Welcome to our 2021 Advent Journey! This year we are making our way toward Christmas by exploring the four Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, but with a twist. This third week is not just about JOY but Joy(ful) Repentance, but before you jump in to today’s reflection, just take a moment, breathe slowly, and pray the following prayer as truthfully and earnestly as you can.
Lord,
source of all true joy,
You promised that at your appearing,
the pain of your absence will be replaced with joy,.
That when we see you again our hearts will rejoice,
and no one will be able to take away our joy.
And so we wait in hope.
Amen
Daily Scripture: Mark 1:15
Find the above scripture in your bible and read slowly – you might want to read it out loud. You can also find it here.
Reflection
The most basic and fundamental meaning of the word ‘repent’ or ‘repentance’ is to ‘turn’ and in the Bible it has both a negative and a positive sense: negativly it is used to describe the turning awayfrom sin, and positivly, it depicts a turning back towards God. The greatest commandment in the Old Testament was to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and so this ‘turning back’ to God includes every part of our being and, as we will discover this week, the truthfulness of this turning must be demonstrated in a change in the way that we actually live our lives.
For a brief reflection on the centrality of repentance in the Bible, look up the following passages and note what you find.
- Luke 3:3, 24:45-47
- Acts 2:38, 5:19-31, 17:30
- 2 Peter 3:9
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10
Advent Quotes
‘Suffering is inevitable in life, but joy is not. So relentlessly pursue joy today. Laugh often and listen well. Celebrate the wonder of the smallest, most ordinary things Tragedy comes regardless. But joy is a butterfly, an illusive melody waiting to be named. Our surprising, unsolemn duty, therefore, is not just to weep at life’s pain but to seek and savour its bounty with fierce delight.’
| Pete Greig
‘Conversion is not simply an event or a one-time encounter with Christ. Conversion is the beginning of a new life, the acceptance of a new life story, an invitation into a new community and a new way of seeing the world that is now informed by the love, mercy, and reconciling grace of God on behalf of the world.’
| Corbin Reuschling
‘Low self-esteem causes me to believe that I have so little worth that my response does not matter. With repentance, however, I understand that being worth so much to God is why my response is so important. Repentance is remedial work to mend our minds and hearts, which get bent by sin.’
| John Ortberg
Advent Song: Joy to Be
O the joy to be, joy to know
It’s when I decrease, You fill up my soul
What a joy to see, joy to hold
It’s when You increase, I want nothing more
Open my hands, humble my heart
All that I have is Yours
Color my prayers, widen my eyes
Wash me in glorious light
O the joy to be, joy to know
It’s when I decrease, You fill up my soul
What a joy to see, joy to hold
It’s when You increase, I want nothing more
Hasten my ears, bridle my tongue
Focus my heart to hear
Settle my pace, purge me of pride
Again and again, You provide
(O the joy to be) O the joy to be (Joy to know) joy to know
It’s when I decrease, You fill up my soul
What a joy to see, joy to hold
It’s when You increase, I want nothing more
| Isaac Wardell & Paul Zach
Closing Benediction
Be people of joy.
Let joy live in your heart and share the joy of Christ with all you meet.
Share joy by seeing the good in each other.
Share joy by remembering good times and hoping for good times to come.
Share joy by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share joy.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations,
share joy, peace, and hope with those you meet.
Amen.
| Liturgy Link
ZOOM REFLECTIONS
Zoom Reflections Monday – Thursday evenings at 9 – 9:20pm
Click here to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86970491613
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts and reflections and so please do leave a comment in the section at the bottom of this page. Much love to you all on this Advent journey!