Micah 5:2-5a, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-55
He takes away the first to establish the second. This statement of Paul’s certainly makes sense in our world’s today too. We can’t put away all our new Christmas presents, without making room, without taking away some of last years’ presents. Sometimes we have to let go of old friends, before we can establish new ones.This ‘making way for the new’ happens in two ways; either we make room first and fill the space with the newness when it arrives. Or sometimes, we acquire the new and work backwards, then making the space that’s needed.
Theologically speaking, the second convenant, which was brought about when Jesus was born, lived, died and rose again, replaced the first convenant that the Lord had made with only the Jewish people. That was a fine convenant, made with fine people, however, the Lord always seems to be expanding and extending His outreach. Case in point, He created the universe; it expands. So the second convenant includes more people than the first.
It is not a good guess then, that the Second Coming will expand and extend the Lord’s family even more so. And that is what Advent is about; not prep for Christmas or the first coming, but the Second Coming, whether you believe it to be a personal and/or cosmic end. Bill Barry SJ refers to this endeavor to grow the Kingdom as God’s family business, which we are all invited to work in. We are not expected to expand and extend this Kingdom by obligating people to change, but by rewriting that which limits and letting go of ‘first things.’ Only in this way can a new way can be established.
Journal Questions:
What new ideas, people and situations have come into your life this year? What did you need to let go over to make room?
Who or what is no longer in your life? What did you fill the empty space with?
How can you expand and extend God’s Kingdom? How will you help the Lord in the family business?
Writing to Pray 