Advent: Take Time, Slow Down, Open Up

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The "hardly noticeable" power of God

An excerpt from iGracias! by Henri J.M. Nouwen

"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, 

and from his roots a bud shall blossom. 

The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him . . ." 

(Isa.11:1-2).

Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.

I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the "shoot that shall sprout from the stump."

When I have no eyes for the small signs of God's presence - the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends - I will always remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices.

More at www.henrinouwen.org


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Doing the Letting

"Advent is about letting God come to us. We do the letting and God does the coming. And, the whole mystery of our faith is that God is not reluctant to come into an unusual relationship (like Mary and Joseph's) or to be born in the poverty of a makeshift stable. We are tempted to prepare for Advent by cleaning everything up first - by, in effect, saving ourselves first. Our opening to Advent is to realize we need saving and to accept the saving love of our God."

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/preparing-advent.html

 Letting God come is like letting the blue of the night sky overshadow and envelope the orange tint at sunset. In this, there is union, beauty and transformation - a new sun rising fresh each morn.

• How will you "do the letting" today?
• Do you believe that God is NOT reluctant to come to you - despite your lack and need?

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