Advent Reflections 2010
November 28, 2010 - The First Sunday of Advent
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)
November 29, 2010 - Monday of the First Week of Advent
In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:6)
November 30, 2010 - St. Andrew, Apostle
One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).(John 1:40-41)
December 1, 2010 - Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my reason and all my senses and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life... (The Creed, First Article)
December 2, 2010 - Thursday of the First Week of Advent
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:14)
December 3, 2010 - Friday of the First Week of Advent
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
December 4, 2010 - Saturday of the First Week of Advent
Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved! (Psalm 80:3, from the Introit for Advent 2)
December 5, 2010 - The Second Sunday of Advent
"Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:36)
December 6, 2010 - Monday of the Second Week of Advent
For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch." (Malachi 4:1)
December 7, 2010 - Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
December 8, 2010 - Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? ...He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. (The Apostles' Creed, First Article)
December 9, 2010 - Thursday of the Second Week of Advent
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. (Isaiah 26:1)
December 10, 2010 - Friday of the Second Week of Advent
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (1 John 4:1-2)
December 11, 2010 - Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 from the Introit for Advent 3)
December 12, 2010 - The Third Sunday of Advent
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see (Matthew 11:2-4)
December 13, 2010 - Monday of the Third Week of Advent
"Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. (Isaiah 40:1)
December 14, 2010 - Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)
December 15, 2010 - Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, (Small Catechism, The Creed: Second Article)
December 16, 2010 - Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7)
December 17, 2010 - Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (Revelation 5:11-12)
December 18, 2010 - Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, (Isaiah 45:8 from the Introit for Advent 4)
December 19, 2010 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent
John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. "It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose." (John 1:26-27)
December 20, 2010 - Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
" The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' (Deuteronomy 18:15-16)
December 21, 2010 - St. Thomas, Apostle
Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." (John 20:27)
December 22, 2010 - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,...who was crucified, died and was buried. What does this mean?...who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, (Small Catechism, The Creed, Second Article)
December 23, 2010 - Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
December 24, 2010 - The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Eve
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11-12)
December 25, 2010 - The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
December 26, 2010 - The Sunday after Christmas
"Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” (Luke 2:29-30)
December 27, 2010 - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?" (John 21:23)
December 28, 2010 - The Holy Innocents
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)
December 29, 2010 - Wednesday of the First Week after Christmas
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord... What does this mean? That I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. (The Small Catechism, Apostles' Creed, Second Article)
December 30, 2010 - Thursday of the First Week after Christmas
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
December 31, 2010 - Eve of the Name of Jesus
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Luke 12:40)
January 1, 2011 - The Circumcision and Name of Jesus
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
January 2, 2011 - The Second Sunday after Christmas
When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (Matthew 2:14-15)
January 3, 2011 - Monday of the Second Week after Christmas
So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. (Genesis 46:3)
January 4, 2011 - Tuesday of the Second Week after Christmas
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:16)
January 5, 2011 - Wednesday of the Second Week after Christmas
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy, Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. (Small Catechism, Third Article)
January 6, 2011 - The Epiphany of Our Lord
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:1-2)
January 7, 2011 - Friday after The Epiphany
The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD. (Isaiah 60:6)
January 8, 2011 - Saturday after the Epiphany
I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, (Psalm 89:20 from the Introit for The Baptism of Our Lord)
