Friday, December 2, 2022

This first week of Advent has the theme of hope.  Quite frankly, it’s difficult to find hope in today’s world. There’s Ukraine, still fighting off the brutal Russian invasion.  There’s the homelessness and hunger, not just abroad but here at home. And then there’s Alabama.

But, wait! There is hope because Congress finally got its act together on at least one issue:  protecting same sex marriage, and by the way, interracial marriage, the kind of marriage the troglodyte Clarence Thomas has. The two Senators from Alabama voted against the bill, claiming it infringed on religious liberty.  What hogwash!

Alabama’s laws permit the state to civilly commit anyone with HIV/AIDS to a state hospital, makes it a felony to “knowingly” transmit a STD, including HPV that affects many women without their knowledge, and prohibits adolescents from hormone therapy for sexual dystopia.  The second best thing my mother did was to leave that medieval state; the first was marrying my father.

Prayer for the Day

In this Advent Season, O God, we pray for hope,
   But we know to have hope, we must work at creating it;
In this Advent Season, O God, we long for hope,
   But we know that hope is not just a noun but an active verb.
Hold us to the hope we search for in our lives
   By bringing your hope into the world.
In the name of the One who shows us how to hope,
   Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Thoughts for the Day

The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.
     - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from sermon Dec. 2, 1928 (1906-1945)

Our weariness lifts our eyes towards hope. Being troubled in our souls sets us up to receive Advent hope and Advent possibilities more fully.
     - Rev. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, from an Advent sermon

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,
   For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will arise upon you and God’s glory will appear over you.
   Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
    Isaiah 60: 1-3