DAY 1: Ponder the Mystery: A Contemplative Advent Journey

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth…From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. John 1:1,14,16

PONDER: At the beginning of time a promise arose from the Divine creative act of forming the earth and all that would dwell therein. That promise would reveal a mystery — the mystery of Jesus, the very word and thought of God would one day become flesh and make his home among us bearing the name Emmanuel – “God with us.”

A promise requires hope, trust, and patience in the waiting of its fulfillment.  Before Mary gave birth to the promised Messiah, all Isreal waited, hoped, trusted in a faithful promise of God who would deliver them from their suffering. That hopeful waiting informs the posture of our Advent journey as we wait a mere 25 days, symbolically hoping for the arrival of our Christmas morning to celebrate the promised One, Jesus, Son of God, Son of all humanity.

RESPOND: Sit with the words above from the Gospel of John. Read them slowly. Let them sink into your bones. From Jesus, the Word made flesh, we receive the fullness of grace upon grace in our lives. What does this mean for you? How do you consistently experience the grace of God? Where do you need the freshness and fullness of this grace today? We too are a word spoken by God into this world for this time and place. What is that God-given word calling you to today? Capture your thoughts and ideas in a journal or notebook to reflect on later in the week.

A BLESSING: May the promised coming of Jesus be the beginning of hope and love eternally living within you. May it be the source of all peace and joy gently falling upon you. May it be the living stream of grace upon grace as the Word made flesh in you today.  Amen