First Week of Advent: Short Slow Readings.

 

Jesus unrolled the scroll

  and found the place

  where it was written… (Luke 4:11).

 Jesus begins his earthly ministry among us with a reading from the scroll of Isaiah. When he read, “the eyes of the congregation were fixed on him” (Lk 4:20). Wouldn’t it be something to hear Jesus read scripture?

It was a short reading on that Sabbath day when the synagogue attendant handed Jesus the scroll of Isaiah. Out of his freedom, Jesus chose just a couple of verses to read aloud in the hearing of the gathered community. He must have known the whole scroll well enough to find the few verses he was looking for: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” (Lk 4:18). After the reading, Jesus said: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled…” (Lk 4:21).

Jennifer asked me to choose our Advent readings. She suggested something simple and easy for the family to read and discuss. So I’ve chosen brief and simple readings. It’s a pattern Jesus gives us. It allows for slow reading, maybe even memorizing a verse of two, followed by some reflection on how “this scripture has been fulfilled.” Advent isn’t Advent without the reading of scripture.

Readings for the First Week of Advent: Hope.

Monday:       Genesis 1:1-5        &  John 1:1-5

Tuesday:       Genesis 1:26-27   &  Colossians 1:15-17

Wednesday: Genesis 3:15         &  Romans 16:20

Thursday:     Genesis 9:12-16   &  Romans 8:18-25

Friday:           Genesis 12:1-3   &  Matthew 1:1, Romans 4:18

Saturday:      Jeremiah 17:13-14 & Romans 15:12-13