December 3, 2023
1st Advent, Year B
Scriptures:
Isaiah 64:1-9 Prayer that God would come with power and compassion
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved. (Ps. 80:7)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Gifts of grace sustain those who wait for the end
Mark 13:24-37 The sudden coming of the Son of Man
Key verse: Good News - Hope in Chaos
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:28, 31.
Questions to ponder:
1. Recall a time when you experienced hope in the midst of chaos. What made you find hope rather than being drowned in the midst of chaos?
2. How would you articulate the hope that Jesus wants us to experience and proclaim in Advent in a way people can also experience it?
3. Why are quotes like these “Focus on the good” or “Focus on positive” popular? How does focusing on the hope from God through Jesus shape or change the way we live in a chaotic somehow hopeless society?
Prayer: God of hope, we give you thanks for the season of Advent. It reminds us of the importance of waiting. May it be a kind of waiting when we see hope coming to us gently and saturating our thoughts and minds. May your gift of hope grow in and shine through all that we say and do, so that many more can hold onto the hope from you alone, waiting in anticipation to the fulfillment of your promise that you will wipe the tears from our faces. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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