Matthew 17:10-13 Advent Devotional

Advent Devotional for Friday, December 12, 2008

Week 2: HOPE

After the transfiguration, as Jesus and the disciples were coming down the mountain, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah already came, and did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that Jesus was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Mt. 17:10-13

One summer I rode up Mt. Washington hoping for a glimpse of the state of New Hampshire. When I reached the top I was in a bank of clouds and could not see anything. I saw New Hampshire as I drove along the highways and met people, not on top of a mountain. Hope is like that. We hope for peace in our hearts, families, nation and world but all we see are clouds of division. We are “muddled.”

Advent is a time of hope; a time of waiting. The strange thing about hope is that what we long for is already here but not recognizable except through faith; just like the valley below Mt. Washington. God sent Jesus to save us; to give us hope. He is our brother who guides us on the right path.

What is this path on which we must walk? John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ lives give us some insight: love God and love your neighbor. If we want to know, love and serve God, we must get to know, love and serve our neighbor, even those whom we dislike. Both Jesus and John the Baptist were murdered because they preached and lived love of God and neighbor.

During this time of Advent:

· Choose someone whom you dislike and do something nice and/or pray for that person.
· Reflect on how he or she reacted and how doing the good deed made you feel. Did your act of kindness, prayer bring that person and/or you hope?

By Madeline Muller, HM, Information/Data Coordinator