Fourth Saturday of Advent

Scripture Reading for Today:

Genesis 37:2-11

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Psalm 96

1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Advent Solidarity

by Rohadi

Author

Rohadi is a thought leader on building diverse organizations and communities, church planting, and decolonizing and deconstructing Christianity. He lives in Canada, on Treaty 7 Lands, otherwise known as Calgary. He holds a Business Certificate from Mount Royal College, a BA in Economics from the University of Calgary, and a Master of Divinity from Canadian Theological Seminary.

In the areas of church planting, missional thinking, and church revitalization, he is both a practitioner and thought leader. He has written extensively in the areas of missions and church leadership. Some of those ideas can be found in his book, Thrive. Ideas to lead the church in post-Christendom.

His experience includes non-profit work in both governance and organizational development. Find him online: Website: www.rohadi.com, on Twitter: @rohadi, & Instagram: @rohadi.nagassar

Discover Rohadi’s latest book, When We Belong. Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins from Herald Press.

Linger in the final moments of this season's Advent journey with a deep breath...and exhale. Pause this morning, noon, or evening to listen intently to the way your body feels in this moment. What do you sense? Smell? Hear? Feel? How are you holding the Christmas hustle? The seasonal blues? The pandemic woes? Exhale. Exhale a deep breath as it disappears into a frigid Canadian winter's eve…

When we s-l-o-w down and listen to what our bodies are saying, we embody a micro-expression of Advent. Slow is countercultural, just like Advent. A season I value because it also intentionally dwells in a rhythm of darkness. We can discard any pretense that everything in our lives or around us is just fine. Rather, we are invited to adopt a posture that reaches for a particular destination: deliverance. Deliverance from all that seeks to make us less whole in favour of liberation.

Today's readings: Isaiah 9:2-7; Ps 96; Luke 1-2:1-14.

Weaving through the Gospel stories surrounding the birth of Jesus reveals a picture beyond tranquil creche scenes and marvelous angelic encounters. The storytelling retains a stark honesty by inserting the transcendent birth of the Saviour within its geopolitical reality. It begins with a lament for liberation from the Romans. Then it journeys through Caesar’s call for a census. Finally, it trails off with a noble visit from foreign dignitaries at the heels of Herod’s fearful suspicion. The narrative portrays the need for a saviour as being specifically tied to the need for deliverance from opposing powers. It’s worth noting that this deliverance is not speaking to an individual liberation, rather matches the real cries to find release from shackles of oppression that can be touched and felt.

Advent brings the past into the present, a reminder that these are not mere stories, rather invitations to dwell in the darkness that surrounds us, longing for tangible liberation. The tension we bear is how we can bear witness to God’s faithfulness to produce said liberation while sitting in a reality where brokenness surrounds us like a mist that won’t lift.

Stop. Name the woes that may surround you. The Christmas hustle, the seasonal blues, the pandemic woes. The wars around the world, the murdered Indigenous women and girls, the disabled pushed further into obscurity. Stop. Listen to your body. Listen to the cries of your neighbor. What can you name?

When we name our woes, we drag them closer to the light, raising a voice that speaks truth while piercing the dark. Advent is the space that amplifies these voices. It is Elizabeth’s body that speaks truth to God’s faithfulness. Lowly shepherds are the first outsiders to hear about a divine liberator who would emerge to deliver a nation. It is Mary who sings a bold witness to God's faithfulness to counter the force of an empire. Prophetic voices on the margins who represented truth against malformed power in hopes for deliverance.

The longing for liberation was a ubiquitous trait amongst the Israelites, who were in the process of being colonized by yet another foreign power. The kind of liberation Jesus brought was, however, unique. Liberation from oppression may come through the sword, but the way of Jesus adopts a completely different option. This way is displayed with clear literary irony in the story of Barabbas, where both Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Barabbas are named as liberators. But only one toppled empires and darkness by offering himself as the non-violent antidote. Only one triumphed over death to usher in a reign of possibilities for a collective vision unto new life. It’s in these possibilities that we may discover the liberation we seek, although curiously, for whom deliverance awaits is quite specific.

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” Luke 2:14

Who does God favour? Mary offers a glimpse. She defies the empire, the rich, and the proud, and instead reflects on who God chooses: the poor, the hungry, and the merciful. Mary is not merely speaking about individuals but glimpses an expansive vision for a new collective way of being. She not only speaks into her moment but is also prophetically foretelling what the way of Jesus will look like by describing who it will include.

Who is included? “And you’ve heard it said, the last shall be first, and the first last.”

What does it look like? “The rod of the oppressors shattered…peace there will be no end. A kingdom upholding justice and righteousness.”

As we trail off this Advent season, many linger in the dark, waiting for vindication that the light will win out. We reach for a specific kind of deliverance in solidarity with a Liberator who first draws near to those searching for tangible liberation from all that ain’t right at home and in our world. Are you reaching for the light? Are you standing in solidarity? Deep breath. Exhale.

Thank you for reading the New Leaf Advent Reader, a collection of reflections from writers across Canada. If you are enjoying the reader, sign up to receive the readings in your inbox each day here: SIGN UP

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