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December 2, 2024

Mandatory Rejoicing

Mary Austin   |   Read Baruch 5:1-9

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Lectionary Week
December 2–8, 2024
Scripture Overview

The prophet Malachi speaks of a future day when God’s messenger will come to prepare the way for the Lord. The Lord will then purify the people and restore proper worship of God. Christians believe that John the Baptizer was this messenger, preparing the way for Christ. In Luke 1, the Holy Spirit fills Zechariah, John’s father, who proclaims that the fulfillment of God’s promises to their descendants has begun. Luke continues the story of John in chapter 3, describing John’s ministry of calling people to repentance. They need to prepare the way of the Lord in their own hearts, thus fulfilling Malachi’s prophecy. Paul in Philippians focuses not on the advent of Christ but on the ongoing power of Christ’s presence to make us blameless and righteous in God’s sight.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Malachi 3:1-4. How have you encountered the refiner’s fire? What was your experience?
Read Luke 1:68-79. In what ways have you experienced God’s tender mercy in your life?
Read Philippians 1:3-11. How do you make expressing your gratitude for others a daily habit?
Read Luke 3:1-6. How are you preparing the way of the Lord? What crooked paths are you helping to make straight?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Baruch 5:1-9

1 Take off your mourning clothes and oppression, Jerusalem! Dress yourself in the dignity of God’s glory forever. 2 Wrap the justice that comes from God around yourself like a robe. Place the eternal one’s glory on your head like a crown. 3 God will show your brilliance everywhere under heaven. 4 God will give you this name by which to be called forever: The Peace That Comes from Justice, The Honor That Comes from Reverence for God! 5 Get up, Jerusalem! Stand on the high place, and look around to the east! See your children gathered from the west to the east by the holy one’s word, as they rejoice that God has remembered them. 6 They went out from you on foot, driven along by their enemies, but God will bring them back to you, carried aloft with glory as on a royal throne. 7 God has ordered every high mountain and the eternal hills to be brought down, and the valleys to be filled in to level the ground so that Israel may walk safely in God’s glory. 8 The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel with God’s command. 9 God will lead Israel with gladness by the light that shines forth from his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

The jacket I wore to my mother’s funeral is still in my closet. I have never been able to bring myself to wear it again. Whenever I reach for it, the grief of that day washes over me again, and I pull my hand back. Putting in on again feels...

God of love, help us to hear your call into joy this Advent season. May we put on your gift of joy each Advent day as we lay down the burdens of sorrow. In the name of the Christ child we pray. Amen.


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