Week of Sabbath I, Day Four, Evening Devotion

Prayer for hope and healing:

Blessed Lord,
I am your servant. Lead me onto your pathways, nudge me in the direction you would have me go, and lift me up when I stumble. I depend on you, even as I turn to you with all of my heart.
Amen

Reading: From Luke’s gospel, chapter two: Glory to God in the Highest!

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 -->Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 -->But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 -->to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Christ+e --> the Lord. 12 -->This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 -->And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, army+e --> praising God and saying,
14 -->‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace.’peace, goodwill among people+e -->

Meditation:

Babies are so tiny and so fragile. So it’s always kind of a surprise when they open their mouths.
Having done a lot of restaurant work, I know that a baby has the power to redirect the attention of everyone in a room. Usually in good ways—by the power of their absolute adorableness. And sometimes they command a room by the power of their lungs.
The point is, babies are a great paradox. They are simultaneously fragile and powerful. Which is probably why the fulfillment of God’s promise came in the form of a baby. Because the promise is full of power, and still it is a delicate thing. It requires our attention, our assention, our best effort.

--How can you hold the power of the promise, and care for it as well?

Prayer of joy:

Gracious One,
I give you thanks for the gift of the baby Jesus—the perfect vision of your promise. May I continue to kneel at his feet, just as wise men and shepherds did so long ago.
Amen