December 14
The Prophets of Advent - Isaiah
Kenneth L. Samuel
We often think that radical change cannot occur without great upheaval. In the minds of sixth and seventh-century Hebrews, the paradigm for social change was the violence and subjugation imposed on them by their belligerent neighbors, the Assyrians and the Babylonians. But the prophet Isaiah was sent to speak to the people about the advent of another kind of radical social change. Isaiah’s vision of revolution would not be marked by
aggression, dislocation or intimidation. The tone of this revolution would be set by the “Anointed One”—the one sent by God to usher in the radical revelation of God’s new
order. What would this revolutionist emissary need to stop the old order and begin the new? A mighty army? Military prowess? A commanding presence? Jesus, the greatest revolutionary humanity has ever known, had none of these. In fact, his spirit was so humble and his manner so meek that “he would not break a bruised reed nor extinguish a smoldering wick.” Still, the revolution he inspired refuses to die and will never be defeated. It is a revolution that grows by the forces of faith and conquers through the supremacy of selfless love.
Prayer: God grant us the power of faith, so that we may accomplish radical changes in
your Name. Amen.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3
December 13
The Prophets of Advent - Jeremiah
Kenneth L. Samuel
Seventh-century prophet Jeremiah heralded news from God that the people of his day
did not want to hear. The Word of the Lord is like surgery: before it can cure us, it must
first cut us. Jeremiah’s contemporaries had grown so complacent and cocky in their
spiritual iniquities and social injustices that they refused to deal soberly with the advent of
God’s judgment. They thought that if they denied it, it would not come to pass. Advent gives each of us a chance to prepare for new seasons in God’s reign. But our resistance to change can force us into dangerous denial and retreat. Deeply afflicted by the intransigence of his culture, Jeremiah retreated into his own denial. He thought that by denying his vocation to speak in the name of the Lord, he could absolve himself of all responsibility and live a carefree life. He did not realize that the price we pay for denying the calling of God upon our lives is our own health and wholeness. It was the “fire in his bones” that burned him back into his prophetic role as herald of God’s new season. The seasons of God cannot be averted and the calling of God cannot be ignored. The only questions are: Are we prepared for the changes? Are we willing to act as the change agents of the stillspeaking God?
Prayer: Lord, in this season of Advent, prepare us for the seasons ahead; and make us
faithful heralds of your unfolding Grace, through your Son, who was, is, and is yet to
come. Amen.
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my
heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot.
Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV)
December 12
Be a Star
Donna Schaper
She didn’t get to be an angel in the pageant, she had to be a star. Her mother talked her into the role she had to play. Her mother was also overjoyed that, when the play was over,
she had loved being a star. How had the turn happened? “The angels had to sing. I just had to stand there and shine.” Sometimes fire is more light than heat. Sometimes it just shines, and in its shine, we find our unexpected joy. Often when we do get what we thought we wanted, we don’t like it. Often, also, when we don’t get what we wanted, we find that what we get is great. Serendipity abounds and so does the shining.Light 12, Darkness 11, and the game continues.The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5
Prayer: O God, let us be a part of the shining light.Amen.
December 11
The Fire in Our Bones
Donna Schaper
Someone I’d never met said, “Well, you always used to bring the portable microphone to the rally.” Part of me was offended. Another part of me was honored: My church always used to give more than it could afford. What a bargain: To be able to give more than you can afford. It releases the fire shut in our bones. In many third world countries, people offer you a piece of jewelry for a price that is a third of the price you would pay in the United States. First they gave us a ridiculously low price. Then we (sometimes) bargain them down. Sometimes I like to pay the U.S. price. It releases the fire shut in my bones.
Prayer: Let us show that another economy is possible. Amen.
...there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones: I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9
December 10
Light One Candle
Donna Schaper
There is a beautiful story recounted every Christmas in the forests of Provence in southern France. It’s about the four shepherds who came to Bethlehem to see the child. One brought eggs, another bread and cheese, the third brought wine. And the fourth brought nothing at all. People called him L’Enchante. The first three shepherds chatted with Mary and Joseph, commenting on how well Mary looked, how cozy was the cave and how handsome Joseph was in it. What a beautiful starlit night! Finally someone asked, “Where is L’Enchante?” They searched high and low, up and down, inside and out. Finally, someone peeked through the blanket hung up against the crib into the crèche. And there kneeling at the crib was L’Enchante. He stayed the entire night in adoration. Another response, beyond silence and action, to the call from the wild is enchantment. Simple enchantment. It is what we can see in just one candle.
Prayer: Let us find a little enchantment in one candle. Amen.
. . . and the life was the light of all people. John 1:4
December 9
Christmas People
Donna Schaper
There is an eternal rift between the Christmas “quick” people and the Christmas “slow”
people. The quick people put up their tree the day after Thanksgiving, mail their cards,
and savor an entire month of the holiday, prepared and pretty. The Christmas slow people
are more classical in their approach: they celebrate Advent. They are not upset that we
don’t sing Christmas carols until Christmas. The tree goes up close to the actual day; the cards may not get out until February. These are the crock pot Christmas keepers; the others are the frying pan type. Some of us are bi—we like Christmas so much that we do a both/and. We fill up the whole month with slow preparations. We keep the fire going all night long. We take the long way home.
Prayer: Help us, O God, to set the world on fire, one stick at a time. Amen.
Go forth and set the world on fire. St. Ignatius of Loyola
December 8
Flame
Donna Schaper
The word “flame” has a bad rap. Many relate it to people who either dress or behave ostentatiously. Humility might be its opposite: here we dress and behave invisibly,
without calling attention to ourselves. Oddly, this text advises a combination. It calls
us to flame humbly. The admonition for a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline, is a
delightful combination of quiet and noise. As we await Advent, we might try dancing this fire
dance. We might find a way to speak powerfully and quietly at the same time. We might practice “infant” behaviors.
Prayer: Fan into flame the smoldering ashes of our spirits and let us be a vigorous
flame, not just in short Advent but in long time. Amen.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God... For God did not give us
a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:6-7
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