Story by Art Smith, Council of Twelve Apostles

The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold.

Based on the Advent Devotion for Families and Households available at https://account-media.s3.amazonaws.com/26072/uploaded/h/0e18630581_1729692500_hope-is-near-advent-2024-23102024.pdf 

Open: Light a candle or ring a chime.

Ask: Take a few minutes and ask yourself, “When did I feel hope today or yesterday?”

Listen

A long time ago when I was small, it became traditional in my family to get ready for Christmas by putting up and decorating the tree on the December 10, my birthday. Getting ready for Christmas in Quebec, Canada, where I lived meant the arrival of Christmas decorations and snow. Oh, yes, there was lots of snow. The plows piled a mountain of it at the end of our street. The mountain got bigger and bigger from my birthday until at least the end of February. We played on those snow mountains all winter long, sometimes digging caves, but mostly climbing and sledding.

Ironically, every year about the time that mountain of snow would start to grow, John the Baptizer came along with the words of Isaiah, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low.” Down at the end of my childhood street, we’d have to wait for the warm air of spring, which sometimes didn’t arrive until well into March, for that snow mountain to melt away.

But this year for Advent, I love the idea of preparing for Christmas by rededicating myself to lowering mountains and raising valleys. I’m imagining a powerful snowplow showing up to push that huge pile of snow down into the valley below. It seems like we live in a world that is obsessed with levels. We simply accept that some people will be wildly rich and many more will be painfully poor. We imagine some are better or more important than others. We maybe even imagine that some are more deserving or worth more.

Please, Lord, let’s get ready for Christmas together through repentance, forgiveness, and leveling things out for your arrival.

Breathe

The season of Advent reminds us that even as we wait for the birth of Christ in our lives and world, God is always with us. Right here, right now—wherever we are and with the ones we love. Take a deep breath and breathe in the presence of God.

Respond

How can you bring hope to others today?

Christ-in-You Prayer

Tell a friend or family member how you see Christ in them. Ex. “I see Christ in your kindness. I see Christ in your smile. I see Christ in you when you help me with my homework.”

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.