Advent without thinking of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Messiah.” There are certain German Christmas carols that just mean Christmas to me. I find it nearly impossible to sing “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming” in English. When the music is played, I revert to German, and suddenly in my mind, I am standing next to my grandmother in the church of my childhood.

Music has the power to evoke powerful memories and thoughts in each of us. For people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, music is often their last contact with their memories. People who don’t recognize their relatives may be able to sing “Silent Night.”

Music is an important component of devotion and worship. It is a means of giving praise to God. In addition, words set to music have a way of enhancing the meaning of Biblical texts that surpasses mere oral reading of the passage.

We are in that transition time from Advent to Christmas. Savor these days and enjoy the music of the season (preferably not “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer”). Let music be a form of worship and praise to God for you in these busy days. Sing along with the radio, your iPod, or whatever musical device you use. Give praise to God with the CD, iPod, iTunes, iSymphony or even your low tech voice! Make a joyful noise to the Lord. “Soon and Very Soon, we are going to see the Lord!”

Prayer: God of Glory, lift our spirits with song and help us to give praise to you with whatever musical instruments and devices are available to us. Amen

Devotion for the Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Advent

Theme for the week: peace

Devotion for the wednesday of the fourth Week in Advent (Day 25)

Reading: Luke 19:28–38 (NRSV)

²⁸ After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” ³² So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” ³⁴ They said, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. ³⁷ As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, ³⁸ saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

REFLECTION:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” These words spoken by the disciples in the last week of Jesus’ life have some echoes of the words spoken by the angel, who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14) Both cries praise God and give glory in heaven.

The disciples’ cry in this later text from Luke calls for peace in heaven, as if they realize that these last weeks of Jesus’ earthly life are not going to be very peaceful. In contrast, at Jesus’ birth the angel declares earthly peace among those whom the Messiah favors. While we live here on earth, we pray for the fulfillment of the angel’s words: “on earth, peace among those whom he favors.” We pray that we might experience global peace in our lifetimes. We pray that our human homes might be peaceable places, free from strife and anger.

Yet, even in the midst of wars and conflict on earth, all who are baptized and believe have the everlasting hope of peace in our new lives in heaven. This new beginning will be a time for us when earthly strife and conflict are no more, when there will be no more wars and no more tears.

In this Advent season, we pray for our Lord Jesus Christ to stir up his power and come. Come and bring that time of heavenly peace into our lives today.

PRAYER:

Come Lord Jesus Come. Bring your peace, the peace that only you can give, the peace that passes all understanding. Bring your peace into our world today. Amen