I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations… “

(Isaiah 42:6)

Food For Thought:

The Parable of the Shovel on the Back Porch

Get ready; the Kingdom of God is near! Be like the homeowner who puts a shovel outside the backdoor of the house before the first snowfall. Although there were leaves still upon the trees in the backyard, she wanted to be prepared for the inevitable arrival of winter. One night, the snow arrived with a fury. In the morning, a blanket of snow covered everything in sight. After admiring its beauty, the homeowner reached for the shovel that was just outside the door. With it, she shoveled a path through the deep snow on the back deck to the corner of the yard. Her small puppy was grateful.

PRAYER:

Light a candle (or three candles on your Advent wreath), take a deep breath, and pray…

O Come Healing Light and shine into our broken bodies. Darkness deceives me. Instead of trusting the identity of being your child, I flounder in my weakness, limitations, and grief. I find myself seeking solutions and paths that do not rest in your love. Shine into the shadows of this life. Push back the curtain of despair and death that hides me from your presence. Give me new courage to face darkness without fear, trusting in your eternal love. Through the Resurrected Body of Christ, Amen.