Today is December 22 - in the final week of Advent.

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence, and say Come Holy Spirit.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.


There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.


Like Simeon, Anna was faithful . Anna saw Simeon’s embrace of Jesus, and joined this prophetic welcome. Both Simeon and Anna are described by Luke as faithful, patient, and expectant worshippers. Both are old. This Christmas, who in your life is a model of this sort of sage-like faith? Thank God for them…

Consider your own longing for consolation. For redemption. Do you find yourself distracted by the business of this season? Of course! Can you now interrupt that business and ask God to give you the grace to experience real spiritual expectation? That your heart and your soul might come alive with anticipation for Christ, the way a child might anticipate Christmas morning?

As you enter Christmas weekend, you will shift from anticipation to fulfillment. From waiting for consolation, to the presence of consolation Himself. You will not just have your eyes on the horizon, you will BEHOLD the savior of the world Himself. Pray now for you, and in your faith community, and in the global church, as we together hold our open arms out to welcoming this infant savior.

Meditate this weekend on the word: BEHOLD. Allow it to remind you when you are distracted by many good things. Ask God to give you ‘good eyes’ with which to see Him, and the gift of faith, that you might experience Him, this Christmastime.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

Behold, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome in…

In the name of the Father, and the son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music: "Behold" - Heaven & Earth (YouTube)