"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 10 December 2016 “Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 10 December 2016 “Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263) 
-------

“Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.1. Savior of the nations, come;
virgin's son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth:
God has chosen such a birth.
2. Not by human flesh and blood,
but the mystic Breath of God,
was the Word of God made flesh,
fruit of woman, blossom fresh.
3. Wondrous birth--oh, wondrous child--
from his throne, a virgin mild!
Very God, and Mary's son,
eager now his race to run!
4. From God's heart the Savior speeds,
back to God his pathway leads;
out to vanquish death's command,
back to reign at God's right hand.
5. Now your manger, shining bright,
hallows night with newborn light.
Night cannot this light subdue;
let our faith shine ever new.
6. Praise we sing to Christ the Lord,
virgin's son, incarnate Word!
To the holy Trinity
praise we sing eternally!
"Savior of the Nations, Come" Text copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. No further reproduction or distribution allowed without the written permission of Augsburg Fortress.
-------
The third verse of the hymn "Savior of the Nations, Come" announces our hope--the one who stands on the morning horizon, contemplating the journey ahead. The imagery comes from Psalm 19, "In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and runs its course with joy." The sun's light and joy characterize this coming in Psalm 19, but this is not the only imagery in the psalm. It begins with the surprising lines, "day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech... their voice is not heard." The one who comes, the one who surprises us at every moment, holding and directing and leading and guiding us in every moment, is not seen or heard as we see and hear and hold ordinary things. The little child comes not to hurt or destroy but to quietly gather all humanity and all creation into one communion.
Gather us all in, O God, as one family around the manger. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary -------
Friday, December 09, 2016 with Scripture Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1 It was during those days that Yochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert of Y’hudah and began proclaiming the message, 2 “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” 3 This is the man Yesha‘yahu was talking about when he said,
“The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert prepare the way of Adonai!
Make straight paths for him!’”[Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3]
4 Yochanan wore clothes of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Yerushalayim, from all Y’hudah, and from the whole region around the Yarden. 6 Confessing their sins, they were immersed by him in the Yarden River.
7 But when Yochanan saw many of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim coming to be immersed by him, he said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment? 8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it! 9 And don’t suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, ‘Avraham is our father’! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones! 10 Already the axe is at the root of the trees, ready to strike; every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown in the fire! 11 It’s true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. 12 He has with him his winnowing fork; and he will clear out his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn but burning up the straw with unquenchable fire!”[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
In the gospel reading, we are reminded of the origin of the season of Advent as a penitential season. In some parishes and church communities, the color is still purple (repentance) rather than blue (hope). Yet both penance and hope are rooted in Jesus Christ. Self-examination and confession are a response to Christ's coming. Christ's merciful presence washes away all those things that hold us back, that keep us prisoners in ourselves. We confess those self-centered impulses. Hope defines our vigilant waiting: for the one who comes with the Holy Spirit and fire. That is, we wait for the one who continually renews our life, giving us ever-new beginnings. John the Baptist can only point to that one who is coming. Our whole lives desire to be like John the Baptist's witness: pointing to our deep hope in the one who comes, the little child leading the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf and the lion, the one in whom peace is embodied.
O God, may our lives be as John the Baptist, always pointing to the merciful love of Jesus. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' "
4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."[New Revised Standard Version]
-------
Thursday, December 08, 2016 with Scripture Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3:1 It was during those days that Yochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert of Y’hudah and began proclaiming the message, 2 “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” 3 This is the man Yesha‘yahu was talking about when he said,
“The voice of someone crying out:
‘In the desert prepare the way of Adonai!
Make straight paths for him!’”[Matthew 3:3 Isaiah 40:3]
4 Yochanan wore clothes of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Yerushalayim, from all Y’hudah, and from the whole region around the Yarden. 6 Confessing their sins, they were immersed by him in the Yarden River.
7 But when Yochanan saw many of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim coming to be immersed by him, he said to them, “You snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming punishment? 8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it! 9 And don’t suppose you can comfort yourselves by saying, ‘Avraham is our father’! For I tell you that God can raise up for Avraham sons from these stones! 10 Already the axe is at the root of the trees, ready to strike; every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown in the fire! 11 It’s true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. 12 He has with him his winnowing fork; and he will clear out his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn but burning up the straw with unquenchable fire!”[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
Our shared hope is not dependent on ourselves, on our own goodness or ability, on our own community, no matter how good and cozy our faith community may feel to us. Our shared hope is not in our identity, just as John the Baptizer reminded the people of Israel: do not rely on the fact that you are children of Abraham. God in fact raises up children from what is lifeless, from the dead. Here we are reminded of our baptismal hope. In baptism we have died to the identities, the cultural and societal norms that we have created for ourselves or in which we find some solace or meaning. Baptism is first of all a death (literally immersion, a drowning!). A dead person can do nothing on their own! But God steps in and pulls us up out of the waters, raises us to new life, new identity, new creation. It is now in this new creation that we live and wait and hope and welcome and witness as community that completely belongs to Jesus Christ.
O God, continually make new what is dead in us. Enliven our hope that we may welcome and witness as those who belong to Christ. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,
2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' "
4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."[New Revised Standard Version]

-------
Wednesday, December 07, 2016 with Scripture Romans 15:4-13

Romans 15:4 For everything written in the past was written to teach us, so that with the encouragement of the Tanakh we might patiently hold on to our hope. 5 And may God, the source of encouragement and patience, give you the same attitude among yourselves as the Messiah Yeshua had, 6 so that with one accord and with one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
7 So welcome each other, just as the Messiah has welcomed you into God’s glory. 8 For I say that the Messiah became a servant of the Jewish people in order to show God’s truthfulness by making good his promises to the Patriarchs, 9 and in order to show his mercy by causing the Gentiles to glorify God — as it is written in the Tanakh,
“Because of this I will acknowledge you among the Gentiles
and sing praise to your name.”[Romans 15:9 2 Samuel 22:50, Psalm 18:50(49)]
10 And again it says,
“Gentiles, rejoice with his people.”[Romans 15:10 Deuteronomy 32:43]
11 And again,
“Praise Adonai, all Gentiles!
Let all peoples praise him!”[Romans 15:11 Psalm 117:1]
12 And again, Yesha‘yahu says,
“The root of Yishai will come,
he who arises to rule Gentiles;
Gentiles will put their hope in him.”[Romans 15:12 Isaiah 11:10]
13 May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh you may overflow with hope.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
A life of faith is a journey ever deeper into that righteousness of God that has been made known to us in Jesus. Our hope, as we light the Advent candles and perhaps open daily an Advent calendar, is to grow ever more in that righteousness, to experience it continually in our lives. This is the hope in which we live by faith. This is the hope that Paul writes about in Romans--a hope that expresses itself in reconciliation as the faithful community lives in harmony, not in judgment. Together in this hope, God is praised. "With one voice" we glorify God. This praise is not simply the praise of our songs but praise that is a shared hope. Our praise is also as specific as a shared welcome: welcome one another. This radical welcome knows no boundaries or color or class.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,
6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name";
10 and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people";
11 and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him";
12 and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope."
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.[New Revised Standard Version]


-------
Tuesday, December 06, 2016 with Scripture Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Psalm 72:(0) By Shlomo:
(1) God, give the king your fairness in judgment,
endow this son of kings with your righteousness,
2 so that he can govern your people rightly
and your poor with justice.
3 May mountains and hills provide your people
with peace through righteousness.
4 May he defend the oppressed among the people,
save the needy and crush the oppressor.
5 May they fear you as long as the sun endures
and as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on mown grass,
like showers watering the land.
7 In his days, let the righteous flourish
and peace abound, till the moon is no more.
18 Blessed be Adonai, God,
the God of Isra’el,
who alone works wonders.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever,
and may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen. Amen.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
The verses from Psalm 72 give a frame to our hope for the one who comes. Here we find justice and judgment linked together, something that does not always happen in our court and judicial systems. God's judgment, embodied in God's son, brings justice for all, righteousness, which is not morally-right living but economic and social parity for all people. The poor are named, those left out by systems that see wealth belonging to some and not others. All of creation and all of humanity belong together. The resources of the earth are not owned by some and bought by others. Righteousness is all encompassing. It touches the spiritual, the realm of the heart, and it touches the physical, the realm of the body so that everyone lives justly. Martin Luther comments in the Large Catechism that God's concern is a deeply physical concern for all human beings: that they all are fed and clothed.
Blessed be the Lord our God who alone does wondrous things, who makes righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more! Amen.
Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Psalm 72:1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
5 May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
7 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more...
18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.[New Revised Standard Version]



-------
Monday, December 05, 2016 with Scripture Isaiah 11:1-10

Isaiah 11:1 But a branch will emerge from the trunk of Yishai,
a shoot will grow from his roots.
2 The Spirit of Adonai will rest on him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and power,
the Spirit of knowledge and fearing Adonai —
3 he will be inspired by fearing Adonai.
He will not judge by what his eyes see
or decide by what his ears hear,
4 but he will judge the impoverished justly;
he will decide fairly for the humble of the land.
He will strike the land with a rod from his mouth
and slay the wicked with a breath from his lips.
5 Justice will be the belt around his waist,
faithfulness the sash around his hips.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb;
the leopard lie down with the kid;
calf, young lion and fattened lamb together,
with a little child to lead them.
7 Cow and bear will feed together,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 An infant will play on a cobra’s hole,
a toddler put his hand in a viper’s nest.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
anywhere on my holy mountain,
for the earth will be as full
of the knowledge of Adonai
as water covering the sea.
10 On that day the root of Yishai,
which stands as a banner for the peoples —
the Goyim will seek him out,
and the place where he rests will be glorious.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
A reflection among biblical scholars ponders the meaning of "root of Jesse." Some understand it literally as referring to the father of King David. The one who comes arises out of the royal branch. Other scholars ponder the significance of verse 1 and the "branch of" the root of Jesse. They argue that the community itself is an expression of the root. This second interpretation holds much potential and is certainly not in contradiction to the first. What does it mean for us today to consider the faith community itself as a sign, as an ongoing sign of God's marvelous deed, God's coming, God's incarnation in Jesus Christ? In fact, our faith communities are called to be that witness, the living body of Christ in the world, for the neighbor. In this context, we repeat the prayer spoken at every baptism as we invoke the Holy Spirit on the newly baptized:

O God, sustain us with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.

Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Isaiah 11:1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.[New Revised Standard Version]




-------
Sunday, December 04, 2016 “Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)

“Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)
1. Savior of the nations, come;
virgin's son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth:
God has chosen such a birth.
2. Not by human flesh and blood,
but the mystic Breath of God,
was the Word of God made flesh,
fruit of woman, blossom fresh.
3. Wondrous birth--oh, wondrous child--
from his throne, a virgin mild!
Very God, and Mary's son,
eager now his race to run!
4. From God's heart the Savior speeds,
back to God his pathway leads;
out to vanquish death's command,
back to reign at God's right hand.
5. Now your manger, shining bright,
hallows night with newborn light.
Night cannot this light subdue;
let our faith shine ever new.
6. Praise we sing to Christ the Lord,
virgin's son, incarnate Word!
To the holy Trinity
praise we sing eternally!
"Savior of the Nations, Come" Text copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. No further reproduction or distribution allowed without the written permission of Augsburg Fortress.
-------
The Advent hymn "Savior of the Nations, Come" throws us into the midst of a paradox in its second and third verses. Not of human flesh and blood but by the breath of God, yet fruit of woman, born of and in humanity. Very God and Mary's son! This mystery is too deep to comprehend. Our own attempts at rationalization or understanding are suspended and an attitude of marvel once again becomes our only way of entering into what God is doing. God is doing something new. God is doing something unexpected in this wondrous birth, in this wondrous child who comes. Tradition has equated this child with the root of Jesse. This child now stands as a sign for how God acts in our midst. God comes to us not in majesty, not with fanfare, not with thunder and lightening and terrible works that leave the earth trembling and smoldering--as many apocalyptic dreams would have it--but humbly, in a child, in a human being; simply, without resources, in a manger; and then faithfully, on a cross. This is the sign God gives us.

O God, hold us in the spirit of the gospel: joy, simplicity and mercy. Amen.

Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary -------
Saturday, December 03, 2016 “Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)

“Savior of the Nations, Come” (ELW 263)
1. Savior of the nations, come;
virgin's son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth:
God has chosen such a birth.
2. Not by human flesh and blood,
but the mystic Breath of God,
was the Word of God made flesh,
fruit of woman, blossom fresh.
3. Wondrous birth--oh, wondrous child--
from his throne, a virgin mild!
Very God, and Mary's son,
eager now his race to run!
4. From God's heart the Savior speeds,
back to God his pathway leads;
out to vanquish death's command,
back to reign at God's right hand.
5. Now your manger, shining bright,
hallows night with newborn light.
Night cannot this light subdue;
let our faith shine ever new.
6. Praise we sing to Christ the Lord,
virgin's son, incarnate Word!
To the holy Trinity
praise we sing eternally!
"Savior of the Nations, Come" Text copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. No further reproduction or distribution allowed without the written permission of Augsburg Fortress.
-------

During this first week of Advent, we have considered what it means to marvel with heaven and with earth at God's coming. To marvel is to wake up and be vigilant. It is to see God at work in places and in persons we never expected. It is to have our usual categories of judgment (and self-justification) turned upside down and inside out. Our relationship to everyone and everything around us is different as we wait, for we know that we wait together, in community, and with all of creation. We leave behind the darkness of judgment, building walls and protecting ourselves from the unfamiliar. We take the risk of welcoming the neighbor no matter how different they may be from us. We take the risk of being surprised by God who comes to us in the unexpected at every moment.

Come, O God, make here your home. Transfigure our inclination to self-justification and surprise us with your goodness. Amen.

Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary -------
Friday, December 02, 2016 with Scripture Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. 37 For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. 40 Then there will be two men in a field — one will be taken and the other left behind. 41 There will be two women grinding flour at the mill — one will be taken and the other left behind. 42 So stay alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
Apocalyptic texts for Advent certainly have their place in the cycle of our readings and in the formation of our spiritual life. They remind us that Christ has already come and that our waiting is for that unexpected advent of God in any moment--which really means in every moment. In every moment of our lives, God is. God appears, God can surprise us, whether we see God or not. Our faith is characterized by this vigilant waiting--not for some far off event, not for some horrific or catastrophic or dramatic second coming in the future but for a continual "second coming" in every moment of life, now. Every encounter, every event, every moment is full with God's presence. We need not fear because God's presence, which is described in our texts this week as God's judgment, is always one of compassion, of peace, leading us to leave behind works of darkness and be clothed in light.

God, make our hearts vigilant that we may discern your merciful presence in every moment of our life. Amen.

Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Matthew 24:36 "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.[New Revised Standard Version]
-------
Thursday, December 01, 2016 with Scripture Matthew 24:36-44

Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. 37 For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. 40 Then there will be two men in a field — one will be taken and the other left behind. 41 There will be two women grinding flour at the mill — one will be taken and the other left behind. 42 So stay alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.[Complete Jewish Bible]
-------
Advent is a time of refocusing. As we marvel at the wondrous act of God coming to us, our marvel silences us, silences our own expectations and opens our eyes to God's unexpected and surprising work in our midst. As we read the gospel for this week, our initial response may be of dismay. "About the day and the hour, no one knows..." God's judgment does not seem merciful at all but rather arbitrary and unfair. But perhaps we are looking at this passage from the perspective of our own anxiety: am "I" to be taken or left behind? The gospel however refocuses the question: this is not about God's judgment of which we can know nothing but about our own inability to judge. None of our communities are perfect, none of us are perfect (to know the hour). None of us are given the right to judge. Rather, as we wait, we are always humbly and simply neighbors one to another.

God, in our waiting, help us to let go of our own anxieties, knowing that you are ever merciful. Amen.

Dirk G. Lange
Associate Dean, Graduate Theological Education and Fredrik A. Schiotz Chair of Missions and Professor of Worship, Luther Seminary
Matthew 24:36 "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.
42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.[New Revised Standard Version]
-------