G. Archer Frierson
Austin Seminary Board of Trustees
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Advent Devotional for December 18
• John 3:16-21
It has dawned on me recently to wonder about Mary’s first experience of holding the baby Jesus in her arms. How tiny and light, cradled in the crook of her arm with his head nestled against her shoulder; the little one who would grow to bear the weight of the world’s iniquity on his shoulders. How long was it before he opened his eyes and beheld his mother’s face? They say that the eyes are the “windows of the soul,” and I imagine that, as Mary looked deeply into the eyes of this precious little one, she experienced the luminosity of the eyes of God’s son, beaming with pure, divine love into hers. The light of the world, shining through the eyes of a child. I imagine that, in that moment, she knew—she just knew that the hope of the world had entered, this gift of a child that would claim her and redeem all of creation. My answer to the popular song “Mary Did You Know?” is yes. Yes, she did.
Though we cannot cradle the baby Jesus in our arms, we can behold the light of Christ shining in the world through the wonders of God’s saving grace; as demonstrated through the integrity of our relationships with one another, rooted in love; through the inner light that beams within our hearts and moves us to acts of compassion, righteousness, and lovingkindness. Through the incarnation—the “world made flesh to dwell among us”— Jesus as gift embodies the invitation extended to all of creation to bask in authentic relationship with God. What comes to the light when we “come to the light” is the assurance that God sees us, God holds us, God compels us, and—in perhaps the simplest yet most profound spiritual truth—God loves us!
Reverend Nancy Benson-Nicol
Development Officer
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.We hope that you are preparing the way for the Lord in your life as you read these meditations and prayers. And, we hope this Advent season is a meaningful one for you. Please know that Austin Seminary’s dedicated, diverse, and loving community of faith is not complete without you. Did you know?
• Students in our masters-degree programs receive up to 85% need-based tuition aid.
• Historically, more than 80% of our graduates are called to congregational ministry.
• Our students come from more than a dozen denominations.
• Our alumni serve in ministry in forty-eight U.S. states as well as in twenty different countries across the world.
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