Isaiah 64: 1-9 BibleGateway.com
Just past the corner of 50th Street and 5th Avenue, a few blocks from the brightly lit Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center in New York City stands, is the same street vendor selling those unforgettable chestnuts roasted-on-an-open-fire. He arrives in early December. I greet him by saying, "It's been a year, my friend!" and he says, ""Happy Holidays to you, my friend! The best chestnuts in the world for you! Hpw many bags you want?" I always buy two bags of those unforgettable , wonderfully delightful, half-opened, slightly-browned, crackling hot chestnuts that dance from one hand to the other.
The sound of Advent is bustling peoples from all over, gathering and speaking - like the sound of heaven rending (v. 1). It's being reminded that "we are all God's people" (v. 9).
The sight of Advent is people of all ages, smiling and laughing, holding shint, leather-gloved hands over their fire-hot crackling treasure (v. 2), like the clasped hands of the potter (v. 8). But at the center of it all is a name, a friend, our God who (vs. 3-4, 7) joyfully greets us.
Gracious God, as this advent begins, may I be reminded that we are all your people. I eagerly await the glow in in my life, as I prepare for the giving of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen
Just past the corner of 50th Street and 5th Avenue, a few blocks from the brightly lit Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center in New York City stands, is the same street vendor selling those unforgettable chestnuts roasted-on-an-open-fire. He arrives in early December. I greet him by saying, "It's been a year, my friend!" and he says, ""Happy Holidays to you, my friend! The best chestnuts in the world for you! Hpw many bags you want?" I always buy two bags of those unforgettable , wonderfully delightful, half-opened, slightly-browned, crackling hot chestnuts that dance from one hand to the other.
The sound of Advent is bustling peoples from all over, gathering and speaking - like the sound of heaven rending (v. 1). It's being reminded that "we are all God's people" (v. 9).
The sight of Advent is people of all ages, smiling and laughing, holding shint, leather-gloved hands over their fire-hot crackling treasure (v. 2), like the clasped hands of the potter (v. 8). But at the center of it all is a name, a friend, our God who (vs. 3-4, 7) joyfully greets us.
Gracious God, as this advent begins, may I be reminded that we are all your people. I eagerly await the glow in in my life, as I prepare for the giving of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen
John Ahn, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.
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