December 4 Advent Devotion Written by Logan Lloyd

Trisha Huffman | December 4, 2015

Scripture: Luke 1:67-79

Christmas is often a happy time, filled with good food and cozy family gatherings. We celebrate the birth of the one who brings hope and salvation to the world. Advent is meant to be a time of preparation. Though corporate forces intent on convincing you to spend more money insist that Christmas is already here, Advent asks us to sit and reflect on what is coming.

Advent invites us to consider the darkness of our world and our lives into which the light of Christ comes. A pastor friend once told me that Advent reminds us of how much we actually need the light of Christ.

The reality of our lives is that darkness often surrounds us. Our experiences in life conjure sadness, grief, pain, suffering. We witness the suffering of others on the news and, because we have empathy, we feel a piece of their pain. People we love die, and we linger in the shadow of death. Dreams of the future succumb to the passing of time. Our fear of inadequacy darkens relationships with hostility and violence. Darkness perpetually gathers at our feet.

Let’s reread the last stanza of Zechariah’s Benedictus:

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

What evocative poetry! Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit in song after being struck mute after the birth of his child. It is only after Elizabeth and he agree that their eight-day-old child will be named John, Zechariah’s voice returns. He speaks evocatively of God’s faithfulness in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham by sending a savior. He prophetically announces the role his son will play in preparing a way for the light to come into the world.

May we prepare a way for light in this world by examining the reality of the world into which it comes. May we courageously name the darkness of our lives, whatever it may be. May we bravely sit with the pain and await the dawn that breaks forth on high. May we endure knowing that the light will come by the faithful, tender mercy of our God.

Prayer: Gracious God, we pray that you will be with us in darkness and in the shadow of death. God, you hear our cries of sadness and fear; may we steadfastly wait for the dawn from on high to break upon us. Amen.