Advent day 1

Thessalonians 3:12-4:2          Advent day 1

        Today is the first day of Advent. Are we ready? Have you gotten all of your presents yet? Really, that's not what Christmas is all about is it? It certainly isn't what this space is about.  This space is about finding that special space within you, within the world, to help you grow in spirituality, in peace, in love. To help us find that unique and loving relationship with our God who loves us immeasurably.

          This is the first day of Advent and our first day to work on a plan of waiting for the light. We are waiting for the light and we need to set aside some time each day, perhaps more than we usually do, to devote to our growth, to help us realize how powerful and awesome this season really is. 

          The coming of the light is not about running around frantically buying presents for people we don't like, with money we don't have for things they don't even need. Somewhere in the midst of the insanity that this season seems to bring is a message of hope and love and we need to find it and express it. Again, it's  not about presents. It's about the light, finding it, letting it shine and celebrating it. It would would be an excellent time to come out of the closet for instance. What better 'present' could one give oneself?

          As society at large unwittingly plays into the hands of our faith, try to take some time this season to note all the Christmas lights around. On businesses and homes people let their inner beings shine forth in the displays.  It's as if we are all saying, let the light shine.

           On day #1 of this Advent season, decide to take a day, an evening and set it aside to simply walk or drive to see all the holiday lights and let us think of the light within us and the light of our Lord that is coming to us in glory and simplicity. Love.  

Brothers and sisters:

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love

for one another and for all,

just as we have for you,

so as to strengthen your hearts,

to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that,

as you received from us

how you should conduct yourselves to please God

and as you are conducting yourselves

you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.