Advent meditations

These are the 2023 Advent meditations published so far:

  • Four purple candles and one white candle. None are lit.
    Advent meditations
    Through Dec. 24 I will be posting a brief Advent meditation each evening. If you read the “Thoughts on Advent” below, the choice of posting them during the hours of darkness will make sense, but you can, of course, read them at whatever time is most convenient for you. Please respond to any of the scripture passages, meditations or comments… Read more: Advent meditations
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 1 – 1 Corinthians 1:4-8
    I [Paul] give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for… Read more: Advent meditation 1 – 1 Corinthians 1:4-8
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 2 – Isaiah 64:4-6
    From ages past no one has heard,    no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you,    who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right,    those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned;    because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean,    and all… Read more: Advent meditation 2 – Isaiah 64:4-6
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 3 – Isaiah 64:7-9
    There is no one who calls on your name    or attempts to take hold of you,for you have hidden your face from us    and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;    we are the clay, and you are our potter;    we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,    and do not remember… Read more: Advent meditation 3 – Isaiah 64:7-9
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 4 – Psalm 80:1-3
    Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,    you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might,    and come to save us! Restore us, O God;    let your face shine, that we may be saved. Referring to God as the Shepherd of Israel suggests and understanding of God as… Read more: Advent meditation 4 – Psalm 80:1-3
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 5 – Psalm 80:7, 17-19
    Restore us, God Almighty;    make your face shine on us,    that we may be saved. Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,    the son of man you have raised up for yourself.Then we will not turn away from you;    revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, Lord God Almighty;    make your face shine on us,    that we may be saved. Each time… Read more: Advent meditation 5 – Psalm 80:7, 17-19
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 6 – Mark 13:24-30
    “But in those days, following that distress, “‘the sun will be darkened,    and the moon will not give its light;  the stars will fall from the sky,    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the… Read more: Advent meditation 6 – Mark 13:24-30
  • Four purple candles and one white candle. One of the purple candles is lit.
    Advent meditation 7 – Mark 13:31-33, 37
    Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Scripture is often… Read more: Advent meditation 7 – Mark 13:31-33, 37
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 8 – 2 Peter 3:8-10
    But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord… Read more: Advent meditation 8 – 2 Peter 3:8-10
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 9 – 2 Peter 3:11-15a
    Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we… Read more: Advent meditation 9 – 2 Peter 3:11-15a
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 10 – Isaiah 40:1-4
    Comfort, comfort my people,    says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,    and proclaim to herthat her hard service has been completed,    that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand    double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare    the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert    a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up,    every mountain and hill made… Read more: Advent meditation 10 – Isaiah 40:1-4
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 11 – Isaiah 40:5-8
    And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,    and all people will 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 like grass,    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.The grass withers and the flowers fall,    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.    Surely the people are grass.The grass withers and the… Read more: Advent meditation 11 – Isaiah 40:5-8
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 12 – Isaiah 40:9-11
    You who bring good news to Zion,    go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem,    lift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid;    say to the towns of Judah,    “Here is your God!”See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,    and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him,    and his recompense accompanies him.He tends his flock like a shepherd:    He gathers… Read more: Advent meditation 12 – Isaiah 40:9-11
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 13 – Psalm 85:8-13
    I will listen to what God the Lord says;    he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—    but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,    that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together;    righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,    and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good,    and our land… Read more: Advent meditation 13 – Psalm 85:8-13
  • Four purple devotional candles and a white devotional candle. Two of the purple candles are lit.
    Advent meditation 14 – Mark 1:1-3, 7-8
    The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you,    who will prepare your way”—“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord,    make straight paths for him.’” And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful… Read more: Advent meditation 14 – Mark 1:1-3, 7-8
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 15 – Isaiah 61:1-3
    The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,    because the Lord has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,    to proclaim freedom for the captives    and release from darkness for the prisoners,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor    and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn,   and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty    instead of ashes,the… Read more: Advent meditation 15 – Isaiah 61:1-3
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 16 – Isaiah 61:4-9
    They will rebuild the ancient ruins    and restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities    that have been devastated for generations.Strangers will shepherd your flocks;    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.And you will be called priests of the Lord,    you will be named ministers of our God.You will feed on the wealth of nations,    and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame    you will… Read more: Advent meditation 16 – Isaiah 61:4-9
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 17 – Isaiah 61:10-11
    I delight greatly in the Lord;     my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up    and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make… Read more: Advent meditation 17 – Isaiah 61:10-11
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 18 – Psalm 126
    When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,    we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter,    our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations,    “The Lord has done great things for them.”The Lord has done great things for us,    and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord,    like streams in the Negev, Those who sow with tears    will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out… Read more: Advent meditation 18 – Psalm 126
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 19 – Luke 1:51-53
    He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones    but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things    but has sent the rich away empty. This familiar passage is from the section of scripture we know as the Magnificat (from… Read more: Advent meditation 19 – Luke 1:51-53
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 20 – John 1:6-8
    There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. At first, this simple verse doesn’t seem to do justice to John. John is a significant prophet in his own… Read more: Advent meditation 20 – John 1:6-8
  • Four purple candles and a white candle, with three of the candles lit.
    Advent meditation 21 – 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24
    Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. When I started… Read more: Advent meditation 21 – 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 22 – 2 Samuel 7:5-11, 16
    “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did… Read more: Advent meditation 22 – 2 Samuel 7:5-11, 16
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 23 – Luke 1:46-50
    And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful    of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,    for the Mighty One has done great things for me—    holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him,    from generation to generation. Mary has just… Read more: Advent meditation 23 – Luke 1:46-50
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 24 – Psalm 89:1-4, 19
    I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known    through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever,    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,    I have sworn to David my servant,‘I will establish your line forever     and make your throne… Read more: Advent meditation 24 – Psalm 89:1-4, 19
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 25 – Luke 1:26-31
    In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and… Read more: Advent meditation 25 – Luke 1:26-31
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 26 – Isaiah 9:2-7
    The people walking in darkness    have seen a great light;on those living in the land of deep darkness    a light has dawned.You have enlarged the nation    and increased their joy;they rejoice before you    as people rejoice at the harvest,as warriors rejoice    when dividing the plunder.For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,    you have shatteredthe yoke that burdens them,    the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor.Every… Read more: Advent meditation 26 – Isaiah 9:2-7
  • Four lit purple candles and an unlit white candle.
    Advent meditation 27 – Titus 2:11-14
    For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a… Read more: Advent meditation 27 – Titus 2:11-14
  • Five lit Advent candles: Four purple and one white.
    Advent meditation 28 – Luke 2:1-20
    In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged… Read more: Advent meditation 28 – Luke 2:1-20