Perpetual Love
First Reading: II Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27
Gospel: Luke 1:46b-55
*Music for Kate Hurley'’s song “The Whole World is Waiting” can be found on the Convergence Music Project website.
As a child, I remember waking up on Christmas morning to the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and the sound of Nat King Cole's Christmas album playing on the speakers. I don't recall when or how, but there was a moment when my sister and I would run out of our bedrooms and into the trappings of Christmas we knew and loved.
Of course, what child wouldn't love eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast? And this was followed by the unwrapping of presents and memories of my father, who would stick the bows on his head and make silly faces. These are Christmas memories I hold close to my heart, especially these days, as my feelings about Christmas have changed.
If I'm being honest with myself, I haven't felt the "Christmas spirit" since 2012, when my father died after a diagnosis of a rare cancer. And I admit that this loss of Christmas Spirit has made it hard to pastor a church when this season of light and love is supposed to be our "main thing."
These days, I find solace and comfort in family gatherings and spending time with family during the Christmas season. It's not about the gifts or the glitz and glam but the celebration of love that remains and will remain, love that was made incarnate so many years ago. Love that is perpetual, love that is sustaining, love that rises above all things.
It reminds me of Mary, who we find the reading for today. She was just an ordinary woman who had her life turned upside down. Mary, who finds herself engaged, is told she would bear a child who would be called the Messiah, the Son of God. And while navigating the challenges of being an unwed pregnant mother, she voices a song of blessing in the words of the Magnificat we find in Luke.
For all that is happening this Christmas, I wonder how we might perpetuate the love of God. I wonder how, in this season of waiting, you have channeled feelings of anxiety, loneliness, or fear into vessels into gifts we might offer the newborn babe. I pray this Advent season that we might envision how we might perpetuate the perpetual love of our God.
The whole world is waiting with bated breath for such a love. It may not restore things to the way they were before, but it may and should bring comfort by means of our souls that magnify the Lord. Perpetual love, ongoing love, and non-ceasing love will drive us to pursue and cherish relationships over the material things in life.
May you be love for someone this Advent and Christmas season, and may you receive love this Advent and Christmas season from God and those of us who carry the spark of God within our hearts. May we carry the lessons we learned this Advent season with us as we head into the new year that awaits us.
Questions for Reflection:
Reflecting on the personal experience shared, consider moments in your life that encapsulate the essence of the holiday season. How have these cherished memories shaped your perception of Christmas or similar celebrations? In what ways do personal experiences of joy and loss influence your understanding of the true spirit of Christmas?
Mary's Magnificat speaks of the revolutionary love and empowerment found in her faith, despite the challenges she faced. How can Mary's response to unexpected circumstances serve as an inspiration in navigating personal struggles or societal challenges during this Advent season? In what ways can expressions of faith and hope become transformative, echoing Mary's praise and trust in God's enduring love?
The devotion highlights the significance of perpetuating and embodying God's love during the Advent season. Reflect on practical ways to channel feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or longing into acts of love and kindness toward others. How might this focus on perpetuating love, as exemplified by Mary's song, influence your interactions with those around you and your approach to the holiday season?