Scripture Focus: Revelation 11:5-6
 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Reflection: Peace from Strife — Peace of Advent
By Erin Newton

The Old Testament is one crisis after another. Strife, misery, injustice, bondage, warfare, exile. We watch as the prophets plead with the people to turn their hearts to truth. Jerusalem is destroyed. The prophets weep for the destruction of their beloved home. As the Old Testament closes, there are promises that a greater Redeemer is coming.

Historically, the New Testament opens during the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace. After years of warfare, the Roman Empire entered a period of relative political peace. Israel had endured the pains from the previous wars including the Exile. They were not free from Roman rule, and they were still bound by Roman laws.

The Jews had been longing for their Redeemer, expectantly waiting for the one who would save them. It’s easy to see that they wanted a mighty warrior. They wanted someone like the two witnesses in Revelation 11: breathing fire, commanding the rains, and bringing plagues to their enemies.

The tension that builds from the Old Testament to the Advent of Jesus feels like jumping off a cliff overlooking pristine water. As momentum builds there is the final deep breath before the plunge. There is the expectation of something great, something grand, something epic! The Redeemer will come with swords and fire and plagues!

But you turn the page and find a baby. Small and defenseless. His image is the unexpected figure of a redeemer. The conquering king is a nursing infant born to insignificant parents. The God who fights our battles came in the form of a helpless child.

When you are constantly on edge from conflict, it is easy to expect the answer to your crisis will come in the form of a fight. The Jews naturally expected a heroic giant-killing descendant of David to rescue them. We, too, want a warrior instead of a boy. We would rather have a charming orator than a cooing babe. We want a cunning general instead of a feeble child.

Peace that comes with the birth of Christ is peace from strife.  Peace which lets go of the desire to conquer those we hate. Peace which does not hope to see the downfall of our enemies. 
 Peace which does not try to wage war on anyone different.

If we are to become like Christ we must be as he was. We must embrace the form of a meek and mild baby and be at peace from strife.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. — Psalm 31.24

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 24 (Listen – 5:07)
Revelation 11 (Listen – 3:24)

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Scripture Focus: Revelation 7.15-17
Therefore, “they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

From John: What passes for “joy” in our culture is so far short of true joy. This lightly rewritten post from 2019 contrasts cultural definitions of joy with the true joy in Christ that we celebrate in Advent.

Reflection: Saccharine Joy — Joy of Advent
By John Tillman

Our culture uses the word “joy,” but we do not know what it means.

Ecstasy is our culture’s go-to joy substitute. We pursue sexual ecstasy as if it was the most valuable thing in the world. Drug companies and entertainment companies are monetizing sex while younger generations are having less and less of it. Entire industries are built around sex, including entertainment, fashion, and abortion. Everything from children’s clothing to cars, to mobile devices are sexualized in their marketing and in their design. Those who are not pursuing and experiencing extravagant sex lives are portrayed consistently with pity as if they have nothing to live for.

Luxury is another shallow joy substitute to which our culture is addicted. Whether luxury foods, such as the gold-infused world’s most expensive tacos, or more attainable luxuries such as exclusive restaurants, wines, or luxury cars, we consistently conflate the finer things of life with being joy-filled. We continue to do this despite messages in popular culture, including perennial favorites, A Christmas Carol and It’s A Wonderful Life, which tell us that money can’t buy happiness. The Bible goes further. It tells us that riches are not only meaningless but a spiritual danger, making it more difficult to enter the kingdom of God.

Saccharine substitutes for the true sweetness of joy are worse than artificial sweeteners in our food. Artificial sweeteners don’t destroy our ability to taste sugar or honey, but our addiction to ecstasy and luxury makes us insensitive to and unsatisfied by true joy.

If modern joy substitute addicts followed the shepherds to Christ’s manger they would likely be unimpressed and confused. Joy in poverty? Joy in virginity? Joy in anonymity? Yes.

On the other hand, John’s throne room vision of the future is appealingly luxurious. But the joys of the saints in eternity come not from the throne room, but from the manger—and the cross.

To see the joy the shepherds saw and celebrated, we need to lose the lenses of luxury and ecstasy and look on the manger with new eyes. 

In the darkness of Advent, we await the joy of good news. May we recognize and proclaim it. The gospel is good news that, to the world, seems as foolish as proclaiming a penniless child king. That is exactly what the shepherds did. It is what we must do as well.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 18 (Listen – 5:51)
Revelation 7 (Listen – 2:56)

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Read more about Good Christian Men, Rejoice — Carols of Advent Joy
We need to choose to embrace true joy, even in the midst of difficulty.

#Joy #CarolsOfAdvent #GoodChristianMenRejoice #Rejoice

Scripture Focus: Revelation 6.10-11
10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. 

Reflection: Consolation and Patience — Joy of Advent
By John Tillman

As Revelation’s seals open, the consequences of sin ride out upon the earth in a predictable sequence. Each apocalyptic rider is a natural, logical next step following the previous judgment.

The prideful rider seeking conquest is followed by war and the bloodshed of the sword. The sword of war does not bring victory or peace, but famine and scarcity. Scarcity and famine are followed by death and “hades.” Destruction, want, and chaos result. The darkness that precedes the light of Christ’s coming falls.

For centuries, scholars have debated whether these “seals” were opened in John’s day or our day, or whether they were to be opened at some point in the future. It is also possible that these prophecies, like many in scripture, have multiple fulfillments. This means that they may refer to something in the author’s or readers’ immediate future or present, while simultaneously referring to events in our time or in centuries to come.

If the greatest minds of Christendom have pondered these texts for two millennia without consensus, then perhaps certainty is not their purpose. So, if Revelation’s purpose is not to give us certainty, what is it to give us? Well, humbly admitting I could be wrong, I think the answer is probably twofold. Revelation intends to keep us watchful. Revelation intends to drive us to God, through the scriptures. 

Advent is a rehearsal for Christ’s second Advent. Darkening days (in the Northern Hemisphere) symbolize darkening, increasingly sinful times. We long for light, seeking joy to end our anguish. In John’s vision of Heaven, the long, languishing wait for justice carries over after death. Those “slain because of the Word of God” are comforted, yet still wait, crying for justice.

Like those “under the altar” we are comforted in our waiting and suffering. We seek and receive consolation from God himself. Whether the seals are in our past or future, Jesus is coming soon for us, either at the hour of our death or the hour of his appearing. Christ’s coming will be joyful for some and tragic for others. We should be watchful for him and take every opportunity to share him with others. The very reason for Christ’s delay is that more may be saved. The greater number of people we bring with us, the greater our joy will be.

With whom will you share the joyful news of Christ’s coming?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.. — Psalm 145.22

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 17 (Listen – 2:48)
Revelation 6 (Listen – 3:12)

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Read more about The Endurance of Hope :: Love of Advent
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.