Season of Advent: Hope, Day 6

Season of Advent

Hope, Day 6

Reading:

“The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” [1]

Meditation:

It is written, and I agree, that nothing is impossible with God.^[2] But my experience tells me that the vast majority of God’s work is incognito, is done by human hands, and appears mundane and commonplace because it happens all around us all of the time. Our wild imaginations lead us to search for God in faraway places and extraordinary circumstances until God laughs, taps us on the shoulder, wakes us up from our earthly slumber and says, “Surprise! Here I am!”

Everything carries God’s fingerprint hidden in plain sight. Unfathomable, life-giving, life-sustaining gifts of grace are found everywhere by those who take a moment to identify, treasure, and ponder them. It is not that God’s normal work through us is not miraculous or awe-inspiring, but that we so take it for granted that we miss the extraordinary in everything we consider ordinary. And when we do not experience what we believe qualifies as a miracle we feel disappointed and cheated.

Yet, here is the truth: The miracle is here, where it has always been, and where it always will be – beside, within, and around you, me, and all created beings. Emmanuel, God with us, is a truly unfathomable miracle, not just during the Christmas season but all year long.

Closing Meditation:

Jesus said that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.[3] Reflect on what your treasure says about where your heart is. Where might you look more closely to find God’s presence in your life?

Journal the thoughts or feelings that arise.

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2026, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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[1] Luke 1:35

[2] Luke 1:37

[3] Matthew 6:21