The Wait for the Coming of the King

This Sunday is the beginning of Advent. It is a time that the church waits for Christ to break through to bring us the joy that keeps us in Christ’s love forever. It is a time traditionally of reflection, austerity, and even fasting. It is a time to reflect on our lives and our response to the coming of the King.
Our appointed liturgical psalm for Sunday sets the tone:
Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim shine forth
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
Restore us, O God;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved. Psalm 81: 1–3 (NIV)
God responds by sending his child, Jesus. Jesus, who will suffer in every way possible on this earth, steps down from on high to save us just as later he will step up to die for us on a cross. His actions show the greatest love that we can ever know. He is with us now and always. The comforter walks alongside us. We do not walk in darkness but in the great light and love of Christ.
So, as we recover from stuffing on Thanksgiving, the retail ads of Black Friday, and the frenzy of this season, we need to take time to wait on God in our lives. We can set a daily time for reading a devotional on advent, set a prayer time, and set time to reflect on God’s goodness, love, and grace. The time works well on a walk, a quiet space at home or in your office, or at a place in nature.
As the days grow darker, may Christ’s light shine brighter in your lives.