UNOH

Grace

To experience the gift of repentance

This weeks readings and reflections are taken from ‘Ancient Christian Devotional,’ (Ed. T. Oden & C. Crosby), pages 11-15. Please enjoy!

 

Theme

The start of Advent is an invitation to Keep Watch and anticipate the coming of Christ.

Scripture tells us that we are forgiven! It calls us to walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:1-5) and to pray for peace (Psalm 122) and to keep watch for Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36-44), putting aside our deeds of darkness and living in the light (Romans 13:11-14). In this season of Advent, we celebrate the Child who is the Light. We thank God for forgiveness of sins and reaffirm our desire to walk with the Lord.

Devotion 1

WAIT

Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.

OPENING PRAYER & WORSHIP

God is the centre of all things. We turn our face to worship you, O Lord.

God is Peace. It is God-who-is-Peace who brings all things into unity, who is the cause of agreement, who is the author of all harmony.

Jesus, is the Light of the world. Let your light shine forth. We choose to walk in the Light.

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 2:1-5

REFLECTIONS

Christ the Mountain. Augustine writes, “The central place they are all coming to is Christ; he is the centre, because he is equally related to all; anything placed in the centre is common to all…..Approach the mountain, climb up the mountain, and you that climb it, do not go down it. There you are safe, there you will be protected; Christ is your mountain refuge. And where is Christ? At the right hand off the Father, since he has ascended into heaven.” (Sermon 62A.3)

Peace Through Christ. Anthansius writes, “Who is the one who has joined together in peace people who have once hated one another, except for the beloved Son of the Father, the Saviour of all, even Jesus Christ, who because of his own love suffered all things for salvation? For from ages past the peace he would initiate was promised. On the Incarnation 52.1

Walk in the Light. Jerome: “For all who do evil hate the light and fail to come to the light lest their work be proven. But you, the house of Jacob, the house of my people, come with me and lust walk together  in the light of the Lord. Let us accept the gospel of Christ and be illuminated by him wo said, “I am the light of the world.”” (Commentary of Isaiah 2.5-6)

PSALM OF RESPONSE

Psalm 122

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• How does Isaiah 2:1-5 speak to us at this time?
• What do I sense God saying to us and our neighbours at this time of anticipation?
• What are the barriers to us climbing the mountain of the Lord together, with our neighbours?

PRAYER FOR OTHERS

CLOSING PRAYER

Therefore, we ask that we may know what we love, since we ask nothing other than that you give us yourself. For you are our all; our life, our light, our salvation, our food and our drink, our God. Inspire our hearts, we ask, with that breath of your Spirit. (Columbanus)

 

Devotion 2

WAIT

Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.

OPENING PRAYER & WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE READING

Romans 13:11-14

REFLECTIONS

Time to Awake. CHRYSOSTOM, writes “Paul is not trying to frighten his hearers but to encourage them, so as to detach them from their love of the things of this world. At the beginning of their discipleship endeavours it’s likely they would be more dedicated and slacken off as time went on. Here Paul wants to encourage to them not to slacken off as time goes by but to become even more dedicated. For the nearer the King is to coming, the more they ought to be ready to receive him. (Homilies on Romans 23)

Cast of Works of Darkness. ORIGEN: This may be understood in both a universal and in a particular sense. In the first instance, the light is dawning everywhere, and the reign of darkness over the world is rapidly coming to an end. In the second instance, if we have Christ in our hearts he gives us light. Therefore if the reason of knowledge drives away our ignorance and if we turn away from unworthy deeds and do what is right, we are in the light and are walking honestly as if in the day. (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans) 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• How does this passage speak to me?
• How can we encourage one another to detach from the things of this world and increase our devotion to Christ?
• Where am I resisting Christ, and walking in the dark?

PRAYER FOR OTHERS

SHARE IN COMMUNION TOGETHER

CLOSING PRAYER

O LORD, awake us from our slumber. Stir us from our complacency. The King is coming again. Quicken our hearts to be ready to receive Him. We offer our lives to you, as living sacrifices. May the fragrance of our lives be an aroma of compassion, mercy, grace, love and forgiveness. Let us go, this day, in the power of your love and grace and in the Name of our Christ Jesus, Amen.  (Christofksi)

 

Devotion 3

WAIT

Take time to sit in silence together, allowing space for God’s voice to be heard.

WORSHIP/ OPENING PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 24:36-44

REFLECTIONS

Whether the Son Knows the Day. HILARY OF POITIERS: When Christ taught us that no one knows the day on which the end of time will come, not the angels and not even himself, he removed from us any need to be concerned about its date. O immeasurable mercy of divine goodness! (On Matthew 26:4)

They Did Not Know Until the Flood Came. ORIGEN: All who listen to the depths of the gospel and live it so completely that none of it remains veiled from them, care very little about whether the end of the world will come suddenly and all at once or gradually and little by little. Instead, they bear in mind only that each individual’s end or death will arrive on a day and hour unknown to him and that upon each one of us “the day of the Lord will come like a thief.”

Living In Expectation: ANONYMOUS: Why is the date of an individual’s death hidden from him? Clearly it is so that he might always do good, since he can expect to die at any moment. That date of Christ’s second advent is withheld from the world for the same reason, namely, so that every generation might live in the expectation of Christ’s return. This is why, when his disciples asked him, “Lord, will you restore the kingdom to Israel at this time? Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times and the season which the Father has established by his authority.” (Incomplete Work on Matthew. Homily 51)

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTIONS 

• How does Christ second advent impact how we live this day, this moment?
• What does living with faithfulness to Christ’s coming again require of me?
• What role can living with expectation have for us and our neighbours?

PRAYER FOR OTHERS

SHARE COMMUNION TOGETHER

CLOSING PRAYER

Come Lord Jesus, Come! We ask that we may know afresh what and who you’ve called us to. Give us undivided hearts to follow you. May we not be distracted by things we have no control over, but give ourselves completely to loving and serving you. Help us to relinquish mastery and control of our lives, but let us be master of virtues that move us gently and graciously towards our Master, Christ Jesus. (Christofski)