Advent 2007 Meditation, supplied by GBGM

The Time of Fulfilment Has Come! Advent 2007 Meditation

by Beth Ferrell

Adoration of the Shepherds. Image by:Gerard van Honthorst, courtesy Wikipedia Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Isaiah prophesied; the psalmist had a sure hope; Mary was willing and obedient; Joseph was true to God's revelation in a dream: JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, WAS BORN AS A TINY BABE IN A GIANT WORLD!! Yet to be fulfilled is the part that you and I, as individuals and in community, are to play in the unfolding chronicle of God's plan. Is there a sense of responsibility and urgency to share our material/spiritual blessings with those in dire circumstances? As Isaiah struggled with being prophetic, do we struggle with ascertaining God's true word today? Do we have hope in the chaos of our times as the psalmist did in the chaos of his time, praying: "Restore us, O God, make your face shine upon us that we might be saved" (Psalm 80:3, 7 and 19). Notice the plural pronouns in the psalmist's petition. Hope, in addition to the individual aspect, is a community affair. We are in this chaos together! In the United States, we tend to forget we are a part of the world community, the majority of whom do not enjoy the blessings of the abundance that we have. Significantly, God chose a lowly Jewish girl to be the mother of his son, and Christ's birth was first announced to shepherds, marginalized people of that day. Their simplicity was fertile ground. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain in the new kingdom of Immanuel, "God With Us." What chance does further fulfillment of God's unfolding plan have in our lives? Do we need to have an increased awareness of God's true Word today, to dare to hope, to be willing and obedient and to follow Jesus in the true way? To do so, we must, in Christ's name, share our material blessings with people in need and be open to receiving blessings from them. In these chaotic times, can you and I be as simple and humble as Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds? Prayer Lord, may we be forgiven through your grace, filled with your love, directed and empowered by your spirit to be instruments, individually and in community, for the continuing fulfillment of your kingdom in the "here and now". In Christ's name we pray. Amen Scripture Readings Isaiah 7:10-16 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. Psalm 80 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. ... But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 1: 18-25 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. Beth Ferrell is a missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church currently serving as Mission Interpreter in Residence (MIIR) in the North Central Jurisdiction (Midwest). http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=4763