Skip to main content

Week 1 of Advent

What do you want?

John’s gospel records this question as Christ’s first words to those who would soon become his disciples (1:38).  It was an invitation--not just to pause and reflect on what they longed for, not just to see those longings, but to say them out loud.  With this question, Jesus invited these men to name the desires of their soul—and not just to anyone, but to someone they understood to be the very Lamb of God.    

Some interpret Christ’s question as “’What do you seek?’”  To seek something means it has value.  If we seek something, it is important enough for us to put our desire into action, to pursue it.  To seek something often means working.  But seeking can also involve waiting.  


In all of our seeking and wanting, working and waiting, we are hoping.  Sometimes our hope is like a light that shines, bright and strong.  But there may also be moments—or seasons--when shadows of disappointment or doubt threaten to eclipse our hope, or cause it to waver.   Always, though, we are invited to give voice our hopes, to bring them--sometimes flickering, other times blazing--to the one who is himself the light of the world.


“What do you want?” 


Today, if Jesus asked you the same question, how might you respond?  


If there is a word, phrase, or prayer that captures the longing of your heart, you are welcome to post them here.


You are also invited to listen to the teaching from the first Sunday of Advent at All Souls--A Holy Longing:  Longing for Hope. 


Here is the devotional for week 2 of Advent.

--"What Do You Want?" devotional by Anne Lowry Pharr

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2 of Advent

A Different Way to Pray Many years ago at a retreat, I was introduced to a new way of praying.  Rather than using words, we were led in a series of physical postures:        Standing, we placed the palms of our hands over our hearts.         We then lifted our arms overhead, open-palmed.         Arms still lifted and palms open, we paused.         Next, we brought our cupped hands back to our hearts.         Then, we extended our open palms in front of our bodies.           We closed by again lifting our hands, palms towards the sky. After familiarizing ourselves with the different postures, we learned the words our movements were meant to communicate:        Lord, here I am.   palms over hearts        Today, I offer all that I am to you.   arms lifted, palms open        I also come in need, Lord.  Will you fill me anew with your spirit?   arms lifted, palms open         I gratefully receive what you are giving me.  Thank you, Father.   cupped hands to heart         As I move into this
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 3 of Advent

Are You at Home? When you think of the word “home,” what comes to mind?  What makes a place feel like home to you?   Toni Morrison   once said   the most important thing   a parent  can do is   to  allow our   eyes  to light up when a child enters the room.      This simple act-- expressing delight in their presence  through our  body language-- is   an   important way to help our children understand that they have a home in us.    Even as adults ,  our day-to-day interactions influence whether we feel at home in a place, a relationship, a group, or even the world.  Though we are often unaware of this, the people we encounter--their very facial expressions--are giving us information about how others see us and, hence, how we would be wise to see ourselves.  Over time--and especially in our most significant relationships--an understanding of our basic identity is being formed.  We are determining the answer to these questions:  are we seen, valued, cared for?  Most of God's follower
Post a Comment
Read more