Advent Devotional - Day 7

Saturday, December 5
Romans 8:18-39

My very favorite Christmas tradition is my father’s annual rendition of “O Holy Night.” In my childhood, the pinnacle of Christmas Eve would be my father singing this beautiful song as my Aunt Leslie played the piano. Traditions are forced to evolve as we grow and, in recent years, my father belted out “O Holy Night” during car rides home from family parties and even in an airport.

The first verse of the song always deeply resonates with me. Through the lyrics, the authors express our dependency on God and our yearning for a “thrill of hope.”

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born

After nine months of a global pandemic, we could use a new and glorious morn. While I can’t quite hear the angel voices just yet, I see God actively at work among us and I believe deeply in the new day She is creating.

Romans 8 promises that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. The Holy Spirit is among us, within us and beside us. She gives all of creation a reason to fall on their knees in celebration of the Holy night in which Jesus was born.

Reflection by Judith Rowland