Second Sunday of Advent – Sunday, December 10, 2023 – Morning

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

Illustration by Courtney Kuszmar, age 11

Each year, we conclude our Thanksgiving meal with everyone sharing their specific thanks; as you can imagine, important things like family, good friends, and health are often repeated. This year, there were some new sentiments in the mix- successful first semesters at college, medals from a first karate tournament, and even a list shared in sign language. As our seven-year-old got ready to share, I smiled with anticipation; she is the youngest at the table and I always love to hear what the littles are thankful for. In her long and adorable list, I was struck when she said, “I am thankful to my parents for giving birth to me.”

Elizabeth’s words made me think about baby Jesus as we head into the Advent season. Amidst all the hardship in the world right now, there is something comforting about the baby in the manger, something beautifully simple (and yet incredibly miraculous) about Mary, Joseph, and the animals gathered around this gift to the world. Sometimes, it feels like the hope and expectation of waiting for this extraordinary birthday gets lost in the overly commercialized celebration of Christmas. I am guilty of getting so focused on my list of gifts to buy that I don’t spend enough time reflecting on the greatest gift of all. This Advent season, I want to cling to gratitude and rest in God’s love a bit more. I want to be still, pausing to notice the little joys – the sweet words of children, the connections with neighbors and strangers alike.

In recent months, I heard several people use the phrase “now and not yet” to describe God’s kingdom- the idea that we get glimpses of eternity now as we share what we are thankful for around a dinner table, and yet we feel so far from it as we watch the devastation of war in so many parts of our world. It’s the notion that we can feel God’s presence in the stillness of the morning, and yet we weep with neighbors and friends grieving the loss of loved ones or wrestling with addiction. The “now and not yet”- the joy of the birth of Christ and the longing for the restoration he promises to bring to all one day.

Lord, help me to be still, to practice gratitude, and to notice and deeply feel God’s love now, even as I experience the not yet. 

Katherine Martin 

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