Multimedia Advent Devotional – Week 1-7, Saturday
2024:
Week 1, Saturday:
• Scripture: Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8 (Pam Cammarata)
• Reflection (Judi Campbell)
• Prayer (Paul Sculley)
• Artwork: “Nativity” (P. Solomon Raj)
• Music: “Lord of the Harvest” (Fred Hammond) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxrbm-eHNqU
2023:
Week 1, Saturday:
- Scripture – Matthew 9:35–10:1, 7-8 (Karis Sculley)
- Reflection (Karen Sculley)
- Prayer (Tamera Neal)
- Artwork: “The Nativity” (Federico Barocci)
- Music: “Give As Freely” (GroupMusic) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYWtwCaVaQw
Reflection on Matthew 9:35–10:1, 7-8 – “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ … Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness … ‘As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.’”
I especially love the imagery of a shepherd and sheep because I enjoyed many stays at sheep farms during my childhood. I bottle fed orphans, drenched sheep, and tailed and castrated lambs. I love the smell of a sheep barn during shearing season! The words “The Lord is my shepherd” bring my heart peace and comfort and security and joy!
Even though tools and techniques may have changed across centuries and cultures, the roles of good shepherds remain much the same. A good shepherd devotes much time and attention toward providing nutritional needs of their flock. Sheep are notoriously prone to illness and stress, and preventive measures comprise a large part of their overall care. No sheep wants to be plunged into a medicinal tank, but a good shepherd does so to protect them from parasite infestation. Good shepherds tend to injured sheep, doing whatever they can to promote healing.
Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated that the kingdom of heaven is here and cared compassionately for people in every conceivable way. Jesus equips and empowers each of his followers to do the same! As Christ-followers, we get to feed the hungry and tend to the sick and do myriads of small things for others with great love, in the power of the Holy Spirit and for the greater glory of God! Consider today the ones to whom is the Lord directing you to proclaim and demonstrate the good news that hope has come – Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!
2022:
Week 1, Saturday:
- Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11 (Nancy Penton)
- Reflection (Karen Sculley)
- Prayer (John Trotter)
- Artwork: “Protection” (Reyjavik, Iceland)
- Music: “Come Jesus, Prince of Peace” (Diane Hannibal and Brad Nix) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaWX-k11GWo
Reflection on Isaiah 40:1-11 (NRSVCE) – “Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”
There is so much to reflect on in this passage, filled with assurances of God’s comfort, freedom, and restoration; His lifting up, leveling out, and smoothing off. There are promises that God’s glory will be revealed, and all people will see it together. Even though we wither, and our best attempts at goodness and kindness fade, God’s promises are perpetually and faithfully fulfilled. We do not need to fear because God is here! The Lord God comes in strength, to reign and to reward faithfulness. How does he do that? Not by religion, rules, or regulations. God reigns relationally, caring for us as a shepherd cares for his flock – feeding us, gathering us in his arms, carrying us in his bosom, and gently leading us. One of my favorite names by which Jesus introduces himself is in the gospel of John, when Jesus says twice and explains again and again, “I am the good shepherd.” The Kingdom of God is one characterized by love, with relational caring, feeding, gathering, carrying, and gentleness. May we each learn to know and love our Good Shepherd’s voice, and follow Him wherever He leads us. As we together follow Christ, God’s Kingdom, God’s beautiful future breaks into our present experience, and the Holy Spirit enables us to join with the Father in what He is doing in the world, carryings the words and works of Jesus into every arena of human life. Herald of good tidings, here is your God! See, the Lord God comes!
Each short Multimedia Advent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season. Advent is a period in which we are invited to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.
This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church
