Advent calendar 2020

Advent 22 - Sunday 20th December 2020

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." -- John 13:34-35

One of my most vivid memories was the time I first fell in love! Although the relationship fizzled out after a few months, it was a precious and meaningful experience. It was all part of the process of growing up and maturing. Now I am not sure I would have the energy to cope with the intensity of emotion that was unleashed within me!
Today in church we light the fourth candle on the advent ring – the candle of love. But the love we celebrate at Christmas is not the kind of inner emotion that is associated with falling in love. It reflects the love that came down from earth to heaven in the birth of Jesus. It is a self-giving love. It is a very practical outworking of our faith and values in our commitment to the people around us. This is the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated in his ministry of teaching, healing, and sacrifice.

Last year, the artist Bansky created a mural in Birmingham, to highlight the plight of the city’s homeless. Following the creation of the mural, one journalist filmed a homeless man 'Ryan' lying on the bench which formed part of the mural.  He noted: 'In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hot drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter - without him ever asking for anything.” Banksy highlighted the homeless issue and the generosity and ‘love’ of walkers by towards that homeless man…'

Prayer

Lord our God,
you have revealed yourself as One
who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people;
In a world that looks away from injustice,
You cast your eyes on the destitute, the poor, and the wronged;
You have called us to follow you,
to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release for the captives
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed
and to proclaim the time of your blessing.
Be present with your church, Lord,
as we respond to your call.
Open our eyes to the downtrodden.
Fill us with compassion for the plight of the alien,
the refugee, and the immigrant.
Lead us into ministries that help orphans and widows.
Give us courage to block the paths of the ungodly
who exploit the poor.
Set us free from pious exercises
that prevent us from the true worship you choose:
Sharing bread with the hungry,
Sharing homes with the homeless,
Sharing clothes with the naked,
Sharing hearts with our own kin.
So may your justice roll down like waters,
your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Lead our footsteps to stand with the poor,
that we might stand with you.
Have mercy, O God:
Scatter the proud,
Put down the mighty,
Lift up the lowly,
Fill up the hungry,
And send the rich away empty-handed.
Amen.

(Paul G. Janssen)

Other days in the Advent Calendar