Advent Devotional - Day 22

Sunday, December 20
The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Every Sunday during Advent we invite you to join us in lighting an Advent wreath in your home. These wreaths can be elaborate parts of your Christmas decor, or they can simply be four candles gathered from around the house (Pinterest is full of inspiration).

Traditionally, many families light their Advent candle at dinnertime or during an evening quiet time. Each week another candle is lit to mark time and bring more light as Christmas draws nearer.

As you light your wreath consider these words...
[Light the first three candles of the Advent wreath.]

After the angel came to Mary and told her that she would conceive the child in her womb and would call him Jesus, Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38, NRSV.)

And Mary sings her Song of Praise:

…My soul magnifies the Lord…he has scattered the proud

…He has brought down the powerful from their thrones

…He has lifted up the lowly

…He has filled the hungry

…He has provided for the poor (Luke 1:46-55)

We marvel at Mary, the mother of the Messiah, herself a single, teenaged mother, herself poor and powerless. But she understood that the baby she would call Jesus was sent, not just to her, but to the world…

…To the hungry
…To the weak
…To the very young and the very old
…To those who suffer or are in pain

[Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath.]

We light this fourth candle to remember Mary, the mother of Jesus. May the light of this candle also remind us that the light of Jesus shines for everyone.

Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Adapted from umcdiscipleship.com