We rejoice, for the Light of the World has come to darkness. Jesus Christ is the Light that no darkness can overcome. Advent is a season of preparation as God’s people watch and wait for Christ. We will be pondering the songs found in the gospel of Luke. The song of an old priest named Zechariah. Mary, the pregnant teenager. And angels come to shepherds in the countryside. We ponder these songs and rejoice.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Luke 1:78-79
“… because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness”
Meditation: The Sun Always Rises
Today’s meditation is written by Allison Lewis.
With the end of Daylight Savings, you’ve probably noticed that the sunlight fades earlier and earlier. By 4:30 p.m., it’s almost completely dark outside. We need lights —from a lamp, a fire, candles or a flashlight — to help us see where we are going.
The darkness looms.
The silence lengthens.
The world feels heavy.
We drift into sleep.
We wonder when the light will return.
In Luke 1, the priest called Zechariah is in a darkness of his own. As he waits for the birth of his son, whom the Lord promised, Zechariah has been silenced for his doubt. He cannot speak until the child is born.
Yet when John arrives, the Lord allows Zechariah to speak again. At the end of Luke 1, we read a beautiful song from the priest himself. Luke records that “Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied” (Luke 1:67). I love the very last portion of Zechariah’s prophecy. It says:
“…because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness” (Luke 1:78-79).
Zechariah’s song reminds us that God is merciful to us, despite our sin. In fact, God’s mercy is described as “tender.” It is soft and warm, and it wraps us up like a cozy blanket.
This phrase, “tender mercy,” reminds us that our God is one who takes action.
Rather than leave his people in the dark, our God causes the sun to rise each morning (Luke 1:78). This light is holy, offering comfort and joy to those who sit in the heaviness and darkness of a sinful world. Every sunrise, God demonstrates he is present with us. We are never alone in the dark.
Dear Lord, thank you for providing light to guide us each day. Let the sunrise remind me of your love and mercy for me. Help me to be a light to others, that they may see your love through me. Amen.
Prayer for the Church
· For my local congregation, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
· For Christians across my community and city.
· For my denomination or church body.
· For repentance where God’s people have failed or erred.
· For the mission of God given to his people, that all nations know Him.
· For the church where she is persecuted for Christ’s name.
· For church plants and mission frontiers.
· For workers in the harvest: pastors, teachers, evangelists, servants.
· For the everyday, ordinary Christian to serve and witness as the priesthood of all believers.
· For the small, overlooked, and undervalued parts of the body of Christ.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, as the church waits eagerly for the triumphant return of your son Jesus, may we love and serve others in our waiting and so reflect the light of the coming King. Amen!