THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURES

Monday, Dec 1: Psalm 124; Genesis 8:1-19; Romans 6:1-11;

Tuesday, Dec 2: Psalm 124; Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 11:32-40;

Wednesday, Dec 3: Psalm 124; Isaiah 54:1-10; Matthew 24:23-35;

Thursday, Dec 4: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26;

Friday, Dec 5: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25;

Saturday, Dec 6: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28;

The First Sunday of Advent

In the Time of Herod

I didn’t live during Herod’s time—that brutal, murderous king, God save his soul.

But even hundreds of years later, I know the prayers of his people.

I know the prayers of the mothers and the children under his rule.

I know the prayers of the young men under his angry arm.

I know their prayers, because anyone who has ever lived in this soft world for more than two days

knows how to pray for a miracle.

We rub our hands together.

We fold weary shoulders in,

a cage of bone to protect our bleeding hearts.

We sing, we shall overcome and bind my wandering heart to thee.

We walk across bridges and in front of powerful buildings.

We cover our cars in stickers that scream, we will not give up!

We allow a hungry cry to slip from our lips,

giving our lament a life of its own (with room to dance!).

And when all of that is said and done, we whisper to our creator,

God, break through the yelling and the fear. Break through the violence and the oppression.

Get past the Herods of this world, and come be here.

Like every bleeding heart before, we pray for a miracle.