Contemplative Christmas

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Advent: Hope, Day 1

Reading:

“…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us…” [1] Romans 5:3-5

Reflection:

Hope, the first theme of Advent, is not the same as wishing. We may wish for good weather on Saturday, something we have no control over, when what we hope for is an enjoyable, enriching experience on Saturday. Hope opens a path for something enjoyable regardless of the circumstances we may think are required. Hope is a deeper, more inclusive orientation that creates space for surprises and unexpected blessings. Hope trusts that all things will work together for good.

And this is our hope: that we would know, or perhaps remember ourselves as the Beloved of God. It is our birthright that we are precious to God regardless of what we have done or how unholy we think we have behaved. The pure, divine seed at the heart of our soul cannot be defiled by anything that happens to us. We are not defined by the events of our lives, nor by what others think of us; we are defined by the image from whom we were created.

The hope of Christmas is that we will consciously birth the Christ-child within, which means awakening to the union of spirit and body in us. This is the subtle gift of Christmas. We cannot earn it. We cannot force it. We can only remain awake for it so we will consciously receive it as it emerges. For this we wait. For this we prepare. For this we hope. Once we know we are already beloved children of God, we begin the life-long journey of living into our divine heritage.

Closing Meditation:

Journal the three things you most hope for this season and why they are important to you.

Close with a short prayer of gratitude.

Optional Music Video: A Sign of Hope

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2025, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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