Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, 2018

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'
Luke 3:3-6

Preparation is an important part of our Advent journey. We prepare our hearts for Christ coming into our lives anew. We prepare our homes for meals and gatherings with friends and families. Many of us also prepare, brace ourselves even, to endure a season which proclaims the coming of joy, peace, hope and love of Jesus when our lives are filled with grief, loss and disappointment. The brokenness of human life and the world do not stop when December begins. What’s more, the hardships of life can feel intensified when life falls short of the joy we long for.

I’ve experienced times when life seemed to press in so hard that the days when “every hill will be made low and the rough ways will be made smooth” seemed a far off dream. For those who’ve experienced a significant loss—of a loved one, a marriage, a job, “getting through the holidays” can seem an insurmountable task. The world might tell us joy comes from the twinkle of Christmas lights and wrapped presents under a tree. Luke’s message invites us to turn our attention and lives over to God’s ever-emerging story of relentless and immeasurable love and hope made visible in the coming of Jesus.

Advent is a time to recall that God’s story and our own lives collide and are inseparable in the coming of a Savior named Jesus. May we find hope in knowing that, no matter where we are in life, every valley will be filled, what is crooked will be straightened and what is rough will be smoothed and soothed. Advent reminds us afresh that God’s powerful story of love is our story too. May we find freedom in knowing God’s love unveiled in the coming of Jesus is making all things new.

Gracious God, fill our hearts with your peace this Advent season. May we linger in the hope you give and be empowered by your unimaginable love for us. Amen.

The Rev. Jennifer Heavner is pastor of Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, PA and serves on the Lutheran Congregational Services Advisory Team.

Click here to download you full 2018 Advent Devotional