Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
You are invited to Come and See
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Steve Sveom.
Our theme during this season is “You are invited to Come and See.” Our scripture reading for this week is John 1:35-51. The invitation to “come and see” is given by Jesus to Andrew and another of John’s disciples and by Philip to Nathanael. This invitation is gracious and without a predetermined outcome. We, too, are invited to have open eyes to see and find God’s work being done.
The story of Nathanael’s and encounter with Jesus is intriguing to me. Philip told Nathanael to “Come and see.”
As Nathanael approached Jesus, Jesus said “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
“Where did you get to know me?” asked Nathanael.
Jesus responded, “I saw you under a fig tree before Philip called you.”
Nathanael responded in faith.
Was Nathanael simply impressed by some apparent foreknowledge demonstrated by Jesus? Was there some supernatural insight going on?
That’s not likely the case. What did Nathanael “see?” The prophets Micah and Zechariah help us understand. According to the prophets, to be under the fig tree could refer to two things: first, the prophets proclaimed peace and security as part of God’s will – peace and security would come when each person had economic justice – symbolized by a fig tree of their own to provide food and shelter. To be under the fig tree was also a symbol of being able to study the Torah. Study of the word was a way to encounter God. So, Jesus was telling Nathanael that Jesus was revealed by scripture and that Nathanael had already met Jesus there. And, the purpose of Jesus, the work of the Messiah was to bring peace and justice to the world.
We, too, are invited to “Come and see” the Messiah in the word and to encounter God in works of peace and justice.
Prayer: We give you thanks, most gracious God, for your invitation to us. Let us see your work of justice and peace and know that you are revealed to us. Amen.
Previously…
Taking Time to Pray
When I was a junior in college, I lived in the basement of Fjelstad Hall, a gorgeous 1938 English Tudor-style dormitory. Even though I couldn’t see anything other than a tree stump when I looked out the small window of my room, I loved the arrangement in our corner of the basement – four dorm rooms, all opening up to a cozy living room where my friends and I would often talk late into the evening.
Epiphany
In the church calendar, the Day of Epiphany is January 6. The length of the season of Epiphany depends on the date of Easter and lasts till the beginning of Lent. This year there are just six Sundays in Epiphany because Easter is relatively early, and Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 14.
The Beginning of the Good News
Today's author is Prince of Peace member, Gary Olson. Photo by Jordan Wozniak on Unsplash Mark 1:1-20 In this beginningthere is a prophetwhose name is John. Mark quotes otherswho came before him:Malachi, Isaiah.With quill and scrollthey pointed to the coming Messiah....
The Mystery of Presence
arlier in December, while practicing yoga with our YogaDevotion group who meets on Tuesdays, I felt particularly touched by the devotions read as we listened and sat quietly, focusing on breathing in God’s presence.