Second Week of Advent: Benediction.

 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

   the love of God,

   and the communion of the Holy Spirit

  be with all of you. (Second Corinthians 13:13)

For those lighting the candle of love during this second week of Advent, I thought it fitting that we end the week with a benediction first given to the church at Corinth by the Apostle Paul: “May the…love of God…be with you.” The blessing of God’s love has to do with “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” and “the communion of the Holy Spirit.” Always our triune God; for, “God is love” (1Jn 4:8). 

In another place, the Apostle speaks of Christ as the “demonstration of God’s love for us” for “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro 5:8). We could say the same for Christmas: While humanity was still in sin’s captivity, “God sent his Son, born of a woman …in order to set us free” (Ga 4:4-5, cf 5:1).  

This gracious love of God moves us into community. Our days of pandemic stay-at-home orders and social distancing remind us how love longs for communion. God’s love calls us to gather with the gathered and sing our song of praise.

Daily Readings for Second Week of Advent: Love

        Monday:       Jeremiah 31:3-6   &  First John 4:7-9

        Tuesday:       Psalm 145:8-9      &  John 3:16-17

        Wednesday: Psalm 145:11-14 &  Romans 8:38-39

        Thursday:     Isaiah 11:1-2        &  Luke 1:34-38

        Friday:           Isaiah 7:14           &  Matthew 1:18-25

        Saturday:      Psalm 98:3            &  Second Corinthians 13:13