by Pastor Brian Phillips
Among the many wonders God wove into His creation are the seasons. With every year comes Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Spring brings new life, Summer brings warmth and growth, Autumn brings the turning of leaves as the old is pushed away, and Winter is a season of death – death of flowers, grass, insects, in preparation for the coming life of Spring.
Yet, in this season of death, we pin lights to our houses, put bright decorations on our lawns, and put trees up in our living rooms! We wear festive colors and intentionally ugly sweaters, sing songs written solely for this season, and break out recipes we only use this time of year.
We do all of these things in winter – the season of death. And it is so fitting that we do so. The Advent season is a time of preparation, but like Lent, we know that this season has a definite and joyful end. We know that our fasting during Lent will end with resurrection! We know that our Advent preparations will end with the Incarnation and celebration that our Savior has come.
And so, we prepare in hope that is certain; not wishful thinking, but certain promises. Let us pause now to contemplate the growing light, the growing anticipation of celebration. Come, thou long-expected Jesus, the Light of the World to pierce the darkness, the Life of the World into a dying world.
To help us observe Advent, here is a collection of Scripture readings for each day of the season, drawn from the Book of Common Prayer. The readings for week three are taken from the Psalms, the prophet Isaiah, and the four Gospels. It can be helpful to begin the day with the first Psalm reading, then read the prophet at mid-day, and end the day with the Gospel reading and evening Psalm(s).
Contemplate these passages in light of the Advent and its call to preparation for the celebration of Christ's Nativity.
Sunday, December 17th – Third Sunday of Advent
Psalms 63:1-8; 98 (morning) · Psalm 103 (evening)
Isaiah 13:6-13
John 3:22-30
Monday, December 18th
Psalm 41, 52 (morning) · Psalm 44 (evening)
Isaiah 8:16-9:1
Luke 22:39-53
Tuesday, December 19th
Psalm 45 (morning) · Psalms 47-48 (evening)
Isaiah 9:1-7
Luke 22:54-69
Wednesday, December 20th
Psalm 119:49-72 (morning) · Psalm 49 (evening)
Isaiah 9:8-17
Mark 1:1-8
Thursday, December 21st
Psalm 50 (morning) · Psalm 33 (evening)
Isaiah 9:18-10:4
Matthew 3:1-12
Friday, December 22nd
Psalms 40, 54 (morning) · Psalm 51 (evening)
Isaiah 10:5-19
Matthew 11:2-15
Saturday, December 23rd
Psalm 55 (morning) · Psalms 138-139:1-17 (evening)
Isaiah 10:20-27
Luke 3:1-9