Advent Daily Reflection 2020-12-02
John 1.1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Words, words, words, pages filled with words, word clouds, word walls, spewing words… As I’ve limped out of this election season--somewhat tattered and battered but thankfully recovering sleep, sanity, and slowly relationships—I’ve given a lot of thought to words and their purposes: To name. To communicate. To persuade. To obscure. To confuse. To encourage. To embolden.
In reading this scripture, the poetic opening cadence brought me back to Genesis with God calling forth creation, and this thought leapt out at me: Words give life, and we must be intentional about the life we wish to bring forth.
Indeed, I recently inscribed in my journal and my heart this prayer of Howard Thurman: “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace. Teach me how to order my days with such sure touch that I may say the right word at the right time and in the right way—lest I betray the spirit of peace.” And, in recent moments fraught with tension, I meditated on this intention of being an instrument of God’s peace through my words.
But the scripture is not just about words, it is about the Word incarnate: Jesus! Who brings light everlasting, who overcomes all darkness! And Jesus is ultimately about Love.
So, in this new season – the season of Advent – perhaps we should put aside our words and instead open our hearts and minds to the love of Jesus.
Lord, let us set aside our own words and instead open our hearts to your Word coming alive inside us and among us. That we may radiate your love and peace in all that we are and all that we do.