Bryan Sherwood

Lectio Divina: Advent 4 - Tuesday

Luke 1:26-38

This passage from Luke 1 really is amazing. Gabriel, an angel from heaven, appears to Mary with some pretty exciting/frightening news. I can’t really imagine what this must have been like for Mary. As a young teenage girl, I’m guessing she wasn’t expecting an angel to come visit her and inform her of this special role she would play in God’s plan. She had found favor with God and now she would be the young woman who would give birth to the Messiah. Wow. I wonder what was so special about Mary that she would be given this awesome responsibility?

After hearing the angel’s message, we read Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary’s very response shows she had a heart that was open to God. She basically says “Let’s go. I’ll trust you with whatever happens. I’m here to be a servant of the Lord.” I think I can learn a lot about Mary’s deep faith and willingness to totally trust the Lord with her life and future. Mary had to know this would be no easy road to walk. She knew Joseph’s response would most likely be less than favorable toward her at the news that she was pregnant. What great faith she had. May I learn to trust God that much. “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Lectio Divina: Advent 4 – Monday

Luke 1.18-19 (ESV)

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?” For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

I found Gabriel’s statement pretty interesting. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God . . . “. All I can say in response to that is “Wow.” I often wonder what that will be like – to stand in the presence of God. I can’t even really fathom how perfect that will be. Gabriel has done what we will one day do.

Advent reminds me of Jesus’ second coming and it reminds me that I too will one day stand (or maybe kneel!) in the presence of God. How wonderful is that?

Lectio Divina: Advent 3 - Monday

Revelation 3:11-12 (NLT)

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

Today was a pretty rough day. It was one of those days you wouldn't want to have too often. So, how interesting, that tonight I turn to Revelation 3 and read this passage. That's the way Lectio often works. I needed some good news and there it is, right there in Revelation 3.

What good news? How about that Jesus is coming soon? Thank goodness! I feel a lot like Paul a lot of days when departing to be with the Lord sounds pretty darn good. Today was surely one of those. It's encouraging to know that there is more to life than paychecks, jobs, bills and stress. In the midst of our world, the Kingdom IS coming, even when we can't always see it.

So, it's Advent and Advent is a season of waiting. We await the coming of the King. Just as He came from heaven to earth, He will one day return. He is coming soon. Praise God!

Collect - Advent 3

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

What a beautiful prayer! 

Fr. Louis on Advent

We may at times be able to show the world Christ in moments when all can clearly discern in history some confirmation of the Christian message. But the fact remains that our task is to seek and find Christ in the world as it is, and not as it might be. The fact that the world is other than it might be does not alter the truth that Christ is present in it and that His plan has been neither frustrated nor changed: indeed, all will be done according to His will. Our Advent is the celebration of this hope. What is uncertain is not the "coming" of Christ but our own reception of Him, our own readiness and capacity to "go forth to meet Him." We must be willing to see Him and acclaim Him, as John did, even at the very moment when our whole life’s work and all its meaning seem to collapse. Indeed, more formidable still, the Church herself may perhaps be called upon some day to point out the Victorious Redeemer and King of Ages amid the collapse of all that has been laboriously built up by the devotion of centuries and cultures that sincerely intended to be Christian.

Lectio Divina: Advent 2 - Thursday

Revelation 2:9-10
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

I know your tribulation . . . Do not fear what you are about to suffer . . .

It’s easy for me to forget that Christians have suffered and died for their faith throughout the church’s history. It only takes a cursory reading of church history to realize that countless scores of people have been martyred for the faith we profess. This persecution goes on today in our world (although it doesn’t seem to garner much attention from the media).

What’s this mean to me? I can’t help but feel convicted to pray for the persecuted church. They need our prayers and I need to remember that there are people dying for the faith.

Advent/Christmas Music and a Collect for Advent 2

I've been listening to Christmas music the last several days.  I've discovered two new albums this year that I'm enjoying.  The first is by Red Mountain Music.  As many of you know, I'm a fan of their music.  Their Christmas album, Silent Night, is very nice.  Go take a listen.

I've also been listening to Advent Songs by Sojourn Church in Louisville, KY.  I've only owned it for a few days so I'm still determining what I think about it.  First impression:  pretty good.

What are you listening to?  I tend to like more acoustic "quiet" music.  I'd love any suggestions you may have.

I'll leave you with this week's collect from the BCP:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lectio: Advent 1 - Tuesday

 
Today's readings are listed here.

2 Peter 1:13-14

I think it is right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

I couldn't help but think about Peter's statement here. There seems to be two certainties that Peter talks about in this passage. Peter was quite aware of his own impending death. And we know that like Peter, there is the certainty of our own death when we too will put off this tent, our body. In the Rule of Saint Benedict, Benedict writes "Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die." This kind of remembering helps us to have a sense of urgency about our own salvation as well as the salvation of the world.

The other certainty that Peter writes about is the certainty of the Lord's Second Coming.

2 Peter 1:16

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

If we had to face death without the hope of Christ's Second Coming and our own resurrection, life would be full of darkness and despair. Yet, Advent reminds us that His return is certain as is our resurrection.

Lectio: Advent 1 - Monday

A few thoughts on today's appointed readings from our church's Advent blog.

Lectio: Advent 1 - Sunday

Happy Advent!  Feel free to check out a few of my reflections on today's office readings over at my parish's Advent blog.  I plan to try and write some kind of reflection each day in Advent.  (I said I would TRY).