Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light
https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 2 Samuel 6:12-19 Hebrews 1:5-14
𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯.
–St. Justin Martyr
In many ways, the Advent and Christmas seasons can be understood through the story of two births, Eve, who gave birth to death and sin, and Mary, who gave birth to life and hope. In both stories, we encounter a virgin woman living in the favor of God, each presented with a situation that demanded of them a response. For one, a temptation to seize forcefully that which can only be given as a gift. For the other, an announcement received with great joy and trust in the faithfulness of God. As such, while Eve is the mother of humanity that ushered sin into the world, Mary, through her “yes” to God, becomes the mother of our Lord, and the true mother of us all.
The journey from Eve to Mary, understood through this lens, is one that every Christian must take. Through her response of faith, Mary models for us the way we also must respond as God draws near. In this way, Mary is one of the pivotal players of the Advent season, embodying the hopes of Israel as she receives and proclaims the faithfulness of God.
Today we read Psalm 89, which is itself an inspiration for the Song of Mary found in Luke 1. “I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1). Every follower of Jesus is invited to receive the word of God spoken to them, rejoice in his faithfulness, and proclaim his goodness to future generations. Though we, like Eve, alienate ourselves from our source of life, we all the more powerfully, with Mary, magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior.
𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, 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.
𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
Every single person has a God given talent that can be used to uniquely support and encourage others. What do you know how to do that can bless someone else today? Though caring for the poor is a central act of Christian charity, we also extend the mercy of God to others in countless ways, such as tutoring children, fixing a leaky pipe, or designing a website.
