November 29, 2024

Today's Reading: Introit for Advent 1 - Psalm 89:6, 14-16, 18; antiphon: Zechariah 9:9b, alt.

Daily Lectionary:Isaiah 5:1-25; Amos 1:1-9:15; 1 Peter 2:1-12

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

 As Advent approaches, the introit brings us to a strange place. It doesn’t bring us to the manger, or to the stable, or any place of the sort. Instead, it brings us to Jerusalem, to Palm Sunday of all places. Usually, the celebration is at the beginning of Holy Week. Yet, there is something I love about this— beginning the church year with the end in mind. That is what Advent is; it is the beginning of the end. In Advent, we prepare for Christ’s coming at the incarnation of Christmas, but not only that, we prepare for Christ’s second coming when He will bring the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God and bring about the new creation. 

 Jesus brings the kingdom of heaven down. He comes to us. He doesn’t demand that we climb the ladder of righteousness, bringing our good works as an offering to Him, no. He humbles Himself; our king comes to become one of us. A king who comes to conquer, riding in just as King Solomon rode into Jerusalem many years ago. Jesus comes as the one they have been waiting for, the one for whom we have waited. We begin Advent with the end in mind, knowing that this Jesus who came to us as a baby will also come again. When He comes again, He will come in glory, power, and might. He will come on the clouds of heaven, and He will come to swallow up death forever. 

 As we begin Advent, let us remember that we are Advent people. We live our lives with the end in mind, and we wait for Christ our King to triumphantly return at the end of all things. That end will bring about the beginning, the new. That end will usher in the new kingdom, the kingdom of God, the new creation. We wait for that day, we pray for that day, and we long for that day. So, live in the reality of Christ and live in the reality of the end in mind. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here your home! Marvel now, O heaven and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth. (LSB 332:1)

-Rev. Caleb Weight, associate pastor of Peace In Christ Lutheran Church in Hermantown, MN.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Spend time reading and meditating on God’s Word throughout the Church Year with the Enduring Grace Journal. Includes scripture readings, prayers, prompts, and space for journaling. The Church Year Journal, Enduring Grace, now available from Concordia Publishing House.