Luke 3:1-6
The Message & NIV Translation
In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from Cory:
This is the text for the second week of Advent, the season where we find ourselves precariously perched between the now and the not-yet. We believe that Jesus entered history some 2000 years ago and that he is now with us and for us, but we also know that his kingdom of peace has not-yet been fully realized. In fact, it can seem more distant now than ever.
This week’s text includes a selection from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah’s words were originally received by a group of people living in exile, people forcefully removed from their homes and their country and taken to the land of their captors. The thing they wanted most was to return home. But standing between them and home was a vast and wild desert and impassable valleys and mountains. God’s promise to them almost sounds like a perfectly straight four lane highway between them and their home, so straight that they can see
We long for a world when all will see God’s salvation — wholeness, health, and peace in every way. But, from where we stand, those things all look so far away.
Today, the not-yet-ness of God’s kingdom is fully visible in the fact that there are people sleeping in the streets right now. And the path for those individuals to get to safe housing is one riddled with mountains and valleys and rough roads.
Advent begins in the dark. It begins with acknowledging how bad things are. Advent encourages us to name the darkness—in our world and in us. We sometimes move too quickly to talking about the hoped for light without stopping to acknowledge why we need the light in the first place.
Before we can get to where we want to be, we need to know and to name where we are.
PRACTICE:
Meditative Advent Calendar:
December 1: Spend 1 minute reflecting on waiting.
December 2: Spend 2 minutes reflecting on mercy.
December 3: Spend 3 minutes reflecting on justice.
December 4: Spend 4 minutes reflecting on goodness.
December 5: Spend 5 minutes reflecting on forgiveness.
December 6: Spend 6 minutes reflecting on wholeness.
December 7: Spend 7 minutes reflecting on love.
December 8: Spend 8 minutes on social media. Send a message of encouragement to a person on your feed.
December 9: Spend 9 minutes focusing on your breath.
December 10: Spend 10 minutes outside in silent awareness.
December 11: Spend 11 minutes in a public locate, silently observing the people around you.
December 12: Spend 12 minutes tending to your yard, your garden, or your plants.
December 13: Spend 13 minutes stretching your body.
December 14: Spend 14 minutes reflecting on waiting.
December 15: Spend 15 minutes in gratitude.
December 16: Spend 16 re-reading a favorite text.
December 17: Spend 17 minutes re-listening to some favorite music.
December 18: Spend 18 minutes reflecting on creation.
December 19: Spend 19 minutes reflecting on liberation.
December 20: Spend 20 minutes intentionally creating.
December 21: Spend 21 minutes reflecting on waiting.
December 22: Spend 22 minutes on a walk through your neighborhood. Pay attention to what you see.
December 23: Spend 23 minutes in silence and solitude.
December 24: Spend 24 minutes writing down hopes for the coming year.
December 25: Merry Christmas!
Outward Mindset Application
Be quick to name your mistakes this week, no matter how small.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
Be slow to offer solutions to anyone.
Pathways toward Centeredness
Ascetics: Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity
The ascetic temperament gravitates toward solitude, austerity, simplicity, and deep commitment. It’s the “monastic” temperament, so to speak, representing believers who aren’t afraid of discipline, severity, and solitude— indeed, believers who find that these elements awaken their souls to God’s presence. Ascetics experience God away from worldly distractions and have no need for anything other than God and the Spirit.
Questions for Reflection
When you feel lost, where do you turn for hope and comfort? What would it look like for you to find some safe ways to name your lost-ness instead of trying to overcome it?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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