The Magnificat
Advent is a season of waiting, but in this final week, our anticipation turns to joy and proclamation. Mary’s song, the Magnificat, offers a profound glimpse into how God works through humble people to fulfill His promises. Her words invite us to magnify the Lord and to live in alignment with God’s transformative vision for the world.
Preparing with purpose
In the years and months before Jesus’ arrival in the world, John the Baptist preaches with intensity and urgency, but his words are a call to a real, joyful transformation. Today, John lays out for us three ways to prepare this Advent with purpose: through repentance, generosity, and hope.
The dawn of a new day
During long nights with a baby that just won’t sleep, it can be difficult to see the end of it. But, when the dawn starts to break, there is hope that it’ll all be OK. There will still be a new day in front of us. There will be a tomorrow, and there is a chance it’ll be better than today was. This is the kind of hope that Jesus brings into the world.
Living in hopeful anticipation
Advent begins with the theme of anticipation—not just for Christmas, but for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. In a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty, Christ calls us to live in hopeful anticipation as we watch for His redemption.
A moment in time
As we prepare for Christmas through this Advent season, we are being reminded that our true preparation is for Jesus’ second coming. In our New Testament reading, Peter has some things to say about time—how much we depend on it and how little God does.
Stay awake
Advent is the season of preparation—preparing to remember Christ’s first coming at Christmas. As we begin this season, though, we are reminded that our true preparation is for his second coming which we continue to wait for. Today, though, the focus is less on what we are waiting for, but how we should wait.
A grand vision (Is. 11:1–10)
As we continue to prepare for Jesus’ birth at Christmas, we hear this vision of who Jesus is, what he will do, and what his kingdom is like.
Gather, grow, go (Is. 2:1–5)
This Advent season, we are going to journey through Isaiah. In the New Testament, no prophet is quoted more than Isaiah. Today, we hear of a vision that Isaiah saw.