November 27 Podcast: LET’S GO
The 1st Sunday of Advent:
Scriptures: Psalm 122; Matthew 24:36-44
Key Verse: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1)
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Hello, This is Jade.
Welcome to Yi.kigai
A space for all to explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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“Let’s go to see grandpa and grandma!” That was what my mom always reminded us to do since we were little. Due to my dad’s family being in China, we spent our weekends, important family gatherings, or any festivals or holidays with my mom’s side of the family. However, as we grew older, we couldn’t do it as often as we would have liked to. My brother had left home for high school and later for his job in different cities, and I had left home to study and live abroad. Whenever I visited my mom, she still made sure to schedule some quality time for me to spend with her family.
Sadly, the longer I lived abroad, the more I felt disconnected with my mom’s side of the family. Even though social media such as Facebook helps me see what and how they are doing, my ability to express love and care to them is extremely limited. And if I don’t post enough about what and how I am doing, it doesn’t give them enough opportunities to express their love and care to me, either. It was interesting to notice how dearly I missed them when I visited them in Taiwan. Any word of care or concern we expressed and the eye contact we made was so precious that I didn’t want to forget.
It is similar to the sentimental feeling that King Daivd had as he was composing Psalm 122. He said that he was glad when he heard the invitation from his fellows. He wasn’t the only one who missed visiting the house of the Lord. This psalm along with others from 120 to 134 were sung by Hebrew pilgrims who made the uphill journey to Jerusalem to attend annual festivals. According to their faith tradition stated in Deuteronomy 16:16, they visited the Temple three times a year to give their offerings at the Feast of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Singing these psalms gave them the sense of ascending from the furthest and lowest point of their lives into the uphill holy temple to be with God, in whom they find peace and hope. As they moved forward and ascended to the house of the Lord, their singing gradually prepared their minds, their souls, their bodies, and their strength to meet God. That’s why this collection of psalms is called Gradual Psalms or the Song of Ascents, Degrees, or Pilgrim.
In the same way, we all are invited to prepare our hearts, minds, souls, and strength to meet God over the coming four weeks. Lighting each candle on the Advent Wreath reminds us that Jesus’ coming as the light in our unjust world is getting brighter and brighter each week. As always, the light is not overwhelming but just bright enough for us to see the peace and hope from God that we are yearning for in our challenging times. God didn’t come to us as a rigid judge or a militant king but as the baby Jesus who is little enough for us to hold in our arms, gentle enough for us to be unguarded, tangible enough for us to trust. For this, we journey each day and each week out of our gratitude to give thanks to God by offering what we have, not alone but with our siblings in Christ. Let us, together, invite more to join the Advent journey. “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
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May your coming week be blessed by God’s grace
As together we explore the intersection between faith and daily life
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